Dash, however, had other ideas. He lifted his head hopefully at the sound of Richard’s voice and began to whine. Then seconds later, he ran off in the direction of the house.
“Dash! Wait!” Anne cried, running after him.
Nancy sighed tiredly, wrapping her arms around her middle as she fixed a nonchalant expression on her face while she spoke to Paula.
“I have not changed my mind. I have no desire to see him. He would do well to stop making a fuss and go back to his home.”
Paula did not look happy to be the bearer of bad news, but once again, she left without a fuss, and Nancy found herself all alone, staring up at the clouds floating across the sky.
She expected that with the relentless nature that her husband had chosen to display, it would not be too long before she was approached again.
And she was right—except it wasn’t Paula or another servant who had come to speak to her.
It was her mother.
“Nancy,” Georgiana sighed softly when she was standing in front of her daughter.
Nancy dropped her gaze from the sky for a moment and said, “Mama,” before adjusting herself on the bench she was seated on to make room for her mother.
The Dowager Marchioness sat down next to her, and at first, neither of them said anything, both seemingly gathering their thoughts under the guise of admiring the wonderful landscape beyond the lawn.
“I spoke with the Duke, just now,” Lady Suttington said gently.
“Is that so?” Nancy muttered, not feeling particularly pressed to know what the topic of discussion had been between them.
Georgiana nodded then said something Nancy had not expected to hear, “He reminds me of your father.”
At that statement, Nancy sat up, her eyes wide at that admission.
Ever since her father’s passing, her mother had hardly brought him up—save for when she needed to emphasize their dire predicament, stating that he would never have wanted them to live a life marked with uncertainty and instability.
To hear her refer to him, in relation to none other than Richard, was shocking to say the least.
“Your father… he was always so passionate about everything he did. He loved us immensely. And I saw a bit of that vibrant reverence in your husband, earlier. It—it made me realize how disappointed your father would be if he were to see us now.”
Her voice cracked slightly at the end of that sentence. Still, she pressed on after clearing her throat once.
“He would have never saddled you with such responsibilities or forced you to live a life you had not wished for on our behalf. Yet, that is what I did, barely sparing your feelings and aspirations a second thought all because I believed it was for the greater good. That was wrong of me, especially as your mother, and I am sorry, Nancy.”
Nancy’s heart softened at her words, the tension within her easing bit by bit.
“I am sorry for all the burdens I placed on you, for being unreasonable with my demands and expectations,” her mother added, “I am sorry that I did not care for you when you needed it. I lost my husband, and you and your sisters lost your father. It was unfair to let one person bear the sole responsibility of finding us a means of surviving without him. I am truly sorry, my dear.”
Nancy swallowed past the lump in her throat, blinking back tears as she faced her mother. “I am sorry too, Mama. I should not have spoken so harshly, no matter how frustrated I was. I know you only intended to do what was best for Anne and Beatrice, as well as yourself, and I wish I could have done more to contribute to that.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Her mother moved closer and wrapped her arms around her. “You did more than enough, my love. And I am so very proud of you and thankful to you for enduring as much as you did.”
Nancy nodded with a sniff, feeling a part of her heart heal as she pulled back, comforted by the way her mother was gently stroking her hair.
“I think you should listen to what the Duke has to say, sweetheart. I understand that he was unkind to you when the scandal broke out—he admitted as much himself—but he is here now. I was never able to give you any useful marriage advice after your wedding, so let me tell you this now. Do not leave matters unresolved if it is likely that they would stir up any feelings of regret. Just face him. Even if it is for the last time, hear what he intends to tell you and then search your heart for what it longs to say as well. Ultimately, what will become of you both is up to him.”
“All right. I will speak with him,” Nancy finally agreed, smiling at her mother as the Dowager Marchioness took her hand and led her into the house.
Nancy could hear voices as they approached the foyer and was surprised to see Richard playing with Anne and Dash.
It seemed as though they had not let him in after she had expressed her unwillingness to converse with him, but he had not moved. Instead, her husband seems to have found a way to entertain himself for the time being.
Anne saw her sister and mother, and her face lit up even more somehow.
