Page 53 of His Forsaken Duchess
Cedric nodded slowly. “He drank himself into an early grave, unable to bear the loss. I begged him to stop, tried to reason with him, but he had given up long before the liquor killed him.”
Audrey’s chest felt tight, her heart breaking for the man before her. His grief, his guilt—it was a burden no one should bear alone.
“Cedric,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “You have carried so much.”
He shook his head, his jaw tightening. “I thought I could bury it. Avoid it. But when I saw you fall into that lake…” he trailed off. “For one terrifying moment, I thought I had lost you too.”
Audrey’s breath hitched, her heart pounding as his words settled over her.
“I am telling you this,” Cedric said, his voice steadier now, though his eyes still shone with vulnerability, “because I want you to understand. I will help you restore your sister’s reputation, Audrey. I will do everything in my power to clear her name. But after that…” He paused, his expression hardening. “After that, we will return to living separate lives.”
What?
Seventeen
“Ibeg your pardon?” Audrey’s voice was sharper than she had intended, her hands tightening around the edges of the blanket draped over her lap.
Cedric stood near the bed, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression as unreadable as ever. “Once your sister’s name is cleared,” he repeated, his tone measured, “we will return to living separate lives. As we agreed.”
The words struck her like a physical blow. For the first time, the thought of parting from him filled her with a deep and aching reluctance. She searched his face, looking for something—anything—that might betray hesitation or doubt. But there was nothing. His resolve was unyielding, and it twisted something deep inside her.
Her throat felt tight, but she forced herself to respond with a calmness she didn’t feel.
“I see,” she said quietly, withdrawing her hand. The absence of his touch made her heart ache more than she cared to admit. She nodded, her voice steady even as her chest constricted painfully. “If that is what you wish, Cedric, then so be it.”
He hesitated, furrowing his brow slightly. “Audrey?—”
“When do we leave for London?” she interrupted, determined to keep her composure. “The sooner we resolve this matter, the sooner we can move on.”
Cedric straightened, his arms dropping to his sides. “The weather seems to be improving, but it might still be a few days before it is safe to travel. You need to recover fully first. The journey will take several days, and I will not have you risk your health further.”
Audrey nodded, though the ache in her heart grew.
I shouldn’t ache for my husband. I barely know him.
But another part of her—one she couldn’t quite silence—whispered the truth:I do know him. And I’ve begun to care for him.
“I feel tired,” she said finally, her voice softer.
She glanced away, unwilling to let him see the emotions she feared were written all over her face.
Cedric’s features softened, and he stepped forward, adjusting the pillows behind her with careful precision. “Rest,” he said quietly. “We will discuss this further when you are feeling better.”
She gave him a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Thank you.”
With a nod, he turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Audrey turned onto her side, pulling the blanket tighter around her. She closed her eyes, willing away the feelings churning within her. She missed her stepmother and sisters fiercely, their absence leaving an emptiness she hadn’t expected.
And now, for reasons she couldn’t explain, she missed Cedric too.
“The twins are an absolute delight,” Mrs. Potts said, pouring another cup of tea. “Though I must admit, their energy is enough to exhaust even the most spirited grandmother. They run circles around me, the little rascals.”
Audrey smiled faintly, though her thoughts were far from the cozy warmth of the drawing room. She cradled her teacup in her hands, letting the steam warm her chilled fingers as Mrs. Potts continued her animated recounting of her grandchildren’s latest exploits.
“Mr. Potts has taken to teaching them chess, you know,” the housekeeper added with a twinkle in her eyes. “Though I suspect it’s more for his own amusement than theirs.”
Before Audrey could respond, the door opened, and Mr. Potts entered, carrying a silver tray.
