Chapter 12

Fann rode in silence behind the row of women on horseback, grateful to Claire for finding the company to keep Eleanor insulated from those who might reveal the truth to her but also cursing her for having the women always around.

The morning after Beatrice had made her presence known, all four of Claire’s sisters had descended on them. Along with their throngs of children! Eleanor had been caught up in the happy chaos of it all ever since. He loved to see her smile and hear her laughter. He had a feeling there had been very little of that in the last eight years of her life. Here she woke every morning with a smile and it rarely left her lips.

On top of going riding at least three times a day, there had been copious quantities of daisy chains and picnics. Eleanor had even played at swords with the wee lads! The children all adored her. In the evenings there were games of checkers or readings in the Duchess’s private solar where her husband’s guests were not permitted to go. By the t