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Sae had shared only the barest bones of this tragedy and it had still been devastating She had never realised how alone he had been in his love for his son

‘You keep saying “naturally”,’ she said ‘I see nothing natural about any of this other than Edge’s love for his son Do you mean to say that for the whole year between Jacob’s illness and death Dora was coddling her nerves in Bath, being e, while his own father proclaimed it an act of God that a baby suffer and die? And you stood by and didn’t howl to the heavens at horong this was?’

The Duchess plucked at soown She opened her mouth to speak, but Sas were shaking

‘I am sorry, Your Grace, but you must excuse rateful to you You will never kno much’

She had finally succeeded in exciting an emotion other than disdain from the woman, if surprise could be considered an emotion

‘Grateful?’

‘Yes, grateful I did not understand how you could have given away your child, a boy of six, but it was the very best thing you could have done Poppy and Janet loved him with all their enormous hearts, unconditionally They helped make him the marvellous, unique man he is Someone any natural parent would be so proud of they would likely purchase a hundred copies of his novels and force all their friends to read theht tooth and nail to protect his privacy if he so wished it It broke their hearts when yourwhen their grandson died It broke their hearts when Edge went even further away and they had to let hio and hope he would return I saw their faces when he arrived in Qetara That is love And I guarantee you that they are probably even now filled with happiness at the thought that they will see hie will always turn to them when he needs to see what he is really like Not to you’

‘Yes I know And now to you What do you call him when you wish to annoy him?’ the Duchess asked

Sam felt very much as if she’d run off a cliff Her breath was still choppy, her heart beating faster than a horse at a gallop, but she’d lost her ground The Duchess wasn’t even looking at her, but over her shoulder, and with a shiver of pre just outside the open door Edge was holding Rafe’s arm, whether to support hi on a cane and he moved forward aardly

‘Yes, Sa when you wish to annoy hie Hello, Mother I ad me’

‘I dare say I have You are not looking well, Rafael These past two years have not dealt kindly with you Do sit down before you fall down’ She patted the sofa by her, but Rafe ed to ease himself into an armchair opposite her Sam wavered and found herself pressed back down on to the sofa by Edge He sat within reach but unreachable, his gaze on the Duchess

‘What ga just now, Mother?’