Page 91 of His Forsaken Duchess
Cedric shot him a glare, though it lacked its usual heat. “If that is what it takes to find him, then so be it.”
Belleville let out a low chuckle. “You, my dear Haremore, are far more determined than most dukes of my acquaintance. Though I daresay your Duchess might be better suited to this particular task. Her Grace could find Rashford twice as quickly—and with far fewer threats of bodily harm.”
At the mention of Audrey, something in Cedric’s chest twisted sharply. He thought of her face that morning, framed by the soft light filtering through the breakfast room window. The way her hand had rested on his arm, so gentle yet so steady, as she’dimplored him to keep his temper. She had been right, of course. Audrey always seemed to know precisely what to say to bring him back from the edge, as infuriating as it was.
“I will not allow Audrey to involve herself further,” Cedric said abruptly, his voice harsher than he had intended. “This is my responsibility. I will see it through.”
Belleville raised an eyebrow, but, for once, he held his tongue.
The two men rode in silence for a moment, the steady clip-clop of hooves punctuating the air.
Eventually, Belleville spoke again, his voice softer. “You cannot fix the past, Cedric. No matter how hard you try.”
Cedric’s grip on the reins tightened, his knuckles white against the worn leather. “I am not trying to fix the past.”
Belleville sighed, though there was no mockery in it this time. “Of course you are. You think that by finding Rashford and confronting him, you’ll somehow rewrite what happened to your sister. That you’ll make it right.”
Cedric said nothing, his gaze fixed ahead as they turned onto a broader avenue. The truth in his friend’s words settled heavily in his chest, unwelcome but undeniable.
Cecilia’s face swam before him, a ghost of a memory that had haunted him for years—her smile so bright and full of life, herlaughter echoing through the halls of Haremore Castle. And then the silence that had followed. The stillness. The guilt.
He had failed her. He had been too late to see the truth, too blind to protect her. But Audrey’s sister, Lilianna, could still be saved. Rashford’s reckoning would come, and Cedric would ensure it.
“We will begin with the clubs,” he said finally, his voice steely. “White’s. Brooks’s. Anywhere men like Rashford squander their coin.”
Belleville nodded. “A sensible approach. And I’ll refrain from making jokes this time.” His voice was light, but there was understanding beneath it.
Cedric’s lips quirked up faintly. “A wise decision.”
They turned onto a quieter street, the fog beginning to thin as the sun climbed higher. Cedric felt it all pressing down on him—his sister’s memory, Lilianna’s fate, and the expectation that hovered between himself and Audrey.
I will not fail again.
Thirty-Two
“What do you think of this one?” Audrey held up a pale green silk dress, glancing over at her sister.
Lilianna, seated on the edge of the bed, wrinkled her nose as though the dress offended her. “It’s too bright.”
Grace, who was arranging accessories atop the vanity, turned at once, her eyebrows rising in maternal disbelief. “Too bright? Nonsense. It is the perfect shade, and it sets off your eyes beautifully.”
Lilianna jutted her chin stubbornly. “It will make me stand out.”
“That,” Grace said firmly, moving to stand beside Audrey, “is precisely the point.”
Audrey smiled faintly, her fingers running over the soft silk. “Mama is right. You must not skulk about the ballroom as though you wish to disappear. There is no shame in being seen,Lilianna. In fact, it’s the surest way to remind the ton of what a lovely young woman you are.”
“But that’s just it,” Lilianna replied, her voice catching slightly. “What if they look too closely? What if?—”
“No what ifs,” Grace cut in gently but decisively. “The dress is lovely, and it suits you. A pale shade of green is hardly scandalous. We shall keep the jewelry understated, and you will look as you should—elegant and composed.”
Lilianna glanced down at her lap, wringing her hands. Audrey saw the hesitation flicker across her face, so fleeting yet painfully familiar.
“Lilianna,” she said softly, stepping forward and holding the dress out again, “do you trust me?”
Lilianna’s gaze met hers, vulnerable but steady. “Yes.”
“Then wear this dress,” Audrey said, her voice both gentle and firm. “Wear it and let them see how resilient you are.”
