Page 72 of Her Duke Next Door
“They started when I was still learning to trust you!” Mary shouted back. “And then they kept coming and I felt as though I left it too long. I wished to tell you so many times, to have you protect me, help me, as you once did. But the timing was never right, we were always pulled away by one thing or another. I am sorry, Dominique.”
But his anger didn’t simmer. “What else is there, Mary?”
“Nothing, I swear it,” she pleaded. “That is all.”
He stood in the middle of her room and shook his head. “Get out.”
“What?”
“Get out, Mary.”
“Dominique—”
“Leave me. Please.”
“Dominique, I am so sorry.”
“Why would my daughter run away after speaking with you? What happened?”
“I took them to the park, is all! And then toSilver Vanity.”
Dominique stopped short. “Silver Vanity?”
“Yes,” Mary said. And only then did she see the understanding in her husband’s eyes. “I—I—Anne told me about it once and?—”
“Stop. Lying.” The words were said through gritted teeth. But Mary wanted so desperately to protect Katie.
“Katie knew of it! She said it was one of her mama’s favorite places to eat so I wanted to give her something of comfort. She was anguished, Dominique!”
“How did she know about that wretched place?”
“I—You will have to ask her.”
“I am askingyou.”
“I cannot betray her trust.”
“So, you can lie to your husband instead?”
Mary was speechless.
Then Dominique spoke again, the exhaustion on his face. “Silver Vanitywas the meeting place my late wife met most of her lovers in. There was a beautiful room above the restaurant for illicit lovers, secret relationships, and couples of any kind that society did not look kindly upon. It is a scandalous upper floor, the workings of such only known to those who might frequent it. The restaurant itself is very friendly and lovely. But the upper floor… My wife enjoyed its wares.”
“I did not know,” Mary whispered.
“Tell me how Katie knew. Your loyalty is tome. She is a child, she will rebuild your trust. But I am your husband, Mary, and I have endured one marriage built on lies. I will not live through another. I trusted my daughter to be cared for in my absence and she has disappeared. I swore to protect you yet you have hidden these letters and their threats from me. You have secrets when I have told you every darkest, deepest part of myself.”
“Dominique, please do not leave me,” Mary said, her eyes spilling tears.
“I am not,” he said. “I love you, Mary. I love you more than anything but it takes a lot for me to trust and I cannot help but feel as though you have betrayed me greatly.”
“I love you, Dominique!” Mary cried, rushing to him, grasping his face, cupping him, bringing his face close to hers. “I love you. I amin lovewith you, as you are with me. I want to work with you, to confide in you. Please forgive me. I did not mean to break your trust. I have been so scared.”
“And I offered you a place to be less fearful. To protect you from everything that scared you.”
She slumped against him, defeated. Once again, she whispered, “Forgive me.”
“I am going to search for my daughter,” Dominique said, grasping her wrists to remove her grip on his coat. He stepped away. “And I shall take the time to think on everything you have said. And while I am out, I shall hunt Lord Yore down and see how he enjoys being threatened.”
