Page 66 of A Duchess Untouched

“Miss Wills, please listen. Robert did not stop coming by choice,” Matthew said so quickly, as if he was trying to get this whole ordeal over with. “Six years ago, he told me that he loved you and that you were going to have a child. We were on the way to you, and I had been driving after having drunk my fair share of spirits. I lost control, and the carriage overturned. I am afraid that Robert died before he could see a physician, but the last thought on his mind was you. He loved you. He really did.”

Mary let out a strangled sound and clapped her hands over her mouth. She sank to her knees on the rug. For the next few moments, her thin shoulders shook with overwhelming grief and shock.

“He was supposed to come back… He promised…” she sobbed into her apron as she wobbled to her feet. “All these years, I hated him. I thought he decided to leave me after discovering I was with child. Lord forgive me, but I imagined all the things I could do to him because of my hatred, and he…”

Selina moved closer to Mary and clasped her hands in her own. “You have nothing to ask forgiveness for, Miss Wills. You are a survivor. You raised a child on your own even when you felt abandoned. You have done nothing wrong.”

“This is the reason I was trying to contact you. It took me four years to find you and your boy. Now that we are here, you and your son will never want for anything again. You never have to work again or share a roof with six people. You will live in a proper house, and we will hire a tutor for your boy, so that he will grow into a fine, educated man. You will have an allowance for all your personal expenses.”

Pride flashed in Mary’s eyes as she straightened.

“I cannot accept your money, Your Grace,” Mary declared firmly. “A woman like me, who has been taught to work since I was a little girl, if I sit in a parlor without anything to do all day, I will drown in misery, especially now that I know…”

Mary did not have to complete her sentence. While Robert might have been dead for six years, it was still very new to her. It would take some time for her to move on after her fury had just been transformed into grief.

“Do remember that it is not charity, Miss Wills. It is your son’s right as a Sheffield. As Robert’s son. However, I do understand your need for activity. I am much the same in the sense that I cannot remain idle for too long,” Selina said. “If you want something to do, you can help me manage a charity for widows I support. We always need new volunteers to manage and pack supplies, and there is always work to be done around the parish. Perhaps in time we will be able to reach and help more mothers like you.”

Mary’s eyes searched Selina’s face. Selina could feel it. She knew what it was like to question the good things that happened amid the bad.

“I would be working alongside you, Your Grace?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes, you would,” Selina replied softly. “But only if you want to.”

“Oh, I do. I would like that very much, Your Grace.”

“May I please ask you to call me Selina? We are family in a way.” Selina smiled.

“I…” It looked like Mary had more to say, but a little boy with dark curls and big brown eyes entered the room, clutching a small wooden soldier with peeling paint against his chest.

“Mama?” he asked tentatively, his eyes darting toward the strangers. “Why are you crying? Are you hurt?”

Matthew’s jaw fell at the sight of the little boy. Selina watched him go rigid. It was the look of recognition.

“He looks just like Robert,” he gasped.

“I am Robert,” the boy insisted, looking surprised. “But some people, like Mama, call me Robbie.”

“Robbie, come here, dear boy,” Mary urged, wiping her cheeks quickly as she gave her son a reassuring smile. “Come meet your… our family.”

“Our family?” Little Robert walked toward Matthew and Selina. He did not seem very shy, eyeing the two strangers frankly. Matthew sank to one knee to meet the boy’s gaze at eye level.

“It is an honor to meet you, Robbie,” he said, his voice softer than Selina had ever heard it.

“Are you a soldier, like Jonah here?” Robbie asked.

“No, young man,” Matthew replied, grinning. “But sometimes I wish I were. I am your Uncle Matthew.”

“And who are you?” Robbie turned to Selina.

“Robbie!” Mary chastised.

“It is quite all right,” Selina said. “He is simply surprised. It is not every day that new family members come to see you. I am your Auntie Selina, your Uncle Matthew’s wife.”

“Did Uncle Matthew bring a real sword?” Robbie asked, his mind focused on one thing, but also eager to get to know his uncle and aunt.

“The next time I see you, I will make sure you have your very own toy sword and anything else you would like. You are moving to a house with your own room. We will come back for you,” Matthew promised.

“Am I really going to have my own room?” The boy’s eyes widened and shone.