Page 89 of His Forbidden Duchess
The words struck a nerve, and Felix looked away. “It does not matter,” he muttered, more to himself than to Percy. “She deserves someone far better than me.”
Percy watched him for a long moment before sighing. “Perhaps you are right,” he said, taking a sip of his drink. “But I would say the only way to know for sure would be to ask her.”
Felix pursed his lips as he considered his friend’s advice. It made sense, but he couldn’t do it.
“No,” he said, shaking his head. He looked up from his glass to face Percy. “Since I am back here in London, back to the old me—therealme…will you join me?”
Chapter Thirty-Four
“It is simply breathtaking here,” Hannah said, reaching out to touch a branch heavy with late-blooming roses as they strolled through the garden. “You’ve done well for yourself, Duchess.” She grinned, nudging Eloise with her elbow. “I never imagined you living in a place like this.”
Much to Eloise’s relief, Hannah arrived the very next day. Sensing Eloise’s distress, Hannah quickly settled into the guest room and joined Eloise for tea.
Later that afternoon, the sun broke free from behind the clouds, and the sky brightened for the first time in days, just as Hannah had lightened Eloise’s heart.
Eloise took a deep breath, letting the crisp autumn air fill her lungs. The leaves were just beginning to turn, the bright green shifting to shades of amber and crimson, a gentle reminder that time was passing, even as her own world felt frozen with uncertainty.
Eloise gave Hannah a small smile, her gaze distant. “Neither did I to be honest.” She sighed, looking out over the sprawling gardens that felt so empty now. “It is strange, having everything I thought I wanted… and yet feeling so alone.”
Hannah’s expression softened, her usual playfulness fading. “I thought there must be a reason you called me here. I heard that Jeremy has returned. I take it things did not go well?”
“I always suspected he would not be pleased,” Eloise said, threading her arm through her friend’s. “But the anger in him—it is like nothing I have ever seen before. I thought he would at least understand why we married. You understand, do you not, Hannah?”
Hannah stopped and turned to look at her with a soft gaze. “I understand, my dear. And your brother will come around in time, you’ll see.”
“Perhaps.” Eloise wandered to the fountain just behind Hannah, watching the water ripple in lazy circles as she gathered her thoughts. “Felix left, Hannah. It has been a week, and I do not know if he will ever return.”
Hannah’s eyes widened. “Left? Because of Jeremy? Where did he go?”
“London,” Eloise tried to keep her tone steady, but the ache in her heart grew as she spoke, “Jeremy said some awful things, Hannah. He said that Felix could never be a good husband or make me happy, and Felix… well, he agreed then said he had toleave. I tried to get him to stay and talk about it, but he just… left.”
She trailed her fingers in the water, the icy cold bringing her to her senses, as if reminding her she was still alive.
“Oh, Eloise,” Hannah said, giving her a pitying look. “I am so sorry. I do wish you had told me sooner. You know I would have come straight away.”
“I know.” Eloise looked up at her and smiled gratefully. “You are a good friend. The best.”
“It has never made much sense to me,” Hannah said, “the way men insist on running away from everything. And they think they are warriors! It is always the poor ladies left at home who ensure the world continues turning while they drown their sorrows at the club.”
Eloise let out a hollow laugh. “Indeed. And it is not just him. Jeremy’s furious with me too. He thinks I have somehow betrayed him by marrying Felix.” She paused, her hands tightening around the fabric of her skirt. “And then there is my mother. She came here the other day, and all she could do was chastise me for causing such a ‘mess’ in the family. It is as if none of them realize, as if none of them care about what I have had to give up.”
“Oh dear,” Hannah said. “Things really have turned sour, but I am here now.”
Eloise looked up from her hands, her eyes watery with tears. “I thought I was doing the right thing by marrying Felix to protect my family, to save us all from ruin. But it feels like I am the only one who sees it that way.”
Hannah led her to a stone bench nestled beneath a canopy of trees, and they sat down together.
“Eloise,” she began gently, “you have spent your whole life taking care of other people. Your mother, your brother, now Felix.” She paused, giving Eloise a steady, knowing look. “But who has been looking after you?”
Eloise blinked, surprised by the question, and found herself at a loss for words. The truth settled uncomfortably within her: she had been so focused on fulfilling everyone else’s needs and expectations, that she had completely neglected her own happiness.
Hannah sighed, a sad smile forming on her lips. “You deserve more than this, you know. More than a family that does not appreciate you. More than a husband who backs down when things get hard.”
Eloise’s gaze fell to her hands, her voice barely a whisper. “I genuinely thought Felix and I were building something together.”
“As did I when I saw you together only last week. But maybe he is not ready.”
“I think he is still haunted by his past, and I am tired of trying to convince him, or anyone else, that I am worth staying for.”
