Page 50 of The Duke of Ruin
Verity reached over and touched Diana’s arm. “You were in a horrible situation. It’s just too bad the duke—Romsey, I mean—didn’t offer to marry you. That would’vetrulymade him a savior.”
“He suggested it, actually.” Diana picked up her teacup and took a long, fortifying sip.
Verity stared at her, clearly waiting for thewhyit hadn’t happened.
“You aren’t aware of his reputation?” Diana asked, putting her cup back on the table in front of them. Of course she wasn’t. Verity disliked gossip as much as Diana, and, living so far from London and actively ignoring information that might filter its way to Beaumont Tower, it was entirely possible she knew nothing of the Duke of Ruin.
“He is rumored to have killed his wife,” Diana said dispassionately, still refusing to believe it even though Simon said nothing to defend himself. “Since he doesn’t remember what happened, he doesn’t deny it.”
Verity’s eyes rounded. “My goodness. I see why you didn’t want to marry him. Is it all right for him to stay here?” She glanced toward the door he’d exited earlier.
“Of course it is!” Diana pitched forward slightly in agitation. “The problem isn’t that stupid rumor—at least not to me. It’s that my father finds him wholly unsuitable. I met him at a house party two months ago, and Father didn’t even want me to speak with him. Marrying him would have made him as furious as if I’d simply cried off with Kilve.”
“But you didn’t cry off.”
“No, but I would have if my father was a reasonable person. Since he’s not, I fled. With Simon.”
There was a beat of silence as one of Verity’s dark brows arched into the semblance of a question mark. “Simon?”
Diana felt the heat rise up her neck and worked to ignore it, praying her cousin would do the same. “R-Romsey. We became a bit, er, f-familiar during our journey.”
“That’s to be expected, I suppose.” Verity eyed her warily. “How familiar?”
“We needn’t marry, if that’s what you’re intimating,” Diana said with a bit of exasperation.
“I’m on your side in this, Diana, whatever happens. You will always have a home here.”
Diana supposed that was an option she hadn’t really considered. Because she didn’t think her father would allow it. He saw her as a valuable commodity, and after the scandal died down, he would try to make the best match possible. But that had been before Brereton. Beforethisscandal. With Simon. This one wouldn’t die down. She’d be ruined forever. Perhaps shecouldjust live here…
“But your plan is to start over with a new life,” Verity said. “I will support that too.”
“Unfortunately, I don’t think that plan will work any longer.” Diana squeezed her hands together on her lap. “If I disappear, Simon will be blamed.” She needed to back up a bit to explain. “Though we posed as a married couple and traveled under an alias, someone recognized us in Brereton. My running off with Romsey—the Duke of Ruin is what they call him—will shortly bethescandal on everyone’s lips.”
“So people will know that you were together, and if you go missing, he will be seen to be at fault.” Her face creased into a deep frown. “I see the problem clearly.”
It wasn’t a problem. It was a potential disaster. For Simon. “He’s already widely believed to be a murderer, and though he wasn’t charged with the crime, this time, he may very well be. I can’t let that happen.”
“So you’ll live here in disgrace?” Verity asked, her dark gaze full of love and empathy.
“If I must.”
“You could marry him,” Verity suggested softly. “You said the rumor about him—I believe you called it stupid—didn’t matter to you.”
“It doesn’t. I know in my heart he didn’t kill her.”
“In your heart? Diana, is it possible you’ve fallen in love with him?”
The air left Diana’s lungs. Love? She hadn’t considered that. She didn’t even know what that felt like. She glanced toward the windows, breath fighting its way back to her. “I don’t know.”
“Where does Uncle think you are? Or did you just leave without a word?”
“I left a note that I was going to King’s Grange. He likely arrived a couple of days ago. I can’t imagine what he’s doing now. Besides fuming.” Diana had tried not to think of it. Imagining her father’s reaction to not finding her at home made her stomach seize, and she feared she would toss up her accounts.
“He’s methodically determining where you might have gone.” Verity’s face darkened. “He’ll come here first.”
“If he travels by horse, which I think we can assume he will, he could be here in a few days.”
“Yes,” Verity’s tone was grim. “Unless the weather slows his pace.”
