Page 59 of Wedded to the Duke of Seduction

Neither man had an immediate answer to this, and Leo returned to his seat with a sigh. “Anyway, it seems my search has hit another dead end. Matthews sent word last week that he’s lost their trail completely after Brussels.”

“Perhaps it’s time to consider a different approach,” Dorian suggested carefully. “You’ve been searching alone for years with limited success. Gerard and I have connections throughout Europe. Let us help.”

“Ashthorne’s right,” Gerard agreed. “Between the three of us, we could cast a wider net. I have business contacts in Prussia and Russia who could be alerted to watch for them.”

Leo was touched by the offer though not surprised. These men had made the same suggestion repeatedly over the years, only to be met with his stubborn refusal.

“I appreciate the thought, truly, but this is my burden to bear.”

“Stubborn as ever,” Dorian muttered though his tone was affectionate. “Marriage hasn’t softened you in the slightest.”

At the mention of his marriage, Leo felt a now familiar tension creep up his spine.

It had been two weeks since his confrontation with Marina after the opera. Two weeks of careful politeness and maintained distance.

They took meals together when social obligations required it, exchanged pleasantries about household matters, and otherwise occupied separate spheres within the townhouse. It was exactly the arrangement they had agreed upon, yet Leo found himself increasingly dissatisfied with it.

“Speaking of your marriage,” Gerard ventured, oblivious to Leo’s internal turmoil, “Seraphina mentioned the Duchess has joined their weekly literary circle. Apparently, she has quite remarkable insights about the latest publications.”

“Does she?” Leo replied, struggling to maintain a casual tone.

The thought of Marina discussing books with Gerard’s wife, sharing her thoughts and passions with others while remaining coolly distant with him, provoked an irrational flare of jealousy.

“Alice says she’s brilliant,” Dorian added. “Though she seems to believe you’re keeping her hidden away. We’ve scarcely seen either of you since the wedding.”

Leo snorted. “Hardly. Marina has her own engagements and pursuits. She’s perfectly free to come and go as she pleases.”

His friends exchanged another meaningful glance that Leo pretended not to notice.

“Well, when you find William,” Gerard said, changing the subject, “what then? It’s been a decade, Leo. The boy you knew is now a man—with ten years of experiences without you. He will not be the William you once knew.”

It was a question Leo had asked himself countless times. Yet, he still had no answers.

“I suppose I’ll drag him back to London, clear his name as best I can, and then break both his arms for all the trouble he’s caused.”

The comment, intended to lighten the mood, elicited chuckles from his friends, but Leo knew the reality would be far more complicated. Having disappeared with a sizeable chunk of the family fortune, William had abandoned his responsibilities. He had prioritized his love for Felicity over his family. Even if Leo found him, reconciliation and redemption weren’t guaranteed.

“And what about Felicity?” Dorian asked.

This was a question Leo had always avoided.

“What about her?” Leo’s voice sharpened.

“Surely, you cannot let her get away with what she’s done to your reputation and family.”

Leo frowned. For years, he had channeled his hurt and betrayal into bitter anger. Many times, he imagined the moment he would confront William and Felicity with their actions. With the benefit of hindsight and his own unforeseen marriage, the answer seemed less obvious.

“For so long, finding them has been the goal. I’ve given less thought to what comes after.”

“Perhaps because the search itself has become more important than the resolution,” Gerard suggested quietly. “The pursuit of something can become so central to who we are that we dread success more than defeat.”

Leo’s brows furrowed, uncomfortable with the insight that hit too close to home. “I’m not afraid of finding William.”

“No,” Dorian agreed. “But you might be afraid of what finding him would mean. Without that mission, who are you?”

The question hung in the air, unanswered because Leo had no answer to give.

For a decade, his life had been defined by his quest to find William, to clear his own name, to restore the family honor. The search had given him purpose, direction, a reason to keep moving when grief and scandal had threatened to destroy him.

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