Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess Chapter 372: Quiet Sisterhood

Rowena's gaze softened with affection. "Forgive me for speaking boldly, but although you are the Duchess of Duskmoor, in my heart you feel more like a younger sister. As women, we both know how difficult pregnancy and childbirth can be. When I gave birth to Elara, I truly came close to death. Even now, remembering it still frightens me."

Her voice grew gentle.

"I sincerely hope everything goes smoothly for you. I hope nothing goes wrong."

Elowen felt warmth spread through her chest.

Sometimes she felt incredibly fortunate to have been given a second chance at life, one that allowed her to meet so many good people. Cassian, Elspeth and Rowena.

She nodded earnestly. "I'll remember. I'll be careful."

The two of them chatted a while longer about the palace banquet the previous night, especially about how Daphne had brought ruin upon herself.

When Rowena heard the full story, she sighed. "I heard you and she grew up together. Even if you weren't the closest of friends, there should have been some affection between you. Why was she so determined to frame you?"

Elowen thought for a moment. "She seems to hate me."

Rowena frowned slightly. "Hatred usually has a reason."

Tilting her head, Elowen realized she truly did not know why Daphne hated her.

She had overlooked that question before.

She only remembered that in her previous life, on one occasion Daphne had stared at her coldly and said something strange.

Daphne had said, "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have become like this."

But when Elowen searched her own conscience, she had always treated Daphne sincerely. Whenever possible, she had either helped her or protected her.

What had she done wrong to make Daphne despise her so much?

She could not figure it out. And in the end, she decided not to dwell on it.

Sometimes love and hatred did not need a clear reason.

"Oh, right."

Elowen changed the subject. "Miss Wrenner seems different today. Much more well-behaved than usual."

Rowena glanced at her daughter, then blinked in surprise.

It really is true.

Elara held her cup in both hands, her delicate cheeks flushed a soft pink. "I... I'm always well-behaved."

Rowena replied honestly, "You've clearly misunderstood yourself."

Elara's cheeks reddened even more, and she refused to speak to her mother anymore.

Gathering her courage, she looked at Elowen. "Your Grace... before we arrived today, did someone else visit the manor?"

Elowen paused.

Before Warren's family arrived at Duskmoor Manor, the only visitors had been Zachary and Flowira.

But their visit had been secret, and Elowen had no intention of revealing it.

Elara's eyes grew more eager. "Your Grace, could you tell me who he was?"

Elowen suddenly remembered something her sister-in-law had once told her.

When someone kept asking questions you did not want to answer, the best response was to ask one in return.

So Elowen smiled gently and asked, "Why do you ask so suddenly, Miss Wrenner?"

Elara froze, then lowered her gaze shyly. "I... I..."

"You child," Rowena said, clearly catching on. "You sound like a girl who's just fallen in love."

She paused, then added thoughtfully, "No, not just. More like for the second time."

Elara hurried to deny it. "I'm not!"

Rowena asked sharply, "Is it one of the two men we saw when we entered the manor?"

Elara blinked in confusion. Two men?

She only remembered one.

The man who had helped steady her with a considerate hand, his voice calm and pleasant, his face strikingly handsome.

Apparently she had been so focused on him that she completely ignored the other.

Rowena recalled the moment. "I only glanced briefly, but both of them were very handsome. One was tall and broad-shouldered. The other was slimmer. The slimmer one was the one who helped you, wasn't he?"

Elara's heart began racing under the questioning. She turned her head away and muttered, "Mother, please stop asking..."

Elowen quietly achieved her goal, hiding her satisfaction. She lifted her cup and took a leisurely sip.

"Well, if you don't want to say, then we'll leave it at that."

Rowena stood up as she spoke. "Your Grace, I've said what I came to say. We should head back."

Elowen quickly raised her head and offered, "You're leaving already? Why not stay and have lunch with us?"

Rowena smiled and declined gently. "It wouldn't be proper for our whole family to dine here. Besides, last night my husband cooked an entire feast. If we leave it sitting there, it will spoil and have to be thrown away. That would be such a waste."

Elowen could not insist, so she nodded. "All right."

Rowena headed toward the study to call her husband.

Elowen stood as well. "I'll come with you."

After Warren's family departed, only Elowen and Cassian remained in the study.

Cassian was still seated at his desk in his wheelchair, a faint smile in his eyes.

"Ella," he said softly. "Come here."

Elowen walked closer. She was about to sit on the chair beside him when Cassian reached out, caught her gently by the wrist, and pulled her down onto his lap.