Chapter 22
It said a lot about the state of Lucy’s life that when her stepmother and stepsister asked if they might come and visit her, she said yes. And not just that she said yes, but that she looked forward to seeing them.
Perhaps it was na?ve of her to think, but Lucy truly believed that now, because she was married to a duke, and that she had done her duty, that her stepmother would no longer treat her with such disdain and revilement. That she might even be proud of her…
So it was that when they arrived the following morning, Lucy was sure to greet them outside. She held James in her arms, she was sure to wear a warm smile, and she did her best to force back all the terrible memories from her childhood and teenage years because those were of the past.
Is there a chance that we might even become friends? Now that I am no longer a threat, or a problem to be dealt with, there is no reason why we should not be.
The carriage came to a halt just down from where Lucy stood waiting. The driver then hurried down, rushed to the side, and opened the door. From inside the carriage, Lucy saw the first body appear, and she waved happily when she realized it was her stepsister.
“Amelia!” she called gaily. “Look at you!”
Amelia was just eighteen years old and a true beauty in the most classic sense. With hair like chocolate, with eyes like sapphires, and with sparkling white teeth framed by full lips, she was the embodiment of regal beauty.
“Lucy…” She smiled politely as she climbed from the carriage. “Good morning.” She then turned and waited for her mother to join her.
Lady Beatrice was exactly as Lucy remembered, and this was undoubtedly a bad thing. She had the same severe features. She wore the same look as if something smelly had been wiped under her nose. And when she found Lucy waiting, her upper lip curled slightly, and Lucy’s stomach plunged.
Do not get ahead of yourself, Lucy. Perhaps she is tired from the journey? She has not even said anything yet!
“Stepmother…” Lucy hurried forward to greet her. “It is so good to see you.”
“You sound surprised,” her stepmother said.
“Oh…” Lucy blinked. “I did not mean to sound so.”
“This is the child then?” Her stepmother looked over James, and her expression was one of extreme distaste.
“This is James.” Lucy held him out for her to see.
“Oh, he is adorable,” Amelia cooed. “Might I hold him?”
“I would prefer if you did not,” Lucy’s stepmother spoke quickly before Amelia had a chance to take the baby. “What will you do if he is sick on you? Babies are unpredictable like that.”
Lucy laughed gently. “I promise you have nothing to fear in that regard.”
“But you cannot be certain,” her stepmother said. “Amelia, put your hands down.”
Amelia frowned at her mother, and Lucy wondered if she might argue. Of course, she did no such thing, because Amelia was nothing if not obedient. Where Lucy had been known to get into heated arguments with her stepmother, Amelia would never dare step out of line.
“And where is your husband?” her stepmother asked, looking up and down the street. “His Grace? Why is he not here to greet us?”
Lucy hesitated in her response.
The truth of the matter was that Lucy had not told Marcus that her stepmother and stepsister were visiting.
They had not spoken once since their argument, and Lucy saw no reason why he needed to be told about such things.
Did he not want her to live her own life?
Did he not specifically say that he wanted little to do with her?
As far as she was concerned, this had nothing to do with him.
Not that she could tell her stepmother this. Lucy was only too aware that she needed to pretend that her marriage was a happy one, because if her stepmother suspected for even a second that something was wrong, she would gladly tell all and sundry about it. Why, she would relish the opportunity.
“Alas, he is rather busy today.” Lucy sighed as if this upset her. “But he is home, in his office, and he promises to make it down a little later on. He really does wish for a chance to see you both.”
“If that was the case, he would be here.”
“He is a hard worker,” Lucy pressed. “It is not personal, I assure you.”
Her stepmother narrowed her eyes and studied Lucy as if she suspected the lie. Lucy smiled and fluttered her eyelashes, doing her best to appear honest.
“Very well,” her stepmother sighed finally. “I suppose you might as well show us inside. Please tell me that you have refreshments served. Or are we expected to starve?”
“Of course I do.” Lucy breathed a sigh of relief. “Right this way.”
She tucked James into her chest, she smiled at her stepsister, and she led the two of them into her house.
So far, this is going about as badly as could be expected. But do not let that worry you, Lucy. Once they see how happy I am, how at ease, they will both surely be happy for me. They are not here to cause chaos.
