Page 56 of A Trap by the Rakish Duke
They moved inside, the heavy doors closing behind them as they settled in the drawing room. Aurelia sat by the fire, staring into the orange flames as if she was hoping to lose herself in them. Oliver sat across from her, his gaze sharp.
“Aurelia,” he began after a long silence. “May I inquire what troubles you so?”
Aurelia sighed, fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. “I do not wish to burden you with it, Oliver.”
“I would not have asked if I did not wish to know,” Oliver said gently. “Come now, you have been kind enough to entertain me while your husband is away. It is only proper that I return the courtesy.”
Aurelia hesitated, biting her lower lip as she debated with herself. She took a deep breath. “Philip and I…we were doing well. He has been kinder to me lately, more open.” She paused, glancing at Oliver, who nodded in encouragement. “But during yesterday’s evening meal I raised the subject of my father. I needed to know the truth, and Philip he refused to speak of it. He simply said I must stay away from him.”
Oliver’s brow furrowed. “He said nothing more?”
“Nothing,” she mumbled, her voice laced with frustration. “I am torn, Oliver. I do not know where my loyalty should lie. My father is my only family, but Philip is my husband. What am I to do?”
The Viscount shook his head. “It is unfair of Philip to keep you in the dark. You deserve to know at least a little of what is happening.”
Aurelia looked up at him, her eyes pleading. “I know you know something, Oliver. Please, tell me.”
She needed to know what her father had done that made everyone wary of speaking about it. She needed to know to free herself of the confusion that bound her.
The Viscount sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I do, but it is not my place to tell you. Philip should have explained what transpired, but as he has refused…I will tell you a little, though only what I believe is necessary.”
Aurelia straightened up, her heart pounding in her chest. “Please,” she urged softly.
He studied her for a moment before nodding. “Do you remember those men, the loan sharks, who came to your father’s house some time ago?”
Aurelia nodded slowly. “Yes, I remember. They were trying to force him to pay them for some debt he owed.”
Oliver’s lips pressed together into a grim line. “Your father…has been heavily involved with men like them for years. He has accumulated substantial debt and to reduce it, these unscrupulous men force him do tasks for them…unsavory ones.”
Her heart sank. “What do you mean?”
“He forged documents for them,” the Viscount explained in a measured voice, much to her disbelief. “Your father is a nobleman, known to love his daughter, known to be a familyman. No one would suspect him. That is what made him the perfect accomplice.”
Aurelia’s hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide in disbelief. “No…no, that cannot be true.”
“I wish it was untrue,” Oliver said, his voice laced with sympathy. “But I have seen the evidence myself. Your father, Aurelia, is not the man you thought he was.”
Aurelia shook her head, her tears threatening to spill over. “But he…he always cared for me. He showed me such affection, such love. How could he…”
Oliver looked away for a moment, his gaze hardening. “He showed you that affection to cover his tracks, Aurelia. I am sorry to say, but that is the unfortunate truth.”
The silence that followed was suffocating. Aurelia sat frozen, her mind reeling from the revelation.
Her father, the man that Aurelia thought had always loved and cherished his daughter, had deceived her.
“I…I don’t know what to believe anymore,” she whispered, more to herself than to Oliver.
“I understand,” he offered, his voice gentle. “It is difficult to reconcile the man you knew with the one I have just told you about. But you must be careful, Aurelia. Your father is notsomeone to be trusted, and Philip…he is only trying to protect you.”
Aurelia blinked back her tears, her heart heavy with doubt. “But why would Philip not tell me this himself? Why keep me in the dark?”
Oliver hesitated, then said, “Because he does not wish to see you hurt. Divulging your father’s crimes would only bring you more pain.”
Aurelia looked up at him, her mind whirling with conflicting emotions. “I do not know what to do.”
Oliver leaned forward, his eyes sincere. “Trust Philip, Aurelia. He may not always show it, but he has your best interests at heart.”
Aurelia stared into the fire, her thoughts a tangled mess. Could she truly trust her husband after all the secrets he had kept from her? Or was she doomed to remain torn between her loyalty to her father and her growing feelings for her husband?
