Page 19 of My Blind Duke
“What do you mean no?”
“No, I will not leave. This is my home and there is no way I will be leaving it.”
William frowned and leaned forward, putting his hands together on the table as he stated coldly.
“I am the new heir of Pemberly and you have no place under my roof, Duchess. And since you do not have an heir, I am not obliged to give you anything. It is mere kindness that I do not seek to have your previous marriage annulled and stripped of your title. Instead, you will get to keep your annual allowance.”
Prudence clenched her fists by her side and replied furiously,
“My solicitor will be the one to tell me what I have a right to claim, and what I do not. But I will not be tossed aside like a discarded handkerchief.”
William sighed in annoyance, clearly not expecting her persistent rebuttal.
“You sound as though you would be left wandering the streets of London like an urchin. I am well aware that you have family that would take you in without question. Your sister is married to the Duke of Harper.”
Prudence folded her arms and could not help the hardness seeping into her voice.
“I cannot believe you would make such a humiliating suggestion. You do not understand how degrading this is for me. And you have a daughter, no less.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Women are always subjected to such humiliations, treated, and seen as nothing more than a commodity that goes along with a husband. And when he dies, we are left to impose on our family members or be left at the heir’s mercy. As if we were a piece of furniture that goes along with the title. Not to mention that we have no more worth than spoiled goods if we have not managed to provide an heir. For all women in my place and me, I will not have it. It is simply cruel and unfair.”
By the time the last word was past her lips, Prudence was breathing heavily, unable to shake off the feelings of fury and terror within her. A part of her knew her outburst might not plead her case, but she was determined to stand her ground.
She could not allow herself to become a burden on her family now, not after all the painful moments in the past she had yet to let go of.
William rose out of his seat, walked out from behind his desk and began to move toward her, every step he took stealing her breath as she waited to hear what he had to say. He remained silent and instead of standing in front of her, he kept walking until he was directly behind her.
“Unfair? That is quite a selfish statement to make, considering that life is quite cruel to us all,” he said quietly.
It only took a moment for her to realize that he was referring to himself and his lack of sight and she gasped.
A few gossiping maids had inadvertently brought it to her attention that he had become blind a few years ago, in the same accident that claimed the life of his wife. She could only imagine how hard it must have been for him to relearn all that he knew to survive with this disability.
“I did not – I did not mean it that way. I swear–”
“While I think your bravado is impressive,” he shook his head dismissively as he moved to stand in front of her, “You will not be able to put on such an act if you are arrested and imprisoned for the former duke’s death. From what I hear, you are not just the only suspect but a very likely culprit as well.”
A chill ran down Prudence’s spine at the thought of being perceived as a murderer by yet another person who did not know her. She had hoped the new duke would not buy into the rumors of the servants but it seemed she was foolish to have such notions.
“I did not kill my husband,” she stated with a glare.
“Witnesses and the circumstances say otherwise,” William countered casually.
“What witnesses? No one can firmly stand and accuse me of killing my husband because I did not do it and there is no evidence that I did commit such a crime!” Prudence snapped.
“Just because the evidence has not been found yet, does not mean it does not exist. And again, the circumstances are not in your favor. You married a hale and hearty man, and on the night of your wedding, he simply dies? Without being ill or injured? And then you are left to your devices as a rich widow? It is quite suspicious, especially given how you are desperately trying to remain in his house, even though his heir – me – has arrived and now owns his property. All of this merely points to your guilt, Duchess,” he replied lowly.
It was then Prudence noticed that during their argument, they had gotten closer to each other, so much so that she could feel his breath on her face. She wanted to move back but she was pinned by his heavy gaze, his blue eyes glimmering with danger.
A voice in her head warned her to merely relent for the moment, and simply resume the argument again at a later time, but she wanted him to know and understand that she would not be pushed around like a voiceless mule.
Thankfully, he retreated to his desk and she exhaled deeply in relief, wondering what he would say next. However, out of the hundred things she expected, she did not think what happened next would have made the list.
The duke picked up his glass of whiskey, likely served by the maid Prudence had seen in the hall on her way here, and took a mouthful, only to spit it out with a curse.
“Bloody hell – Melanie!” he roared, slamming the glass down at the table so hard, she was surprised it did not shatter there and then.
