Free The Disappearing Duchess by Anne Herries Page A

world of good,’ Nanny said when Lucinda visited soon after breakfast the next morning. ‘She had honey and rolls and she’s nearly back to normal. It was just a little chill after all.’
    ‘Is she still in bed?’
    ‘I left her sitting with her books, but I heard something just before you came in and she may have decided to get up and play.’
    Lucinda went upstairs. Her daughter had dressed herself, her gown only half-buttoned at the back, and her tangled curls evidence that Angela had not considered it necessary to use the brush. When she saw her mother her eyes welled with tears, which spilled over and ran down her cheeks.
    ‘My poor love, come here to me,’ Lucinda said and sat down on the bed, drawing her on to her lap. She kissed and cuddled her, then buttoned her bodice properly and took up a hairbrush. Angela’s hair soon looked respectable and shone. Lucinda noticed that her arms were much better now and her legs had stopped looking like sticks. She was beginning to recover from years of ill treatment, but of course the mental scars were still there. ‘Shall we go for a little walk in the woods?’
    Angela shook her head. ‘Will you read to me from my books?’
    ‘Yes, if you wish it. Come downstairs and we shall sit in the big chair by the fire and read a story.’
    Angela scrambled to her feet, seized the book she wanted and proceeded down the stairs. Lucinda smiled inwardly, because it was clear to her that her daughter was feeling much better.
    * * *
    The next hour or so was very happy for them both, but the tears started once more when Lucinda told herthat she must leave. Angela screamed and clung to her. She calmed a little when Nanny pulled her away and told her she must be good, but the sight of her child’s reproachful face pulled at Lucinda’s heartstrings as she left the cottage and began to walk back to the house.
    The tears trickled down her cheeks as she thought of her daughter’s distress. In the future she might not always be able to visit her every day and the child would not understand that her mother had another life—a life she could not share with her.
    Lucinda was starting to shake with sobs as she saw the fallen tree lying just ahead of her in a small clearing. She sat down, her head bowed as the tears fell thick and fast.
    A part of her longed for Justin’s return from town. She wanted desperately to see him, to be a true wife to him with no secrets between them—but she could not give up her beloved child. There was no way out of her predicament. If she confessed to her husband, he would be angry again—and he would force her to give Angela up.
    ‘Duchess—Lucinda?’
    The man’s deep voice startled her. She raised her head, and saw Andrew standing just a few feet from where she sat. Feeling guilty, she rose to her feet and brushed a hand over her face.
    ‘Lord Lanchester…I did not hear you come.’
    ‘Are you unwell?’ He moved closer, looking at herwith concern. ‘You have been crying. Is there something I may do to help you?’
    ‘No, it is nothing. Nothing at all,’ Lucinda said and lifted her head proudly. ‘It was a silly tantrum, that is all.’
    ‘I do not think you are the kind of woman who has tantrums,’ he said and handed her a large white kerchief. ‘You may be pleased to know that he has returned this very morning.’
    ‘My husband has returned?’ Lucinda’s heart missed a beat. She caught her breath. ‘You have seen him?’
    ‘I saw him driving his curricle on his way here.’ He hesitated. ‘You are in some trouble, I think. For the moment you may prefer to keep your own counsel—but should you need a friend, I am here.’
    The warmth and sincerity in his voice brought a flush to her cheeks. She gave him a small shy smile—the smile that unbeknown to her had won more than one man’s heart.
    ‘You are very kind, my lord.’
    ‘Tell me, are you in some difficulty?’
    ‘If I am in some trouble, I fear there is nothing you can help me