Page 76 of His Duchess' Mischief

I do not think it is healthy to dwell on that night as much as I have.

“I have worn a collection of different monstrosities, each one worse than the other,” she continued, dodging Bridget’s question. “Last night, he told me he knew what I was doing. It seems futile to continue doing it now.”

“Are you seriously accepting your fate after so short a time?” Bridget asked, outraged. “You cannot wish to be married to one of the most ruthless and dangerous men in the ton.”

“You do not truly believe he is a murderer, do you?” Alicia asked.

“The only person who can answer that is the Duke and God himself,” Bridget insisted. “But I have heard some dreadfully shocking things—things that came out at his trial.”

Alicia frowned at her. “Such as?”

They had reached the water’s edge, the ducks and geese quacking loudly about them, but she tuned them out.

She did not like the way Bridget was speaking about Seth. It dawned on her that over the years following the trial, all anyone had to say about him stemmed from rumors and conjecture.

No one had any facts at all.

But I have seen parts of him no one else has. I cannot believe he is a villain… and sometimes he treats me as if he truly values me.

“Apparently, the trial focused on the Duke’s relationship with Lord Fernside,” Bridget continued. “He was accused of jealousy. Fernside was top of his class, effortless in his intelligence. Whereas, the Duke had to work much harder to reach the same position, what with being under the thumb of his overbearing father.”

“And how would you know such a thing?” Alicia asked indignantly.

Bridget smoothed a hand over her skirts, clearing her throat somewhat awkwardly. “Lady Verity Williamson. I remembered her mentioning that her husband attended the trial when the Duke’s name came up in conversation some weeks ago. I wrote to her to ask what she knew?—”

“Oh, Bridget!” Alicia huffed, stomping her foot in frustration. Katie stared at her in confusion.

“What?” Bridget demanded. “Was I supposed to allow my dearest friend to marry a terrible man without full knowledge of what he was? Lady Williamson said that he lost his friends because of it, save for the small group around Lord Fernside, andeveryonebelieved they were hiding something.”

Katie nodded. “I heard that, too. The one prevailing belief from the trial was that they had been hiding something between them.”

“But no one knows he was guilty. What proof do they have?” Alicia asked, her ire rising with every moment that passed.

“Do you know any details of the trial?” Bridget countered.

“No, but?—”

“In that case, why have you not tried to find out everything you can from him? I would not have been able to stop myself from asking him a thousand questions every single day if it were me. You are his wife; you have a right to know what haunts his past!”

“But it is Seth’s business, not mine, and he will tell me should he wish to. I do not believe it for a moment!”

Alicia glared at her friends, knowing in her heart that she was being irrational and unfair.

As far as they were concerned, Seth was still the unfeeling, cold statue of a man she had married. They did not know of the little wrinkles around his eyes when he smiled, of how he lit up when the robin visited him on the balcony.

The man I know could not have hurt anyone.

“Alicia, I do not understand,” Bridget murmured with infinite patience. “Do you not wish to know the truth?”

But Alicia had heard enough.

She tugged at her sleeves, her jaw clenched so tight it ached. Turning, she spotted her carriage at the other end of the path and made her decision.

“Alicia?” Katie’s tone was soft as she laid a hand on her arm.

Alicia flinched and pushed it away, watching the hurt bloom across her friend’s face. “I have a headache. I am sorry, I must go home.”

Ignoring their protests, Alicia marched away, pushing aside everything they had told her, determined to believe that Seth was not who they thought him to be.

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