Page 74 of Trapped with the Forbidden Duke
Lucien rarely mentioned his aunt. Of course, she would have existed, hence his cousins’ existence, and Jasper had alreadymentioned their strained relationship. Had she passed away? The jeweler had looked panicked rather than sad at the mention of her.
Perplexed, Edwina continued her stroll around the village, until she came to a butcher’s stall in the center of a small market. Cuts of meat were arranged on display—beef, honey-cured ham, roast peasant—and her mouth watered at the thought of buying some to snack on for the remainder of her walk.
She approached the butcher, a warm smile on her face. “Good morning!”
At the sight of her, he bowed. “Your Grace, it is an honor.”
She laughed, once again surprised.
At her confusion, the butcher explained, “Word travels fast in Stormhold, Your Grace. Many are quite intrigued by your presence today.”
His short, damp hair clung to his head, and he smoothed down his grease-streaked apron as if trying to appear more composed.
“I am simply exploring my new home,” Edwina said. “And making some enquiries. As the Duchess of Stormhold, I wish to find out if there is anything the tenants and business owners need help with. Any fees we can waive for a short time, more land you need to acquire, support with anything at all?”
“Oh, Your Grace, please do not trouble yourself. His Grace has been most generous to this village. He is part of the reason why it’s expanding much faster than most other villages in the countryside. Fortunately, we are populated enough to have more than one stall per industry. For example, I am one of three butchers, yet we all do very well. His Grace is a kind and fair one. It is clear that he cares for the land he rules over.”
“Indeed, that is very clear,” Edwina agreed, nodding.
“He has been through quite a lot,” the butcher continued. “Some… some men would turn nasty because of it. Dark. But it seems to have only made His Grace more compassionate and considerate of others. It is admirable.”
“What sort of things?”
“It is not my place to say, Your Grace. If you are unaware, it should come from His Grace. However, may I interest you in some roast peasant? It was caught today.”
Edwina glanced back at Lily, who nodded eagerly.
“I am sure His Grace would not mind such a purchase. Do you have an account with him?”
“I do, yes.”
“Lovely. Then please also take this as a token of my pleasure to have been served by you.” She offered him a silver piece.
“You are as kind as His Grace, Your Grace. You two seem as though you have a good life together.”
Edwina soon bid her goodbyes and continued on. She thought about walking around the lake but then quickly decided she would rather do it with Lucien.
Instead, she hailed her carriage to return home, her thoughts spinning over and over, unable to stop wondering what some of the villagers had hinted at. The Duke had not wished to discuss his family, yet it was clear that some people knew a thing or two about it.
Edwina, while initially hurt, had understood his reluctance to confide in her, especially as he had been right. She did not know if she would have told him about the true depth of her brother’s addiction had he not found out during that fight. But it hurt to be left in the dark, especially when there seemed to be a large hole in the landscape of her life with him.
A hole from his past that made her realize she knew very little about her husband’s parents, whom she had learned were dead, and who had raised him in their absence.
Edwina vowed to uncover her husband’s past. She had dropped her defenses for him; now she needed him to do the same for her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Your cravat matches my dress,” Edwina noted, trying not to stare for too long at the handsome smirk Lucien gave her.
Although it was not a full smirk, but one that slightly tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Lord and Lady Fairfax were to host their first ball after their wedding, having recently wed and retreated to their countryside estate.
Lily had finished preparing Edwina for the ball, draping her in a beautiful gown of amethyst, where the hem at the top of her bodice and sleeves was a lighter shade of pink that glimmered.
Edwina had noticed a shadow falling over the doorway. Quickly, Lily excused herself, leaving her to meet her husband’s reflection in the mirror.
“It seems Harold conferred with your lady’s maid,” Lucien began, his voice low, as he pushed off the doorframe and stepped into her room.
