Duke of Disrepute (Dukes of Distinction #3) - Alexa Aston Page 0,43
misted her eyes. “I miss the companionship I had with Ruthersby. I miss being able to share my day with someone. I think the atlas became a symbol of what I once had. A dream of the places I wanted to go but never would. Losing it is like losing a part of him again. I fear Claire already has forgotten him. I’ve tried to keep his memory alive for her but she was so young. I don’t remember my own father at her age.”
“You were close to him?”
“Very much so. I followed him about every day. My mother never had time for me but Papa always did.”
“You mentioned both your parents passing recently.”
She dug her nails into her palms. “Yes. Papa died of a weak heart. He’d had a heart attack days before I arrived. My mother got the pneumonia. She wasn’t happy to see me. She had washed her hands of me after my wedding and returned to live a life of gaiety, without a grown daughter to remind her how old she truly was. I’d foolishly thought when she passed that Claire and I could return to my childhood home and live with Papa.” She shook her head. “It wasn’t meant to be.”
Treadwell reached for her hand again. When he held it, she felt secure. As if all the problems of the world melted away.
“I’m sorry you lost your father, Elise.” His gaze was tender. “You have led a difficult life. Suffered hardships more than most. I assure you that is over. You will find a husband who will always take care of you. Cherish you.”
She attempted to smile. “I’ll hold you to that part of our bargain, Your Grace. I will do my best to find you a woman who will make you happy. In turn, you can help find me a husband who will keep Claire and me safe.”
He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her fingers. “I have every intention of doing that very thing, Elise.”
*
Weston saw the pained look on Elise’s face and so he asked Claire, for the third time, “Are you sure you don’t wish to go to my sister’s?”
“No, Your Grace,” the tyke said. “I want to stay with Maisy and Mark.”
Elise bent next to the invalid chair and took her daughter’s hand. “But it’s Christmas, Claire.”
“I know, Mama. But I get to see you all the time. I want to stay with my new friends.”
Elise looked at him helplessly and he shrugged. “It might be for the best. The trip to and from might tire her out. This way, Mrs. Digsby will see that she gets a good meal in her. The children will look after her. And if she does tire, she can be brought upstairs to nap.”
“Please, Mama,” begged Claire.
“All right. I will miss you dreadfully, though.” She kissed her daughter’s brow.
“Don’t worry, my lady,” Mrs. Digsby said. “Lady Claire won’t be in the way at all. Maisy and Mark will keep her plenty busy.”
“You’re sure she won’t be too much trouble?”
“No, my lady. Lady Claire is a real angel.”
Elise kissed her daughter once more. “Be good, my little love.”
“Have fun with His Grace, Mama.”
Weston led her downstairs and helped her into her cloak before they went outside and boarded the carriage. The rain of the past week had stopped yesterday. The roads were still atrocious, which had led to him deciding not to attend church in the village this morning. It was only a couple of miles to Colebourne Hall, though, and he was eager for Sam and George to meet Elise.
As the vehicle started up, he said, “I know Maisy and Mark well. They are very good children and will dote on Claire.”
“She’s never really been around any children other than her two cousins. They are all boy and don’t have much to do with her. She takes her lessons alongside them but they don’t really play with her. I spend as much time with her as I can but I know she is lonely. It will do her good to be around them today. Especially Maisy. They’ve already played with her several times as it is.”
He casually took her gloved hand. “See, you already know it’s the best thing for her. It will give you a brief respite, as well.”
Reluctantly, he released her hand, wishing he could hold it the entire way. He didn’t want her to skitter away, though. If she had any idea he had no plans