Free Secrets in Mourning by Janelle Daniels Page A

hours at a time getting my hair dressed. It saves much time.”
    “I’m sure, my dear. And being here, you have much work… I mean things to oversee, I’m sure.”
    Her head began to ache about the same time as her chest clinched. Looking around the room, trying to keep her cracked smile in place, she didn’t see one friendly smile among the group.
    More like vultures, the women seemed to circle her, looking for any vulnerabilities that they could uncover. It was obvious that they had been called here for one purpose, and one purpose only, and that was to bring her down.
    Dabbing her lips, she smiled at the group as she stood. “Pray, please forgive me, but you just reminded me of something I must see to. Please enjoy the rest of your lunch.”
    The Countess glared at her in warning, but Victoria didn’t care. The room began to swirl by the time she walked to the doorway, a crushing pressure settled in her chest. Not knowing where to go, Victoria stumbled down the hall, rounding the corner before opening the door to the library. The servants were busy in the guest rooms today and weren’t scheduled to clean in there until tomorrow. And knowing the Earl’s schedule, he wouldn’t be using the room until evening.
    Not that it matter. She just had to get away. Get away from all the smirking, snickering women.
    Their faces crowded in her mind and she could see what they saw. A young, foolish woman who married a Duke. Outdated, unadorned gowns that were more suited to a country mouse than a duchess, even a dowered one. Her hair was plain, no combs garnished her hair. Her skin was pale, but not fashionably so, more sickly from fatigue. Her figure had lost some of its flesh, making the dress appear shapeless.
    Closing her eyes tight, she sank deep into a chair by the fire. How had she come so low?
    Hearing their taunts and seeing their sneers over again, she tried to cover her ears, tried to block out what they had to say to her, but with no luck.
    Feeling it all crash upon her, a sob escaped her before she could stop it. Trying to smother it with her hand, she startled in horror that it had escaped, before another tumbled out.
    It hurt. It truly did. Why what they said mattered, she didn’t know. They were a bunch of old women far from her home. But it did. Their cutting remarks, their criticism and pleasure at her expense were painful.
    Loneliness settled deep within her, and seemed to explode throughout the rest of her body. She had no one. No friends, no family. No one who cared for her in any way.
    The racking sobs that came next couldn’t be helped. There was no stopping them, no denying them. They came in waves as her body hunched over, her arms wrapping around her waist as if to hold herself together, to protect herself from shattering.
    Was this how others had felt when she cut them down with a few short words? With a tiny rumor spread here or there. Was this the destruction she had caused in others?
    The thought made her physically ill as she fought to control the nausea rising within her. What had she done? Good Lord, what had she done?

Chapter 7

    “So, the ice princess can cry.” Connor’s lips quirked at the thought. However, when Lady Victoria’s head raised slowly, freshly tracked tears running down her cheeks, the smile faded as quickly as it had come.
    He hadn’t realized she was truly crying. Hadn’t realized that she had been deeply hurt in some way. A part of him actually thought that she wasn’t capable of those feelings. Wasn’t capable of feeling the sting from anything.
    “Go away. I don’t want to speak to you.” She didn’t bother wiping her tears, leaving them to stain her cheeks in all their glory.
    He never felt comfortable with tears, but seeing her broken, he couldn’t leave. He took a step toward her before he even realized what he was doing. “No.” It was said simply. No reasoning, no justification.
    He stepped in front of her, waiting for her to look up at him. Instead,