Page 54 of A Bride for the Beastly Duke
There was silence after that for a while, and finally, curiosity got the better of Edward and he turned around. There was no one there. He peered into the darkness, wondering where John had gone. His knees felt weak and could hardly hold up. Stumbling toward the wicker chairs that were arranged on the verandah, he sat down with a humph. Leaning back, he stared into the night, turning John’s words over and over in his mind.
I wish I didn’t have to tell you this, but they killed him to keep him quiet.
The words kept echoing and echoing in his mind, growing louder each time until he could not hear the sounds of the night around him anymore, not even the loud music of the orchestra penetrated his trance.
The government killed my brother.
No matter how many ways he tried to think it, he could not make himself accept it.
“Edward?” He jumped, looking up to see his aunt, peering down at him. “What are you doing?” she asked with concern.
He stood up, blinking rapidly and looking around, trying to reorient himself in the present. “Nothing. Ju-just getting some air.”
Lady Lanton grabbed his arm. “Well, you are needed in the ballroom. Your wife is looking for you.”
My wife…
The horror of what John had told him hit him again like a projectile. He had implied that Edward’s wife would not be safe. “Yes, of course. Apologies.” He offered his aunt his arm. “Come, let us get back.”
Ava spent the rest of the night actively avoiding Aaron. For the life of her, she could not understand what she had seen in him in the first place. He still had the cornflower blue eyes and flyaway blonde hair, but she marveled at how she had never noticed what a weak chin he had and how watery his eyes were.
At least compared to Edward’s piercing blues.
She did not understand how she had never realized what a weak man he was overall. Her father kept her company, dancing with her more than once, and she was gratified to see that Margaret’s dance card was full as well with more prospective gentlemen.
She lost track of Edward, much as she kept an eye out for him. Then suddenly he was there by her side, his face as pale as the white mask he was wearing. She took his hand and led him to the dance floor where a waltz was starting. “Whatever is the matter?” she whispered. “Please do not tell me you had an altercation with Lord Fenton. He is not worth it.”
“Who?” he asked with a furrow of his brow before it cleared. “Oh, no, I have not seen him. Has he not left?” he asked, looking around with irritation.
“Edward? What is wrong?” Ava asked softly.
He sighed, blowing a breath out. “It is nothing that should bother you.”
She stared intently into his eyes. “It bothersyou, so of course, it will bother me.”
He smiled a little bitterly. “Yes, it does.”
“What do you mean by that?”
His eyes dropped as if he was avoiding her own. “I found him… or rather,hefoundme.”
Her eyes widened as she looked into his own eyes. “The fugitive you were searching for?” she whispered.
“Yes.”
Her fingers tightened on his shoulder. “Is he… in the dungeon?”
Edward laughed softly. “No. I… well, he did not show himself. He followed me into the garden. The things he told me…” He shook his head.
“What? What did he tell you?”
His expression became bleak, and he shook his head again. “Things are a lot more sinister than I had imagined.” He whispered.
“What do you mean by that?”
“He told me…” Edward lowered his voice further—so low that Ava had to lean in to hear him. “He told me that thegovernmentkilled Jonathan.”
Ava gasped, gaping at him with wide eyes. “Do you believe him?” she whispered back.
