Page 89 of Wedded to the Duke of Seduction

Leo’s laugh was humorless. “It seemed like the right choice. The responsible decision of an eldest son.” He moved back to his chair though he remained standing behind it, his hands gripping the back as if needing the support. “I didn’t realize until later that responsibility can be the perfect disguise for cowardice.”

The self-loathing in his voice made Marina want to reach for him, but something in the way he held his body kept her in her seat. This was a confession he needed to make in his own way.

“What do you mean?” she asked instead.

“I mean I told myself I was doing the right thing. I was protecting the family name, securing the dukedom’s future, being the dutiful son my father expected.” Leo’s knuckles whitened on the chair back. “But the truth was simpler and far less flattering. I was afraid to defy my father, afraid to risk my inheritance and position for love.”

The raw honesty in his voice struck Marina deeply. This wasn’t the composed, controlled duke she had first met nor even the passionate lover of the past few weeks. This was Leo stripped of all pretense, revealing a vulnerability she hadn’t known he had.

“And William?” she prompted gently.

Leo’s expression darkened. “William was always more impulsive than I was. Always more willing to follow his heart regardless ofthe consequences. He was also desperately hungry for anything I possessed, particularly our father’s approval which always seemed to come more easily to me.”

“And Felicity?”

“Apparently, she turned her attentions to William after I broke things off,” Leo said, the words bit out as if each caused him pain. “I didn’t realize until it was too late. One night during Lady Hartsworth’s ball, I found them together in the garden. Felicity made it clear that she preferred William’s courage to my caution.”

Marina could almost see the scene. The shock and betrayal Leo must have felt, the wounded pride, losing both the woman he loved and the brother he trusted in a single devastating moment.

“They left that night,” Leo said, finally sinking into the chair. “By morning, I discovered they had taken a substantial portion of the family’s unentailed fortune. It was money that provided for William and any future children I might have.”

“They stole from you?” Marina couldn’t keep the shock from her voice.

“Technically from the family trust, but yes.” Leo’s mouth twisted. “The scandal was immediate and vicious. When they couldn’t be found, rumors began circulating that I had discovered them, murdered them both in a jealous rage, and disposed of their bodies.”

Marina gasped. “But surely there was an investigation?”

“There was. Very thorough, in fact. No evidence of foul play was found, and several witnesses reported seeing them board a ship for the continent.” Leo rubbed a hand across his face, suddenly looking exhausted. “But the damage was done. The ton loves a good scandal, and the idea that the Duke of Blackmere’s heir had murdered his brother and lover was far too delicious of a rumor not to spread simply because it wasn’t true.”

The bitterness in his voice made Marina’s heart ache. “And your parents? Did they believe these rumors?”

“My father knew better, but the public disgrace broke something in him. He died two years later.” Leo’s voice dropped to a near-whisper. “My mother was less certain. She had always favored William. She couldn’t imagine him stealing or running away. The only explanation that made sense to her was that something terrible must have happened.”

“Oh, Leo,” Marina breathed, unable to remain distant any longer. She rose and kneeled beside his chair, taking his hand in hers. “How horrible for you.”

“She died believing I might have harmed her favorite son,” Leo said, his fingers tightening around Marina’s. “That was the hardest part to bear.”

“And you’ve been searching for William ever since?” Marina asked, pieces of the puzzle finally falling into place. “To clear your name?”

“To clear my name, yes. But also…” Leo hesitated and looked down at their joined hands. “To understand why. Why Felicity chose William over me. Why my brother betrayed me. Why they felt the need to steal rather than simply leave. For ten years, those unanswered questions have driven me.”

Marina was silent for a long moment, absorbing the full weight of his confession. It explained so much—his initial suspicion of her motives, his resistance to emotional entanglement, his obsession with finding William at any cost.

“Have you ever considered that you might not like the answers to those questions?” she asked gently.

Leo’s eyes met hers, surprise evident in their depths. “What do you mean?”

“Sometimes we pursue closure at the expense of moving forward,” Marina said, choosing her words carefully. “For months after Henry’s death, I was consumed with proving to the ton that I wasn’t responsible for his death. I thought if I could just make them see the truth, I could reclaim my place in society.”

“And now?”

“Now, I realize that my focus on the past was preventing me from building a future,” she said simply. “Some wounds will never heal if we keep reopening them.”

Leo studied her face for a long moment. “You think I should abandon my search for William?”

“I think you should consider what you hope to gain by finding him,” Marina replied. “And whether that gain is worth the cost of remaining tied to such a painful past.”

The honesty between them hung in the air, fragile yet strengthening. Marina held her breath, uncertain if she had overstepped.

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