“I’ll die here,” she vowed. “And you’ll have no one to blame but yourself. I could have died at home, in my own bed, surrounded by my sons, but you’ve taken that away from me. I’m only surrounded by strangers, my own family having abandoned me.”

“Mother—”

“Don’t call me that.” She bit the words, sending an arrow through his heart as the words sliced through him. “Even Robert doesn’t visit.” She sobbed. “Robert would love me. It’s you… You’re keeping him away!”

Rowles turned to the nurse, waving his hand a little as if imploring help. The nurse saw his motion and met his expression with her own filled with sorrow and pity.

Damn, he hated pity.

He hated feeling as if he’d betrayed his mother more, however.

“Duchess, it’s teatime. I have some lovely biscuits as well.” The nurse changed the subject, offering a cheery alternative.

“The tea here is terrible.”

“It’s the same tea as from your very own kitchens, Duchess. I made sure of it. And your cook made the biscuits. That’s how I know they are the best—a duchess of your caliber would have the best cook.”

“Cook is talented,” his mother admitted, almost against her will it sounded. She even rolled over and sat up. “It isn’t a proper day without tea, I suppose.”

“No, my lady, it is not,” the nurse agreed emphatically. “I’ll have it brought up directly. Did you wish for anything else to accompany it? Cake perhaps?”

“Yes. I do want cake.”

“Of course.” The nurse gave a delicate curtsy and then quit the room. She conveyed the duchess’s desires to a maid and dispatched her directly to the kitchens.

“Tea will be here soon. Do you wish to sit by the window?” the nurse asked, a bright expression on her face, as if the power of her will could lift the spirits of the entire room.

Her efforts failed.

“No. I’m ill.” She glared at Rowles. “Or so I’m told. I must stay in bed, I assume.”

“You may do whatever you wish, Mother.”

“Except go home,” she added, casting a dark look his direction.

“Perhaps soon, if you recover.”

“Or I’ll die. But at least I’ll die having tea. It’s more than you offered.” She glared at him and made a small effort to sit up in her bed.

Rowles reached out to assist her, but she batted his hands away. “I thought I told you not to touch me.”

Raising his hands in surrender, he backed up and allowed the nurse to assist his mother instead.

“There you go, easy now.” The nurse stepped in quickly and effortlessly, adjusting a few pillows and even straightening his mother’s mobcap. “Are you sure you don’t wish to have tea by the window? There’s a lovely view of the courtyard.”