Page 103 of The Duchess' Replacement

Scandal!

Charles was always saying how their family couldn’t afford another scandal. Honora’s birth was the scandal.

The town must have turned their backs on his mother which would have been devastating considering how much she cared for them when she could. It must have torn Charles apart seeing his mother being treated like that.

“Do you know how she died?” The words tumbled out of Sarah’s mouth clumsily.

Eleanor chewed her bottom lip. “I’m not sure I remember.”

Derek cleared his throat. “I think it may have had to do with the birth of the child. There was some complications that she never fully recovered from. I think she passed a year or two after the child’s birth.”

Sarah’s heart shattered at the thought of a young Charles, who had lost both parents, who was now left a duchy and a small child. He must have felt so alone. And if the town had turned against his mother, that means they must’ve turned their back on him in his hour of need.

Sarah slumped back in her chair. Her soul ached for the loss that young Charles must have felt.

She looked out the window. It wasn’t too late. She could go home now and talk with Charles, tell him she knows everything and nothing is a secret anymore. He can be open with her and she’d still be there.

Sarah met Eleanor’s eyes. She found comfort, understanding, and patience in her sister’s eyes.

Just then, Sarah had a thought. Eli.

She had seen the way Charles dismissed his own brother and he surely knows all of the families secrets. What’s to say even if Sarah would tell him she knows and understands that he won’t just continue to shut her out when he feels it necessary?

Melancholy seeped into her bones and settled in.

What good is knowing the truth, if the person who is hiding from it, doesn’t want to acknowledge it?

CHAPTER 27

Sarah sat in the library staring at the same page she’d been looking at for the past hour. She had hoped time away from Charles would help clear her mind and put things into perspective. Unfortunately for her, it has only muddled her mind more.

“Sarah?” Marie, Eleanor’s maid, stepped into the library. “There’s someone here to see you. Niles escorted him to the parlor. He is waiting for you there. Would you like me to get Her Grace to accompany you?”

Sarah sat up. Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be Charles come for her?

“Do you know who it is, Marie?” Sarah couldn’t hide the hopefulness in her voice.

Marie pursed her lips. “I’m sorry, Your Grace, I do not.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “He looks about your age, perhaps a year or two older. Dark hair, beautiful green eyes…” Her voice drifted off when she caught herself getting lost in her recall.

Her cheeks brightened to a pink. “Excuse me, Your Grace. I didn’t mean to say all that.”

Sarah chuckled. “It’s all right, Marie. We all get lost in eyes sometimes, especially when they’re green.”

Sarah brushed the wrinkles out of her skirt as she stood. She followed Marie down the hall and towards the parlor. All the while her mind was going through the men she knew that would pay her a visit.

Sadly, a man her age was not Charles. She knew plenty of men with dark hair, but only two with dark hair and green eyes.

“Eli.” She whispered as her eyes met his from where he stood in the parlor. “What are you doing here?”

Eli turned at his name and sheepishly greeted her. “Sarah. I hope you’re not upset I came to see you.”

He rubbed his hands together in front of him, he looked uncertain of his next step now that she was here.

Sarah lifted a shoulder. “I don’t see why I would be. Is everything all right?”

Eli ran a hand through his hair, leaving it sticking up in some places. He blew out a breath. “I was hoping we could talk.”

His words trailed into an awkward silence.

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