I did.
I told her everything.
How I wasn’t able to say who I was, how I’d really met Hugo, how he, Henry, and Nancy knew who I was, how worried I was about pulling this off when I’d messed up at almost every turn, how I didn’t know how to tell the truth now that I was in this hole, and I even said about Hugo’s jokes and how Evelyn was so wonderful.
I also admitted how conflicted I was about the way I felt, and how Cait had brought up some really good points yesterday.
“That’s a lot,” Nora said, looking out at the sky as the last of the light dwindled away to twilight. “First, I’ll say that you could do a lot worse than Hugo.” She winked at me before turning her attention forwards again. “Secondly, you’re not wrong about Anna. She’s very proper, very particular, and likes things done a certain way. She’s always moved at one hundred miles a minute and getting her to listen when it’ll divert her from her train of thought has always been terribly difficult.”
“You say that like you know.”
She chuckled. “Oh, dear, I was her drama teacher for three years. I am entirely aware of our duchess’s qualities.”
“Ah.”
“Indeed.” She tapped her fingers against her legs, drawing Oscar’s attention. “Your situation with Camilla is unfortunate. I do agree with our Caitlyn that she didn’t do quite enough at the beginning to ensure it was known that you would taking her place, but circumstances beyond your control have changed things. That said, now…” She reached over and patted my knee. “You are allowed to be frustrated, Sophie. You’re only human, my dear, and your feelings do not have to be dictated by what society deems to be right or wrong. Only you know how you truly feel, and how you feel about something is never, ever wrong. It belongs to you and you only.”
A lump formed in my throat. “Thank you. I feel terrible because she’s hurting so much but I’m so annoyed at everything.”
Nora kept her hand on my knee. “I know. And that is completely and utterly fine. You are in a very difficult situation right now, but let your heart be soothed by the knowledge that I shall not reveal your true identity to anyone until such a time you tell me to.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“I trust Caitlyn will be doing the same.”
I nodded. “I don’t think Hugo or Henry will say anything, either.”
“I doubt that very much. But Nancy…”
“I get the impression not many people like her.”
Nora shook her head. “She’s not from around here. Anna hired her out of London, and she’s never really given much of her time to settling in outside of Cavendish House. She’s very… devoted… to Anna.”
“That sounds like there’s a story there.”
The older woman sighed. “I don’t like to gossip.”
“That’s what my mother says. On the contrary, she enjoys it very much.”
Nora’s shoulders shook with her laughter. “I try not to gossip,” she corrected herself. “I do like a good chinwag every now and then, but I try to refrain from discussing things that don’t have any semblance of truth behind them.”
“A wise thing to do.”
“Indeed. However, I am in possession of a titbit of knowledge that might be relevant to your situation, given what you’ve shared with me this evening.”
I turned to her. “You are?”
“Yes. Do not by any means take what I’m about to share with you as fact, and I’d appreciate you keeping it to yourself. At the very least, don’t say I told you if you do share it for whatever reason.”
“I promise.”
She rocked her head from side to side, stretching out her neck, and said, “I’ve heard from someone I consider to be a reliable source that Nancy is rather put out that she was not selected to arrange Evelyn’s birthday party. Apparently, Anna confided all her wishes in her to the point she believed Anna would put her in charge, but then she had her contact your Camilla.”
I blinked at her.
Was she saying—
No.