Page 67 of A Wicked Duke's Redemption
“We all were,” Leo said.
Violet clasped her hands in her lap and watched as Frederick tried to grab her mother’s hair. “Yes.”
“The poor woman,” Violet’s mother said. “I do hope that she is receiving the help she needs.”
Leo cleared his throat. “Well, I was trying to…we will not need to worry about Lady Priscilla any longer. I am certain of it. There is something which I learned only yesterday, and I have neglected to mention it.”
“About Lady Priscilla?” Violet asked. A shiver traced the path of her spine. “Why did you not tell me at once?”
“It is disturbing news,” Leo replied. “In truth, it grieved me deeply, so I wanted to think more about it before sharing it with anyone. I am rather conflicted.”
“Is she…well?” Violet asked hesitantly.
Leo slowly shook his head. “She is dead.”
Dead?The word seemed to reverberate through the air, but Violet found herself strangely at a loss. It was as though—despite her hearing the terrible word—she could not understand it. “How can that be?” Violet asked.
Leo raked a hand through his hair. “I received word from Lord Preston that Lady Priscilla was desperate to escape the institution in which she was being held. She resolved to create a rope of her bedclothes and to leave through one of the windows, but when Lady Priscilla put her plan into motion, she did not tie the knots of her rope tightly enough. The bedclothes fell apart, and Lady Priscilla…”
Violet gasped and covered her mouth with a hand. “Oh no…”
Leo nodded sadly. “Yes. She fell and broke her neck. She was found dead the next morning.”
“How terrible,” Violet’s mother said.
Violet slowly nodded. It seemed unreal that Lady Priscilla was dead. She was so young and full of life, and although she had frightened Violet terribly, Violet had hoped that Lady Priscilla would find the help she needed.
Sometimes, she had even dared to imagine a future where Lady Priscilla returned to Essex, happy and kind. Violet had imagined Lady Priscilla apologizing sincerely and the two of them embracing one another, like they had so many times before.
“I can understand why you would want to think about her death more before telling me,” Violet said. “I am not certain how to feel about it. This means that she can no longer haunt us, but I would never have wished her dead. I am relieved, but I feel wretched for experiencing such relief.”
Leo nodded.
“I think those are reasonable feelings, Violet,” her father said. “I suppose that the story is at its end, though. You are fully exonerated of any crime, Your Grace, and neither of you have to fear her return. None of us are happy about Lady Priscilla’s death, but it is understandable that you would feel safer with her death.”
“Indeed,” Leo said, furrowing his brow. “I feel similar, Violet.”
Violet’s heart ached. Leo had known Lady Priscilla for his entire life, so the news of her death surely struck him much more strongly than it did Violet. She reached across the space between them and clasped her hand against his. “I am so sorry that you have experienced this new tragedy.”
“It is regrettable,” Leo said. “When Lady Priscilla and I were children, we used to play together in the gardens behind Groveswood. She was so lively and spirited, to the horror of her nursemaid and governess. Lady Priscilla would climb trees to escape her lessons and hide in the caves in the forest. She was so daring, so different from any other girl I had ever met.”
Violet could envision it. She thought of how readily Lady Priscilla had shown her London, the infectious joy in her smiles when she helped Violet choose fabric for her dresses and make her purchases.
“You are a duchess,” Lady Priscilla had said once, her eyes bright with mischief. “You can be a little scandalous. No one will dare say anything about it.”
“When she became a young woman, I saw a different side of her,” Leo continued. “She became so beautiful and elegant. It was like she was another person entirely in London, but when we returned each autumn and winter to Essex, I saw that same rebellious lady.”
“I do think she loved you,” Violet said softly. “She cared deeply for you. It was only that she was also very troubled.”
“Yes.” Leo nodded. “I think it will take me some time to reconcile all the different sides of her, though.”
“Understandably, Your Grace,” Violet’s father said.
Leo nodded and smiled; the gesture clearly forced. “Well, here I am, being a terrible guest! We were supposed to be enjoying one another’s company and letting you visit with young Frederick, and I have ruined our conversation with such a dour topic.”
“Nonsense,” Violet said. “We can still enjoy one another’s company. Now, you have told us your sad news, which means you may finally be at ease and enjoy the day as we have been. You do not have to carry the burden of that knowledge alone.”
“That is true,” Leo replied, squeezing Violet’s hand. “Some burdens are much easier to carry if they are shared.”
