“There must be. But why? The trust is generous. You have enough now. Do you need more?”
“It is not the money, Violet.”
“I don’t understand.”
Her mother tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I should like Primrose to be with you. In this house. Because I worry about you. And because an ally beneath your own roof would not, I think, do you any harm.”
Violet laughed because she did not like the fear that had been inside her since the wedding day. But she did not want her mother to worry.
“I am extremely well looked after. I am surrounded by all the servants I need day and night. There is no household in England more attended to than this one.”
“I know.”
“Then you know you ought not to worry so much about me.”
Her mother looked down at her hands before she answered.
“There are three duchesses not including the duke’s mother in the family vault at Iredell Park, Violet. I have spent every minute since the wedding asking myself whether I am being silly, and I do not think I am.”
“They were accidents, Mama. Thetonhas been telling unkind stories for amusement.”
“Mrs Bickle’s nephew was on the bank when they pulled the second duchess out of the lake at Iredell Park.”
Violet smoothed the creases on her lap.
“He was twelve at the time. He was the gardener’s boy who fetched things from the lake when the family wanted carp. He was there when they brought her up. The lake had been still since first light. There were no reeds where she had gone under. Nothing to catch a foot or a sleeve. There was a mark across her left wrist as if she had been gripped hard or had one hand tied.The coroner ruled it had come of catching upon a branch. But that does not make much sense, does it?”
Violet stood up and walked to the window. She tried to make her voice carefree. “No, it does not. However, a bruise on a wrist is no foundation for such fears.” She smoothed her skirt. “Henry has been kind to me, Mama.”
“I certainly hope I am being paranoid, darling. I would like nothing more than to be wrong in this. But I do hope you shall still consider Primrose as your companion. It would help the girl to see how a wealthy home operates.”
Violet turned. “I shall consider it.” She moved toward the chair she vacated and sat down again. “How are the rest of them? Have you bought them new clothes? Shoes? The girls must receive education, Mama. Hire a tutor, buy them books.”
Her mother reached out to hold her daughter’s hand and chuckled. “All in due time, my dear. All of us had a fitting with Mrs Humphrey for day dresses and shoes. Primrose, of course, will have a new wardrobe in preparation for her Season. Poppy bought a new bonnet and three new dresses. I do believe she has stopped growing. Otherwise, I may need to slip bogbean in her tea.”
Violet placed a finger near her lips. “Do not let anyone hear you jest about such a thing, although I had been tempted to do so myself when we were girls.”
The two women laughed.
“How is Kit?” Violet asked after calling for the tea tray to be moved to her quarters.
Her mother’s laugh dimmed slightly. “Still angry on your behalf. I have had to talk him out of coming to London twice.”
“He is a sweet soul,” Violet said and leaned back in her chair.
“He worries about you a great deal.”
“He said that?”
“Of course not. I have learned to decipher his grunts.” The ladies giggled, imitating Kit’s various grunts.
“Have you not told him the truth about the Duke of Trowbridge never compromising me?” she asked.
“Of course I have, but the man has ruined your reputation irreparably with his falsehood. Kit is unhappy that you had not told him the truth.”
“Because I knew he would grunt even more in disapproval.”