Page 43 of My Blind Duke
Prudence laughed, a light, airy sound William decided he would not mind hearing more often than not.
“I certainly was. So much so that she still visits me all the way from Scotland whenever she tires of her new husband. I mean – she does it because she misses me and my sister. But I had thought she would dislike me for all my disobedience and defiance. But she never grew tired of me. And it made me realize… sometimes, the sins we hold above our heads have long since been forgiven. Some things are better left in the past, where they belong,” she said softly.
William thought about it – his scars, both large and small, within him and etched onto his skin. He thought about all the costs he had shouldered, trying to live the life he wanted.
He thought of the weariness in his bones that had followed him for days on end.
And then, he thought of his beautiful daughter.
“I suppose you are right. Truce?”
“Only for now. And I am always right. You would do well to remember that.”
Her remark had made him laugh out so loudly, that the sound seemed to echo in his head for hours after they had left the orangery.
William felt like a fool.
Staying in the orangery with the duchess had been a terrible idea on his part because, if he had experienced trouble getting his thoughts away from her before, it was practically impossible now.
No matter what he did, or who he spoke to, Prudence was always lingering in the back of his mind. He heard her laugh ringing in his ears, fell asleep to the sound of her soft voice in his mind, and got drunk off her scent in the hallways.
She was like poison, slowly consuming him, and it left him only two options on how to deal with it. Either he got her far, far away from him and therefore out of his mind and his life – and his house – or he indulged in her as much as he could, as often as he could, until such notions faded from his being.
It might have seemed like an unwise course of action, but his doubts about her capability to commit murder were growing.There were far too many instances that caused him to question the possibility of that story. Especially his own life.
He could not say that he had been on his guard ever since it came to his attention that Prudence likely murdered the former duke. And with their earlier… arguments, she had enough reasons to hate him and want him dead. But somehow, he was still living, breathing, and upsetting her any chance he got.
He was either very lucky or she was not a murderer.
However, there was one thing that still bothered him about her.
And that was the quick marriage between Prudence and Anthony. He had heard more rumors, about how she did not look like one who was mourning a husband, but more like someone who felt sorry for the loss of another and what that meant for them.
She had mourned him distantly, coldly and her initial shock was that he had passed on their wedding night.
That left William wondering if she had ever loved Anthony.
And if she was capable of love.
But why would I even care about that?
“Are you going to practice the piano again, Your Grace?”
Prudence nodded as she downed the rest of her lemonade.
“I believe I am getting better,” she said with a happy smile.
“You certainly are,” Anna nodded. “I have heard a lot less grumbling from the staff as of late.”
“Anna! Why would you–”
“I jest, I jest. Forgive me, Your Grace,” the maid grinned. “But I must ask – why must you go through these lengths, sharpening your skills on an instrument you clearly find difficult?”
“Melanie loves music. I had sensed as much when she told me why she did not wish to take her lessons with her teacher. However, if we sit and fold our arms without looking for a solution because we hope her preferred scenario will come to pass, she will lose even more than she already has in that time. She wants to learn, but she wants her father to teach her. And because he is busy, I intend to take over for him,” Prudence explained.
“Ahh… I see. But would it not have been easier to just sit in on her lesson and have the music teacher do all the work for you?”
“No, Anna. Then it will not be meaningful because I did what would suit me best and not what is best for her. She deserves better than that, and I am determined to be the best teacher there is for her.”
