Page 4 of Wedded to the Sinful Duke

“I didn’t know whether to believe the rumors or not when I heard you were back home,” Sarah launched her barrage of prying questions. “There is just so much we don’t know!”

“Isn’t that an omnipresent human condition?” Ciara threw an amused glance in Adeline’s direction, but it flew over Sarah’s head.

“Is it really true that you lived in a nunnery? My goodness! I can only imagine what that must have felt like. Did you ever consider taking vows? It must have been so different over there. Do you find all this,” she gestured at the bustling garden, “overwhelming? I mean, even a… rebel such as yourself might not find it so easy to readjust to life in the ton, especially aftereverything you have done. People do make terrible mistakes, but I suppose some are not that easily forgotten, are they?”

“I—”

“No,” Adeline interfered immediately, taking a step in front of Ciara. “What shedoesfind overwhelming are foolish questions asked by people who have no business asking them.”

Ciara almost gasped loudly at her best friend’s comment, which even took her off guard. Sarah and her friends looked shocked, their eyes wide with disbelief. But Adeline stood there, unapologetically staring back at Sarah, who quickly regained composure.

“Oh, come now, Miss Middleton,” Sarah said with mock innocence, as her friends giggled behind her. “We are just curious. It is not every day we stumble upon someone with such an… interesting background. A nunnery, of all places! I must say, it does make one wonder what sort of life led to such an exile. Whispers say it takes quite the scandal to be sent away like that. Secrets always have a way of coming out, don’t they? Especially the sordid ones. Perhaps, Miss Everton, you could enlighten us all with the tawdry details? After all, if one lived through something, one should be bold enough to tell about it.”

Ciara knew what that meant. They probably knew what landed her in the nunnery in the first place. She had a feeling that all of London knew it. Her life was an open book for everyone to see, for everyone to make fun of. It was an unbearable feeling.

She tugged at Adeline’s sleeve, wanting to escape the conversation. “Please, Adeline, let’s just go.”

Adeline hesitated, glaring at Sarah. “You should be ashamed of yourself, Miss Danforth.”

Sarah’s eyes widened in mock innocence. “I didn’t mean to offend her. I was merely asking questions, trying to be friendly. After all, not everyone finds themselves hidden away after such… indiscretions. One must wonder, with such a tainted past, what future can one possibly hope for? A gentleman of good standing would think twice, wouldn’t he?”

“If that is you being friendly, I dread to think how you behave otherwise,” Adeline said with chosen words, but Ciara could hear the rage boiling just underneath the surface.

Ciara could not take it any longer. “Excuse us,” she addressed Sarah and her friends as she tugged Adeline away.

The laughter of the ladies they left behind rang in her ears for a long time afterward. Adeline herself looked frustrated, but she allowed Ciara to lead her away, casting one last scathing look over her shoulder.

Once they were out of earshot, Adeline turned to Ciara, her expression softening. “That was really mean of her, Ciara. I am sorry. I should have thrown a glass of red wine on her gown.”

Ciara’s eyes widened in amusement as she imagined the commotion, but even that was not enough to make her feel better. “It’s not your fault, Adeline. You cannot repair what was once broken or pretend that it never broke in the first place…” She sighed heavily. She felt as if she were a burden to her friend, who instead of having fun had to be her line of defense. A part of her wished she had not come at all. “I… I just need a moment to myself. Do you mind?”

Adeline’s prior frustration now completely melted into concern for her friend. “Of course, Ciara. You take a few moments to yourself; I will be by the refreshments table.”

“All right,” Ciara nodded. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” Adeline smiled, taking her friend by the hand. “I am here for you for whatever you need.”

Ciara gave her a grateful nod and hurried off, weaving through the crowd until she found a secluded spot in the garden. She leaned against a tree, taking deep breaths to calm herself. The interaction with Sarah had rattled her more than she wanted to admit. She closed her eyes, trying to push away the feeling of being scrutinized and judged.

“Trying to hide from everyone, I see?” she suddenly heard a familiar voice.

She opened her eyes, and the sight of her uncle, Brendan Snowley, the Earl of Hopwich, greeted her.

“Is it that obvious?” she asked with a shy smile, feeling a tidal wave of relief upon seeing him.

“I saw what happened,” he admitted, standing by her side.

“It’s just… people being their worst selves,” she said with a dismissive half-shrug.

“Why does it bother you then?” he asked.

“I wish everyone would just leave me alone,” she confessed her deepest desire, one she knew would never come true.

He laughed as if she had said the funniest thing in the world. “Yes, we all wish that sometimes.”

She sighed. “I thought I was ready for this,” she mused. “But… it’s harder than I expected.”

He turned to her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “You are doing wonderfully, Ciara. Don’t allow a few thoughtless people to make you doubt yourself.”

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