Page 69 of Her Sinful Duke

“Your Grace,” she said with a trembling voice. “Good morning… I am so sorry to barge in like this, but I needed to speak to you.”

“No, no, it’s fine, Adeline,” he assured her, offering a seat. “Please.”

She hesitated for a moment then she sat down. Her eyes were wide, darting in all directions, as if she were afraid that someone might overhear them. He wanted to tell her that he had the same intention of coming to see her, but he bit his tongue. He wanted to hear what she had come to say.

“May I offer you something?” he asked, not forgetting his manners. “Some tea?”

“No, no,” she shook her head. “I won’t be taking up much of your time; I… I just came to tell you something…”

“What?” he asked eagerly, taking a seat opposite her and leaning closer. He could see that she hesitated to commence, so he tried to reassure her. “Anything you say here, Adeline, will remain between us. I promise you.”

She locked her gaze with his gratefully. That was exactly what she needed to hear.

“All right,” she nodded, inhaling deeply. “I woke up early this morning as I couldn’t sleep. Like you, I hadn’t spoken to Penelope right before all of this happened, but I just couldn’t escape the feeling that something was wrong.”

“I know,” he interrupted her but then bit his tongue. “I’m sorry, please… go on.”

She smiled weakly, but that was enough of a reassurance for them both to know that they were on the same side. They were allies in this search for Penelope, and it made James hopeful that they would find her, wherever she was.

“So, while everyone was still asleep, I went downstairs to the kitchen, hoping to find someone and have an early breakfast, and I overheard two servants whispering.” That was where she paused, looking down at her hands which rested nervously in her lap, her fingers twitching. It took her a moment to continue, but he didn’t push her. If she needed time to process this information and then to share it, he would give it to her.

Finally, she continued, “One of the servants said that she saw something… something terrible. I… I still can’t believe it. She said that she was looking out the window at the exact moment when Penelope was arguing with Vanessa, and that Vanessa… that she… pushed Penelope into a carriage with instructions to the coachman to take her back to St. Catherine’s.”

“The nunnery?” he asked, remembering Penelope’s story.

“Yes,” Adeline nodded desperately, her eyes wide and brimming with tears. “I barged in, demanding an explanation. You see, Elizabeth has been with us for years, and she has been nothing but loyal, so I doubt that she would fabricate something as dreadful and terrifying as that. So, I asked her if she perhaps mistook Vanessa for someone else. After all, it was dark. I was hoping that she didn’t see it right, but she assured me that she was close enough not only to see everything but to hear it clearly as the window was slightly open to allow some fresh air into that room.”

“She was certain it all happened exactly like that?” James inquired gently. He could see how shaken Adeline was, and he understood her perfectly. His own mind was racing with the implications of what he had just heard and what that would mean for everyone involved.

“Yes,” Adeline nodded. “She swore to me on her mother’s life. And her mother is the only person she has. She would never lay such a claim unless it were true.”

“I see,” James sighed, getting up and sliding his fingers through his hair anxiously. “Did you tell your parents this?”

“I rushed back to my room, in an effort to steady myself, because I knew I had to confront Vanessa and tell them what I’ve learned. So during breakfast, I told my parents the entire story. It was the most difficult thing I ever had to do, and my heart was breaking.”

“And? What did they say?” he asked, breathlessly awaiting her answer.

“They were in shock as you would expect,” she continued. “But Vanessa denied everything, and as always, they chose to believe her over me. They always believe her. They said that Penelope probably ran away because she was unhappy with you and saw this as a way out without having to explain anything.”

James shook his head. He couldn’t believe that to be true, not after what they shared, not after the gift she had bestowed upon him.

“But I know that’s not true,” Adeline echoed his own thoughts, giving them a voice. “I’ve spoken to Penelope, and I know that she wasn’t unhappy with you. On the contrary, she saw this place as her new home, and you and your grandfather as her family. She wouldn’t have run away. I am absolutely certain of it.”

James smiled. “Thank you for those words, Adeline. I have been wrestling with my own mind, with my own heart, wondering if I have done or said anything to push her away, and I know I have. We had that horrible argument right before she disappeared, and I couldn’t help but blame myself for all of this. That is why I have taken it upon myself to find her, but I didn’t know where to start.”

“You know where she is now,” she reminded him. “Vanessa sent her away to St. Catherine’s. And the nuns there… they are more cruel than you could ever imagine. You have to go there and bring her back.”

James nodded. “That is exactly what I shall do.”

“And I will come with you,” she announced.

She stood up. He could see the determination and strength in her; someone so young, so loving, and so protective of her sister. He admired her, but he knew that he couldn’t take her with him.

“No,” he shook his head tenderly, walking over to her and taking her by the hand. In this moment, she was not only Penelope’s sister but his sister as well. “I can’t let you do that. It might be dangerous. I don’t know what will happen, and I can’t worry about you as well. You have done your part, and I will be forever in your debt for it. But now, you have to go home and pretend that everything is all right. We can’t have anyone suspect that I know or that I am on my way there. Do you understand?”

She nodded silently. That was all she needed to do.

“I will bring your sister back, I promise,” he assured her, letting go of her hand and rushing to get the carriage ready.

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