Page 3 of ?n Arranged Betrothal with a Blind Duke
His aunt held him as he choked back tears of frustration and humiliation.
“No, darling,” she said, rubbing his back in a motherly fashion. “You did not embarrass me. What truly humiliates me is being associated with a society that conducts itself in the manner those arrogant individuals did this evening. I am ashamed to be associated with any of them. And I promise you, I will never subject you to an environment where people would treat you in such a manner ever again.”
Adrian nodded. His aunt’s words were comforting. But deep down, he believed that her association with him would eventually rob her of her friends, of her social life, of everything that a lady of her stature deserved within society. He let his aunt lead him to his chambers and to his bed. But that night, he decided that he needed to do something to spare his aunt any further humiliation.
***
One evening, almost three months after he had lost his sight, he made the hard decision. He needed to distance himself from the memories that Thornwood held, to be away from the prying eyes of society, the stifling air of pity, the gossip that he was sure ran rife within the ton, especially after the debacle at the dinner party. He sat down with his aunt at dinner, though he had had virtually no appetite since the party.
“Aunt Marjorie,” he said. “I have decided to rent a property in Bath. I will no longer be staying here at Thornwood.”
Marjorie was silent for a moment. Then, she spoke, a sad smile in her voice.
“I know things have been difficult for you here,” she said. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
Adrian nodded firmly.
“I am,” he said. “You can continue to live here if you like. I will ensure that you are cared for, that you have everything you need. You are free to do as you like…”
“No, my dear,” she said, with just as much determination as Adrian. “I will not allow you to be on your own. I love you, darling. And where you go, I go.”
Adrian looked toward his aunt, tears stinging his eyes.
“Won’t you miss the balls and the dinner parties, and your friends?” he asked.
His aunt chortled.
“I lost many friends when they decided to be cruel to you,” she said. “My true friends will come visit me. And when it comes to social gatherings, I have no interest in associating with individuals who conduct themselves in such uncivilized and disrespectful manners.”
Despite the heavy resignation he felt, Adrian laughed.
“Very well,” he said. “I shall have our things packed up tonight. We will leave first thing tomorrow.”
The next morning, Adrian summoned his steward to his chambers after Blake had gone to oversee the loading of his aunt’s and his luggage.
“I am entrusting you with Thornwood, Higgins,” Adrian informed his loyal steward, his voice steady despite the turmoil that lurked beneath the surface. Higgins had served his family for decades, his loyalty and dedication to the estate unmatched.
“Yes, Your Grace,” Higgins responded, his voice filled with an emotion Adrian could only imagine was a mix of surprise and concern. “Are you certain about this, Your Grace?”
Adrian nodded, thinking of how his aunt had asked him the very same question the evening before.
“I've never been more certain, Higgins. I need some time away,” Adrian replied.
Thus, the Duke of Thornwood found himself bidding farewell to his beloved manor, setting off towards Bath, a city known for its healing waters. Bath offered the solitude he desired, a refuge from the suffocating atmosphere of London, a place to come to terms with his new reality.
As the carriage pulled away, Adrian let his fingers trail along the leather upholstery, his mind filled with a kaleidoscope of emotions. Thornwood was his home, his sanctuary. Leaving it behind felt like leaving a part of himself. But it was a necessary sacrifice, one that he hoped would bring him peace, acceptance, and perhaps, in time, a new beginning.
Chapter One
Three years had passed since the unfortunate hunting accident, the one that had changed Adrian’s life forever. The duke of Thornwood was now a shadow of his former self, his sharp hunter's gaze replaced by vacant eyes that held the darkness of his world.
Haunted by the tragedy that had stolen his sight, Adrian sought solace in the sanctuary of his ancestral home. His heart pulsed with a rhythm of regret and relief, a melody of melancholy and fortitude that echoed in his chest. He had come home to Thornwood, a place that once sparkled with the vibrant hues of life and was now a canvas of shadows and hazy outlines.
The expansive Thornwood estate nestled in the heart of the English countryside was an orchestra of nature's melodies. Even without sight, Adrian could see its beauty through the lens of his memories. He remembered the vivid green of the rolling fields, the way the trees rustled under the delicate caress of the wind, the blossoming flowers that added splashes of color to the grounds. The fragrance of dew-kissed earth and fresh blooms filled his senses, painting a vivid picture of Thornwood's verdant beauty, offering him a semblance of sight.
The echo of his cane against the polished wood floors guided him through the familiar halls, each tap a breadcrumb leading him back to the life he once knew. He found himself in the drawing room, a room that bore the weight of countless family gatherings and joyous memories.
By the scent of her lavender perfume and the muddled outline of her delicate figure, he deduced that his aunt was already there. Her presence filled the room like the soft glow of a hearth on a winter’s night, radiating a warmth that made the shadows seem less daunting. She was the constant rock in his tumultuous sea of darkness, her voice a lighthouse guiding him through the gloom.
