Page 78 of My Blind Duke
The days had bled into one another, each marked by the same gnawing anxiety that clung to William like a shroud. After her arrest, Marina had arrived at the Pemberly estate with her husband Aaron, and together they had thrown themselves into the task of securing Prudence’s release. They had pored over the absurd accusations, seeking any legal loophole, any witness who might have seen something amiss on the night of Anthony’s death. The investigator was also of no help, unable to find solid evidence after so long.
But Clementina’s carefully constructed web of lies, however flimsy, held a disturbing weight in the eyes of the law.Frustration mounted with each passing hour, a bitter taste in William’s mouth that mirrored the fear clenching his heart.
He found himself endlessly replaying his interactions with Prudence, each remembered word and unspoken glance now imbued with a painful significance. Regret gnawed at him, sharp and relentless. He should have been more open, more honest about the feelings that had been steadily growing within him.
The fear of vulnerability, the ingrained reluctance to risk his heart again, had held him captive, and now, the very real possibility of losing Prudence forever was a far more agonizing torment than any potential future hurt.
“We must find something,” William sighed, rubbing his hands over his face tiredly. “It has been two days already. I do not want to imagine what she has had to endure in that time and I would rather we did not leave anything to chance.”
He lowered his hand to his daughter’s hair, stroking it gently, relieved that she had finally fallen asleep on his lap. Melanie remained a constant, heartbreaking presence. She clung to William, her small hand never far from his, her usual bright spirit dimmed by a profound sadness. The absence of Prudence had left a gaping hole in her life. Her quiet grief was a constant, visceral reminder to William of the woman they both desperately missed.
Then, on the third day after Prudence’s unjust imprisonment, and the very day of her planned departure, a carriage arrived at Pemberly at breakneck speed. Johanna descended with a flurryof agitated energy, her face etched with worry and a determined glint in her eyes. News of her daughter’s arrest had clearly reached her with haste.
“Mother?” Marina’s jaw dropped in surprise at the sight of Lady Jaxon.
“In the flesh. I cannot believe this has happened. My poor darling Prudence. She must be frightened out of her mind. Do not worry, everyone, we will put an end to this foolishness right away.”
They all exchanged uncertain glances. And it was Aaron who finally summoned the courage to enquire, “Why do you think so?”
Johanna declared her voice surprisingly firm, “Because I know who killed Anthony.”
Marina stared at her mother, her mouth agape. “Mother, surely you cannot be suggesting… that you had anything to do with his passing?”
The question hung in the air, thick with disbelief and a hint of underlying familial tension.
Johanna waved a dismissive hand, her expression one of exasperated impatience. “Do not be ridiculous, Marina. I did not travel all the way from Scotland for that. But I did notice some… odd things around the time of the wedding. Things that seemedinsignificant then, but now… now they paint a very different picture…” She lowered her voice, a conspiratorial tone creeping in. “I had my suspicions, strong ones.”
“Then why did you not say anything before, Mother?” Marina pressed, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Johanna sighed, a flicker of something akin to embarrassment crossing her features. “Well, at the time… I was not completely sure of my suspicions. But with the new duke’s arrival, I had thought it would be best for everyone to begin anew and I hired an investigator to confirm my suspicions. He was able to find a witness to Anthony’s trysts with Henrietta – someone who had worked here and had seen them together when they had thought no one would. And… well, if I am being perfectly honest, I also harbored a secret hope that the new duke would be… agreeable. And easy on the eyes – especially easy on the eyes. Which he is. Quite handsome, if I do say so myself. I had prayed that Prudence might yet find another chance at a life here.”
William felt a flush creep up his neck at her bluntness.
“But then,” Johanna continued, her gaze hardening, “When I heard about this… this preposterous arrest it all clicked into place.” She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “It was Henrietta. Clementina’s companion. She was Anthony’s mistress and she killed him.”
A collective gasp filled the room.
“Someone saw them arguing, quite fiercely, during the wedding celebrations,” Johanna explained, her eyes narrowed. “They told me about it afterward, a bit of gossip they thought nothing of. I dismissed it at the time, it seemed so unimportant amidst all the festivities. Your sister had seemed so content. I wished she was happy but if content was all she had then and she did not mind, I was prepared to be happy enough for both of us. So, I let it go and deemed it as insignificant. But now…”
William’s heartbeat echoed in his ears as apprehension filled his mind.
If… if this was true, it would explain quite some things. Especially the reason for Anthony’s death. They had always wondered why and proof of the motive could be exactly what they needed to free Prudence.
“We must have her chambers searched at once,” William stated, before calling out, “Jefferson! Mrs. Fairfax!”
The both of them came running as soon as they were called and William wasted no time instructing,
“Take some maids and footmen with you and search every nook and cranny of Henrietta’s room. Every orifice, every corner of that room. Bring me anything you find suspicious. Do it now.”
Accompanied by Marina, Aaron, and a determined Lady Jaxon, the servants conducted a very thorough search of Henrietta’s small chambers. William stayed behind, knowing he would notbe of any use to them, and fine with simply keeping out of their way.
Still, waiting for answers with no promise that they would come made him anxious. After what felt like an eternity, there was a shout of surprise, followed by a flurry of voices.
“What? What is it?” William called expectantly, tightening his hold on Melanie’s hand.
“I found something!” Marina’s voice spoke up excitedly. “A packet of letters, tucked away beneath a loose floorboard.”
“What do they say?” Aaron asked his wife, voicing William’s thoughts.
