Page 70 of A Dilemma for the Duke

The journey home blurred past, her thoughts a storm of emotions. Betrayal, hurt, love, and longing all intertwined into one. By the time she reached Fallsmith Manor, a numbness had set in.

Retreating to the sanctuary of her room, she sank onto the window seat, gazing unseeingly at the horizon.

“How do I move forward from this?” she murmured to herself.

As twilight deepened, her confidence grew stronger. Rockford would not break her. But whether she could forgive or trust him again remained a question.

A gentle knock interrupted her spiraling thoughts. “Lora, it’s me—Harriet,” her friend’s voice called softly from the other side of the door. “May I come in?”

Lora clenched her hands in her lap, her knuckles white. “Not now, Harriet,” Lora managed between breaths.

“Please,” Harriet persisted, a note of concern threading through her words.

For a moment, Lora stared blankly at the intricate pattern of the rug, Rockford’s deception pressing heavily on her chest. Finally, with a weary sigh, she relented. “Come in.”

The door creaked open, and Harriet slipped inside, her eyes immediately searching Lora’s face. Without a word, she crossed the room and sat beside her on the window seat, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders.

Lora drew a shaky breath. “He admitted it,” she said hoarsely, her gaze fixed on the rain-speckled glass. “He played me false.”

Harriet’s expression softened, her brow knitting with empathy. “Oh, Lora… I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t know what to do,” Lora whispered, her voice quivering. “Part of me wants to hate him, but” she glanced up at Harriet, tears running down her cheek. “…I can’t.”

“Feelings are seldom simple,” Harriet murmured gently. “But perhaps there’s more to his story than we know.”

Lora turned to face her, anger flashing in her tear-filled eyes. “He lied to me, Harriet. Deceived me completely. How can there be more?”

Harriet held her gaze. “People can make mistakes, sometimes with the best intentions. Only you can decide whether to seek the truth and forgive.”

Lora swiped at her tears angrily. “He shattered my trust. Why should I give him the benefit of the doubt?”

Harriet hesitated before speaking, choosing her words carefully. “Because I’ve been hearing things, rumblings among the social circles. The same rumors are spreading, and it seems the accusations aren’t isolated.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Lora’s face. “It wasn’t just one letter?”

Harriet shook her head slowly. “No. It appears someone has been very deliberate in spreading these rumors. Many of the people I’ve spoken to received similar anonymous letters. The content and timing are alarming.”

Lora’s brow furrowed, confusion mingling with her hurt. “But what could be the motive? Why go to such lengths to defame Rockford and implicate me?”

“There are a few possibilities.” Harriet took her hand and leaned in slightly. “Some suggest it might be out of envy or social rivalry. Rockford’s recent actions could have unsettled certain individuals. Others believe it could be tied to financial interests, particularly regarding the art auction and a commission he’s rumored to have received.”

Lora frowned deeply. “But that’s not true. He didn’t receive a commission. In fact, he paid the art dealer’s commission himself. He wouldn’t accept any reimbursement even though I authorized the draft.”

Harriet’s eyes widened slightly. “Don’t you see? If they have that wrong, perhaps other details are fabricated as well. Someone is manipulating the narrative.”

Lora’s mind raced, the pieces of a larger puzzle beginning to surface. “He admitted to me that he hasn’t been truthful,” she murmured. “But that still doesn’t explain who would orchestrate this or why.”

Harriet squeezed her hand gently. “Lora, you know him better than anyone. If you believe there’s more to the story, then shouldn’t you be the one to uncover it?”

Harriet lowered her voice. “I discovered something troubling. Viscount Montague met with several government colleagues and Hastings around the same time these letters began circulating.”

Lora’s eyes narrowed, suspicion sharpening her features. “Montague and Hastings? But Montague is the Deputy Secretary of the Board of Control.”

“With responsibility for finance.”

She met Harriet’s gaze. “What could they gain from discrediting Rockford or sabotaging the clinic?”

“I have to admit, it’s difficult to say. But their involvement suggests this is more than petty gossip.” Harriet bent close to Lora. “There might be a larger scheme here, perhaps involving political conspiracies and financial gain.”

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