Page 39 of Taken By the Broken Duke
She decided to be sincere with her cousin. Pretending to anything but the truth was a game that Frances enjoyed. Juliet would not emulate her.
“I have not seen the Duke for a number of days,” Juliet admitted.
Frances nodded somberly. “I feared as much.Ihave seen him. He has spent time with Mama and me, discussing the marriage that is to save His Grace from the scandal involving you. He is very keen to move things along and silence the gossips.Unfortunately, he is no longer as certain as he was that you are the best member of our family for him to unite with.”
Juliet felt a sinking feeling. She knew that it should make no difference to her. It was clear that she would not hold Horatio’s heart. In fact, she hoped not to, for she did not want him to grieve for her. Did not want Horatio, or any man, to waste away as her father had done. He had been a shadow of the man she remembered, broken by his inability to save his wife’s life. Made a husk by his hopeless quest.
She drew herself up before her cousin, lifting her chin and meeting her gaze. “Then I shall expect to hear from the Duke shortly, telling me that I should return to Wetherby,” she said.
“I expect so. Perhaps it would be best for you to slip away quietly. So as not to embarrass His Grace,” Frances offered.
She raised her hand and Juliet saw that she carried a leather purse. It clinked as she hefted it and then let it fall to the bed.
“A few pounds to help you on your way,” Frances continued. “Mama will speak to the butler of this house to request a carriage to take you to Little Hinton, and from there, you may gowhereveryou choose. Return to Wetherby if you wish.”
Juliet took a seat and regarded the purse silently for a long moment. “Are you so threatened by me, Frances?” she finally asked, looking her cousin in the eye.
She saw anger flare in the other woman’s face. Frances’ lips tightened into a flat line. “You do not deserve to be married to a Duke!Ido. I have worked for such a match since my debut!”
“You have dedicated yourself to finding a husband,” Juliet agreed.
“As is every woman’s duty!” Frances said, hotly.
“I see my life as worth more than simply being a wife,” Juliet replied.
“Do you? The Duke told us of yourillness,” Frances scoffed. “What illness? You try and snare him through pity? Your mother had some disease,youdo not. If you did, you would not be living in our house. If you must resort to such tactics to secure yourself a husband, then I am the one who feels pity for you. We told the Duke the truth of it. He knows that you conjured up that outlandish fantasy.”
Juliet stood and picked up the purse. It confirmed what she already knew. There was no hope for her and Horatio. The illness would part them if they came together. It did not matter that Aunt Margaret and Frances had conspired to bring about that parting sooner. She smiled and Frances took a step back, suddenly concerned and confused.
“Thank you, cousin. You have made my decision simpler. I confess that I was attracted to the Duke. That I actually believed that I could make our marriage of convenience into a true marriage. But you have reminded me of the reality of thesituation. That dream could never come true, because, you see, I do suffer the same illness as my mother. I have hidden it from all except Edith. She knows the truth of it. Had I given in to what my heart wants, I would have doomed Horatio to the life of a widower. I did not have the strength of will to walk away. But, your actions have made that easier. I just hope that my father was right, that the illness I have inherited from my mother is not contagious.”
She gave a little forced cough at that point. Frances backed away several steps, face going pale.
“You are lying,” she stammered.
“If I were, would I be leaving the field without a fight?” Juliet said, following Frances.
“Keep back!” Frances shouted, bumping into a doorframe and giving a squeak of fright.
She turned and dashed from the room.
Juliet stopped, one hand resting on the same doorframe, head bowed. A sudden wave of exhaustion swept over her. She lowered herself into a chair beside the door, waiting for it to pass.
The purse weighed heavy in her palm. Probably enough to get her to Hemsworth Manor, a few miles west of Swindon.She knew that her friend and confidante, Nigel Crickhallow, Viscount Hemsworth, would take her in.
And from that point? She would not live on his charity forever. She would need to find her way in the world. It was a frightening prospect but a liberating one. Finally, she would be free of the Godwins. Of their casual cruelty. Of Frances’ incessant jealousy and Aunt Margaret’s domineering callousness.
She closed her eyes, trying to put the image of Horatio and Frances out of her mind. It was not her destiny. Frances was not unattractive. Horatio would be proud to have such a beautiful woman on his arm. Tears spilled down her cheeks and she angrily scrubbed them away. Now was not the time for grief. She had been given the means to leave. To leave before her emotions became more tangled with Horatio. Before more of her heart passed into his keeping.
A clean break, and he would soon forget her.
Juliet rose and went to one of the room’s wardrobes. Clothes had been sent for from Wetherby and she had several dresses hanging there. She selected one suited to the outdoors and a sensible pair of shoes.
One thing was for certain, she would not prevail upon the Duke to provide transportation. She would walk to the nearest village and then pay for a place on the next post coach heading to Swindon. Once there, she could either continue on her way to Hemsworth Manor or write to Nigel and tell him where she was.
Outside the window, dark clouds were gathering. The window rattled in its casement as a gust of wind gripped it, as though testing its strength. Juliet selected a thick, woolen cloak with a hood. A little rain would not kill her and she did not think it was so far to Little Hinton.
Finally, she picked up Archie and drew him under her cloak. He did not struggle, having learned that Juliet meant him no harm. She would release him on her way, let him run free, while she attempted to do the same.