Five minutes later saw the three of them sitting in the morning room. The main window took up half the wall, allowing the morning sun to shine across the spacious quarters. Lucy had a table set for them to sit at, and she was sure to have tea and sweetmeats already plated before they arrived.
“I do hope the tea is not cold,” her stepmother said as she sat down, while eyeing the tea with extreme reservation. “How long has this tea been sitting out for?”
The side of Lucy’s lip twitched. “Oh, I was sure to wait until you arrived. It has only been a few minutes.”
Her stepmother raised an eyebrow and did not look convinced. “Let us hope that is the case.”
As they sat down, Lucy left James to crawl around the room.
There was nothing dangerous in the room that he might get himself into, and she had done this many times as there was no need to keep a constant eye on him.
In truth, she liked seeing him so free, and she had no desire to curb this independence.
However, as Lucy should have expected, her stepmother did not approve.
“I see you have not fully embraced motherhood yet…” She eyed James crawling across the floor. “I suppose I should not be surprised. You always were rather self-involved.”
Again, the side of Lucy’s lip twitched but she kept her temper. “He enjoys exploring. Most days, I leave him to crawl about – not that I do not watch him. I am always with him, of course, but he prefers his freedom.”
“Is freedom something a child needs?” Her stepmother took a sip of tea and grimaced as if the taste upset her. “In my personal experience, structure and discipline are best when they are at this age. It breeds it into them early.”
“Perhaps when he is older.” Lucy spoke politely, refusing to be drawn into an argument. “He is only one, so there is no need to worry too much on such things.”
Her stepmother rolled her eyes. “I do hope His Grace is not so lax with the boy. He never did strike me as one who allows such tomfoolery.”
“He trusts me,” Lucy said, an edge to her voice now. “And that is what matters.”
“And where is he?” Her stepmother looked around the room. “When is he coming down?”
“Soon…” Lucy’s stomach twisted and she wondered how she might get through today without Marcus coming to see her stepmother and stepsister. “I have informed him that you are here, so, as soon as he is available. Truly, I know he will be happy to see you both.”
“I would hope so,” her stepmother sighed. “After all we did for him. This marriage was a blessing for him, and I would appreciate it if he showed some gratitude.”
Lucy breathed deeply, needed because her anger started to boil away inside of her. It had been just three weeks since she’d last seen or spoken with her stepmother, enough time that she was able to forget just how insufferable the woman was.
“How is Father?” she pivoted. “I wish he was able to come today.”
“Fine,” her stepmother said. “Perhaps you should come to us, if you are so eager to see him.” She looked around the morning room and her lip curled again. “Or are you too good for such things now?”
Lucy’s jaw clenched. Her eyes flashed rage. Her stepmother raised an eyebrow when she saw it, the softest of smirks finding her lips. She wanted Lucy to get angry, as if this might prove how little she had changed.
Do not fall for it, Lucy. Be calm… give her nothing.
“Amelia!” Lucy focused her attention on her stepsister. “How have you been? I feel like we have so much to catch up on.”
Amelia had been watching James crawl about the room, and she wore a longing expression as she did. While Amelia had never expressed personally to Lucy her desire to have a child of her own, Lucy always suspected that she saw such things in her future.
It made her wonder, in fact, if having James here was such a good idea. While she and Amelia were not enemies, their relationship had always been competitive… and it was entirely Lucy’s stepmother’s fault.
Growing up, Amelia had been treated as the clear favorite, while Lucy was considered second best. However, because Lucy was the eldest, her stepmother often liked to point out to Amelia how further along Lucy was in life, how she would marry first, and how imperative it was that Amelia not allow Lucy to get the best of her.
It meant that Amelia always saw Lucy as competition. Absurd, as she wanted for nothing and was the clear favorite of the two. Even Lucy’s marriage to the duke was sure to have caused envy, and now Lucy wondered if these last three weeks had seen this envy grow into outright jealousy.
“Amelia…” Lucy prodded.
“Oh!” Amelia pulled her attention from James. “I am sorry, I was just watching him crawl about. He is so adorable.”
“He is, isn’t he.” Lucy looked at James and smiled.
“You are so lucky, Lucy,” Amelia said with a hint of annoyance. “And that you practically just fell into having a child, the way that you did. If only we all could be so blessed.”