Page 71 of A Trap by the Rakish Duke
The inn’s atmosphere was warm and inviting but her mind was focused solely on her father. She approached the innkeeper, her voice steady. “I am here to see Mr. Godwin. Is he in?”
The innkeeper, a kindly older man, nodded and gestured toward a narrow staircase. “He has reserved a small room on the upper floor, My Lady. Just follow the hall.”
With a grateful smile Aurelia made her way up the stairs, her heart racing as she approached the door. Taking a deep breath, she knocked softly.
“Come in!” came her father’s voice, filled with familiarity and longing.
She opened the door and there he stood.
Lord Keldbrooke rushed forward, enveloping her in a tight embrace that took her by surprise.
“Aurelia! I have missed you dearly!” He pulled back slightly to look at her, his eyes bright but troubled. “That monster, Philip, keeping you away from me…I cannot understand it!”
Aurelia studied her father’s face and registered the signs of age and stress that had crept in since their last meeting on her wedding day. His clothes were rumpled and his hair was disheveled, yet he seemed oblivious to it all.
“I have missed you too, Father,” she said, her voice softening despite the urgency of their situation. “We must talk. I must know what happened between you and Lord Gabriel.”
Lord Keldbrooke’s expression shifted as he released her and gestured toward a chair. “Sit, sit!” he urged.
When she did he turned to her with a strange glint in his eyes.
“What did Philip tell you?” he asked, peering at her.
“What Philip told me is of no concern. What matters is what you tell me,” Aurelia told him, taking his hands in hers.
“I am asking, my dear, because he has convinced you that I am the villain. But Aurelia, I swear to you, I was trying to protect you!” His voice rose, tinged with desperation.
“Cut to the chase, Father. What really happened?” Aurelia pressed, releasing his hands and folding her arms across her chest.
Lord Keldbrooke’s face contorted and he became teary. “I never meant for any of this to happen. I was backed into a corner. I had no say in the matter.”
“What matter? What did you do?” Aurelia demanded, her heart racing as the pieces began to fall into place.
Lord Keldbrooke’s voice trembled. “It was all to keep you safe! I never wanted to hurt anyone, but the more I tried to dig out the deeper I sank. I thought if I could just hold on, things would go back to the way they were.”
Aurelia opened her mouth to speak when the door to the room was suddenly thrown open, slamming against the wall with violent force.
Standing in the doorway was Philip, his expression thunderous with rage.
“Aurelia!” he exclaimed, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Philip!” Aurelia gasped, her heart racing as she turned to face her husband. “I can explain…”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Philip was seated at a large oak table in the midst of an important meeting when a message was quietly handed to him by a footman.
He frowned as his eyes scanned the note.
“Someone is here to see me?” he muttered to the footman, who nodded.
Taking his leave from the meeting, Philip stepped outside to find John standing at the entrance, breathing heavily.
“What is the matter?” he demanded, his brow creased with concern.
John took a moment to catch his breath before he spoke. “I have an update about Lord Keldbrooke, Your Grace.”
Philip narrowed his eyes. “Who did he meet with?” he asked, knowing the only reason John would seek him out was because the Earl had met with someone of importance.
