Page 39 of My Blind Duke
William barely managed to hold back a groan of annoyance.
Of all the days for this man to visit–
“Bring him here, to me.”
“Right away, Your Grace,” the butler bowed and made a quick exit.
Moments later, someone knocked at the door, and William called out for them to “enter.”
He heard the door open and noted the blurry shape move into a position he assumed was a bow.
“Your Grace. Pardon my intrusion.”
“I do not believe I will. The first time we met, you apologized for dropping in unannounced. I see you are a creature of habit, Lord Montclair,” William grumbled, feeling irritated.
Was he irritated because his peace was disturbed or because he knew the marquess had come once again to talk to him about Prudence?
“That is not true, Your Grace. I would have sent word ahead or asked for an audience, but I felt it was rather important for me to come as soon as I could,” Hugo explained, sounding only slightly apologetic.
William’s curiosity got the better of him, so he waved the issue aside.
“What was so important this time?”
Hugo took a seat in front of the duke’s desk and inhaled sharply.
“I… I could not help but notice that the duchess is still within the walls of your home,” he said, tone careful.
It was immensely ridiculous.
“She is. She does live here as a resident.”
“B-But why? I was hoping you were going to consider my warning, Your Grace,” Hugo protested.
“I did. I have. But there is no evidence as of now that she is the criminal others believe her to be. And I meant what I said about looking into it. I have someone investigating the issue, and that is all I will say for now.”
“Your Grace, pardon me, but are you not being a little too ignorant? Your daughter lives in this home, does she not? Is it wise to let her dwell within the same–”
“Are you calling me foolish?” William raised an eyebrow.
“No. no, I would never, Your Grace.” Hugo shook his head.
William tried to be understanding. He knew it must not have been easy for the other man to depend on him like this, but he would do so anyway to ensure his dear friend got the justice he was owed. And William did not wish to stand in the way of that. But he was not sure he was ready to toss Prudence out of his life.
“I assure you, if she is guilty, I will do all I can to ensure that she is punished to the full extent of the law. And even if she is innocent, I do have plans for her eventual relocation. She is only here until I can think of a viable solution. Though I fail to see how any of this should be your concern,” William said, ignoring the strange twinge in his chest at his words.
Hugo hummed, and then he nodded. “I understand, Your Grace. I apologize for overstepping.”
“I am glad that you do. I wish to do this properly because there is nothing worse than an innocent being condemned to a sin or crime they did not commit,” William told him.
It was a feeling he understood quite well because, after the passing of his wife, many people pointed fingers at him and blamed him for her death. They even said his blindness was a result of God’s judgment upon him for taking the life of his wife.
He would not wish that treatment on anyone, much less on a woman as seemingly harmless as Prudence.
“Leave it to me,” he said with an air of finality to Lord Montclair. “If she is truly who you say she is, she will not be able to hide it for much longer. I might be a lot of things, but helpless, I am not.”
Unbeknownst to William, his daughter, Melanie, had been working up the courage outside his study to ask her papa to have tea with her and had noticed he had a guest. Just as she had been about to leave, she heard the guest mention the duchess.
As curious as a little kitten, she lingered outside the door to hear the rest of the conversation, shocked and upset to hear her papa say that he had no intention of letting Prudence stay with them indefinitely.
