Page 83 of Her Tiger of a Duke
It was a familiar voice, and when Owen turned around, he was surprised to see Lord Stanton. Thankfully, his friend always appeared when Owen needed him.
“I am looking for Beatrice,” he explained.
“I was hoping that would be the case, but why have you let it get this far? I told you to be honest with her.”
“And I could not. I did not know how, but now I– what do you mean you were hoping that would be the case? Nobody knows what has happened.”
“I know everything, when will you accept that?” he asked, grinning.
“How did you learn of this?”
“I saw Beatrice yesterday. I know who she is staying with, and that she is safe, and that she is desperate to mend things with you. I cannot believe that you have let it get as bad as this, Owen.”
“I do not know why you are so surprised. You know how stubborn I can be, and especially with all of this I cannot simply let go.”
“Even if it means losing her.”
“No,” he said gently. “Not her. That is why I am here. I cannot lose her. I refuse to. I must find her and tell her how I feel.”
“Then it is just as well that I know where she is, but it is not going to come easily. I expect you to do everything that you can to find her still.”
“Well, if she is not with her parents, then she is with a friend. She has to be with one of the three other duchesses, and so if you do not want to tell me, I will do it myself.”
He gave Lord Stanton a serious look, sterner than he had ever been with him. He meant what he said he would find his wife with or without his help. Lord Stanton understood that at once and turned on his heel and began to walk.
“She is this way,” he explained. “Come along.”
“So, you will not test me?”
“You have come from the north just to search for her. I will consider that your trial. However, I expect you to tell her the truth, in its entirety this time. I also have one more thing to ask of you.”
“Yes?”
“When she tells you that it was not your fault, for the first time in your life can you believe it?”
He agreed, but he did not believe it completely. He remembered the day Lydia died so clearly, the frightened expression permanently on her face, and her pale skin covered in cuts from the debris in the water. It had always gripped him with fear, and it had killed him knowing that he had caused it.
“It should have been me instead,” he muttered as they made their way.
“Do not say that to her. I cannot believe that you still think so lowly of yourself. Why can you not see that it was a terrible accident and nothing more?”
“Because that was not how she was supposed to go! She was such a powerful girl, one that could not be stopped by anything. She was meant to live a full life, a good one that gave her everything she could possibly have wanted. She did not deserve what happened to her.”
“She also did not deserve to have her legacy hidden away as if she were never there. If you want to honor your sister, do what she could not. Fall in love, have a family, and live a full and good life. Otherwise, you might as well both have died that day.”
That was how he had always felt, until the day he met Beatrice. She was warm, someone that made him laugh and see the good in life after so many years of thinking everything good was gone. That was what scared him; that he could lose her and go throughit all again. He could not allow himself to risk that, for the first time had been enough. A second would have killed him.
When they arrived at the household, Owen knew precisely where they were. They were at the home of the Duke and Duchess of Urkinshire, and when Owen went to exit the carriage, Lord Stanton followed him.
“I can do this alone,” he assured him.
“No, you shall need my company. You will see why.”
Owen did not quite understand, but they went to the door regardless.
The Duchess greeted them in the hallway, confusion on her face. Owen wondered why that was and was prepared for her to pretend she had not seen Beatrice as punishment.
“Beatrice is not here,” she said softly when they explained what had happened. “Is she alright?”
