Free The Reluctant Duchess by Sharon Cullen Page B

thought about it, the better she liked the idea. A new gown sounded wonderful.
    “And how are your parents? Such dear people. You know my late husband and your father were close friends.”
    “I didn’t know that,” Sara admitted, confused as to whom Elizabeth was referring.
    “They went to Cambridge together, from what I can recall. Such a terrible tragedy when he died.”
    Ah, so they were speaking of her real father.
    “I confess I don’t remember my parents very well,” Sara said sadly.
    “I didn’t know your mother well. We met once or twice, and it was so long ago. It’s very fortunate that the current marquess and marchioness took you in.”
    Was there censure in her tone? Sara was not usually sensitive to such things, because her new parents had made it known that Sara was considered theirs. No one even mentioned it because it had been so long ago. “I consider them my parents now,” she said.
    Elizabeth smiled. “And well you should. They are good people. How are they?”
    “They are well.” Sara refrained from telling the duchess that she hadn’t seen her mother in over a year. There was no need to get into that story. Although she wouldn’t be surprised if the duchess already knew. Word traveled quickly, and separated couples were always food for the gossip mills.
    “How are you, Sara?” The duchess looked at her with a steady gaze. So much like her son’s and yet so different.
    “I’m well, thank you.”
    Elizabeth shook her head. “No. I mean how
are
you? How are you faring?”
    Sara looked at her warily. “I’m well. Thank you.”
    Elizabeth pressed her lips into a thin line. “I’m not one to pry, Sara.” She looked away and seemed to think about what she wanted to say, then looked Sara boldly in the eye. “I know your mother isn’t around much, and you take care of your father. Are you truly doing well?”
    Sara had to swallow the lump that formed in her throat. Just as she’d expected, Elizabeth had heard of her mother’s departure from Hadley Springs. If Elizabeth knew, then everyone in society knew. Not that it made much difference. Sara’s days in society were long over. Her life consisted of caring for a father who lived more inside his own mind than he did in the real world. Hadley Springs was her home and where she felt safe and comfortable. Town living wasn’t for her, and therefore the gossips shouldn’t concern her.
    Or so she’d told her herself for the past two years. But now that she was in London, she discovered that she missed coming to town occasionally. She didn’t miss the social whirl—that had been Meredith’s forte. Sara missed the intellectual aspect, the arts, the museums, and simply being in a city that was the center of the world. Hadley Springs had one lending library, and she’d read nearly every book in it. She’d also made use of her best friend’s massive library at Blackbourne Manor. But here in London, there were many lending libraries and books and places of learning and people of learning whom she could talk to. She regretted that she didn’t have time for such frivolities during this visit. Maybe she should make more of an effort to visit London to partake in the cultural center of the world.
    “We truly are doing well,” she said, turning her mind from all of the silly stuff. “Father is happy at home with his studies. He has an affinity for astronomy and is more often than not in his workroom charting this star and that. I have friends whom I visit, and the spring festival committee that tends to meet year-round. All of that keeps me very busy.”
    Elizabeth looked at Sara closely, as if she could discern the truth. But the truth was, she was being honest. Her life was good; not what she had expected, but good nonetheless. She had thought she would miss her mother desperately, but she didn’t. There had been so much fighting before Carolina had moved to Bath. Fighting and tears and accusations on both of her parents’ parts.