Lady Knowe apparently read her expression, because she turned to Maddie without taking a breath. “So, tell me, when will your child be born?” she asked, gesturing toward Maddie’s pillow.

She turned a little pink. “Three months. Or so.” She cleared her throat.

“Maddie will stay with me until the child arrives,” Ophelia said, giving Lady Knowe a look that told her the subject was closed.

Lady Knowe broke out laughing. “In case I didn’t think that you had the gumption to be a duchess, the glance you just gave me would have proved me wrong.”

Ophelia felt herself turning pink again. But there was one question she had: “Will you really be leaving the castle and moving to Kent?”

“I would not wish to be in my brother’s household if it would cause the least disquiet in his marriage. It can be difficult if two women share domestic duties.”

“Oh, please,” Ophelia said, putting her cards on the table. “I adore my daughter. I am growing . . . fond of the duke. But I think about walking into the castle and eight children . . .” She stopped hopelessly.

“You will grow to love them, because they are vastly lovable,” Lady Knowe said, smiling. “Even when they are naughty.”

“I was charmed by them yesterday,” Ophelia said. She turned to Maddie. “The three youngest had made up some questions to determine who would be a good mother. Unfortunately, I failed all three.”

Maddie blinked. “I can’t imagine a better mother than you!”

“She doesn’t have any false teeth, she would like another baby, and she doesn’t care for the idea of a pet rat,” Lady Knowe said. “Flat failure on all counts and yet, you’ll be happy to know that the nursery was unanimous in their declaration that Hugo should choose you. Horatius announced their decision at dinner last night.”

Ophelia could feel herself turning pink. “That was very kind of them, given that Betsy informed me that there are no free beds in the nursery.”

“I have been informed that the nursery thinks a white rat would make a perfect wedding gift,” Lady Knowe said.

“I would be very grateful if you would consider making your home with us,” Ophelia said to her, ignoring the prospect of a pet rodent. She hadn’t yet accepted the duke’s proposal, but here she was, making domestic arrangements. “I have no wish to manage a castle by myself or, truly, to manage a castle at all.”

Lady Knowe’s eyes searched her face.

“Far more importantly, as I see it, you are the children’s mother,” Ophelia said. “To rip you away from them would be terrible. I cannot imagine moving away from my daughter, Viola. Nor would she be happy without me.”

“I will admit that I find the idea of leaving them painful.”

“You were never planning to leave,” Maddie said. “You just told Lady Woolhastings as much to frighten her off.”