Page 92 of His Forsaken Duchess
For a moment, it seemed as though her sister might argue further, but then Lilianna’s shoulders slumped, her resolve crumbling. “Very well,” she murmured. “I’ll wear it.”
Grace smiled approvingly. “Good girl. Now, I?—”
A sharp knock at the door interrupted her, followed almost immediately by the housekeeper’s voice. “Pardon me, Your Ladyship, but I must speak with you about tonight’s arrangements.”
Grace turned to her, furrowing her brow. “Very well, Mrs. Haynes. Excuse me for a moment, girls.”
With a nod to her daughters, she swept out of the room and disappeared into the hallway, her voice mingling with Mrs. Haynes’s as they discussed dinner guests and carriages.
Silence fell over the room again, and Audrey carefully draped the green dress over a nearby chair before turning back to Lilianna. Her sister was perching on the edge of her vanity seat, her back stiff and her eyes focused on some distant point beyond the window.
Audrey crossed the room and sat on the bed, patting the space beside her. “Come here.”
Lilianna hesitated but finally rose from her seat and sat down on the bed. The mattress dipped slightly beneath their combined weight, and for a long moment, neither of them spoke.
Audrey broke the silence first, keeping her tone light, though her heart ached for her sister. “How do you feel about attending the ball?”
Lilianna twisted her hands nervously in her lap. “I’m terrified,” she admitted in a whisper.
Audrey’s face softened. “That is perfectly natural. But I promise you, Lilianna, things are improving. Lord Belleville has already expressed an interest in seeing you there.”
Lilianna turned to look at her, her brow furrowed. “Do you know him well?”
“Well enough,” Audrey replied carefully, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her sister’s ear. “He is a friend of Cedric’s, and my husband would never befriend anyone unworthy of trust.”
Lilianna sighed, her expression conflicted. “Lord Belleville is very handsome and charming. I know I ought to feel flattered, but…”
“But you still think of Rashford,” Audrey finished for her, the words clipped with barely contained irritation.
Lilianna looked down, guilt and longing warring in her eyes. “I know what he did was wrong, but?—”
“But nothing.” Audrey sat straighter, her voice sharpening as her frustration bled through. “Lilianna, where has he been all this time? While you suffered this scandal? While you wept and worried?Not here.He did not even have the decency to tell you that he was betrothed. You deserve better than a man who would treat you so dishonorably.”
Tears pooled in Lilianna’s eyes, her lower lip trembling. “You are right.”
Audrey’s heart clenched, the heat of her anger dissipating at the sight of her sister’s anguish. “Oh, Lili,” she murmured, reaching for her hand. “I know it hurts. I know you cared for him. But that does not mean he cared for you. A man’s actions are far more telling than his words, and his actions have shown you nothing but neglect.”
Lilianna sniffled, blinking back tears as she clung to Audrey’s hand. “Do you really think things will get better?”
Audrey squeezed her hand tightly. “Yes, I do. You are stronger than you realize, and tonight will be the first step toward reclaiming your place in Society.”
Lilianna nodded, though her gaze remained downcast. Audrey studied her carefully, seeing both her strength and fragility, and vowed silently that no man—not even Lord Rashford—would destroy her sister’s future.
A sharp knock at the door interrupted the moment. Both sisters looked up as Lilianna’s lady’s maid entered, a folded note in her hand.
“Lady Lilianna,” the maid said, her voice tentative, “this arrived just now. The messenger asked that it be delivered directly to you.”
Audrey frowned, suspicion making her sit straighter as she watched Lilianna take the note. The maid curtsied and retreated quickly, leaving the sisters alone once more.
“What is it?” Audrey asked, unable to stop herself as she watched Lilianna’s expression shift. Her sister’s fingers trembled as she turned the note over, inspecting the neat, unfamiliar scrawl on the front.
“It’s from…” Lilianna’s voice faltered, her cheeks flushing. “It’s from Lord Rashford.”
Audrey’s heart sank, her stomach twisting into knots. “What?”
Lilianna unfolded the note, her hands shaking as her eyes scanned the page. A strange light entered her face—hope, disbelief, and something perilously close to joy.
“He wants me to meet him,” she said breathlessly. “This afternoon. At Green Park.”
