Page 35 of The Penitent Duke
“We must get you home just as quickly as possible,” Lady Eleanor said, as Lucian walked alongside Lady Rosalind on the opposite side. “We came in my carriage, Your Grace, so I will see her home safely.”
Lucian nodded but said nothing. He did not want to be separated from Lady Rosalind but could not quite find the words to express that to either her or to Lady Rosalind. His whole body was shaking still but he gritted his teeth, trying to hide any sign of outward weakness. That was not what Lady Rosalind required from him at present. What she needed was for him to be strong, to make certain she was safe and well and would not suffer from what had happened.
“What happened?” Lady Eleanor asked, as Lucian, unable to help himself, wrapped one arm tight around Lady Rosalind’s shoulders, supporting her if she required it. “You were just behind me and then, all I heard was a splash.”
“I… I do not know.” Lady Rosalind’s voice was quavering but Lucian presumed that came from both the cold and the shock of what had happened. He prayed it did not come from fear. “I did not really see anything and mayhap… mayhap I just stumbled.”
“There was nothing to stumble over,” Lady Eleanor replied, with a shake of her head. “I do not know what happened either but I am sure there was no slip there.” For a moment, Lady Eleanor turned her head and caught Lucian’s attention with her gaze, a slight narrowing of her eyes and a thinning of her lips which made Lucian frown. Whatever was she thinking? Was it that she believed that somehow,hewas responsible for what had happened? That somehow, he had wanted this? The thought made his stomach twist with concern.
“I did not see either,” he said, keeping his gaze fixed to Lady Eleanor. “I was standing watching you both, I will confess. I saw you both speaking with one another and waving to someone across the pond before beginning to make your way around it.”
“But you did not see Lady Rosalind fall into the water?” Lady Eleanor asked, her lip curling just a little, making Lucian’s fear grow all the more. “I know that you jumped in to find her thereafter, but that was only after Lord Westlake had done the same. Andhereached her first.”
“Yes,” Lady Rosalind whispered, as Lucian’s hand tightened on her shoulder. “Yes, he did.”
Lucian swallowed, hard. “Lady Rosalind was hidden from my view for a time and I did not see what had happened. I did not understand that she had fallen in until I came closer and then, of course, I did not hesitate!”
“Mmm.” Lady Eleanor sniffed and turned her head away and then they were at the carriage, meaning that Lucian could say nothing more.
“Come, let me help you in.” It was all he could do, helping Lady Rosalind up into the carriage, another gentleman’s coat around her shoulders, her face white and her whole body trembling still. Her eyes were large and dark green, striking against her pale face and the desperate urge grew within him to reach up and cup her face and to promise her that everything would be all right, that he would discover what had happened and would make whoever was responsible pay for their foolishness.
Instead, he merely stepped back and assisted Lady Eleanor up into the carriage.
Then, he gripped Eleanor’s hand, refusing to let her free. Lady Eleanor’s breath caught audibly and she looked at him, wide eyed, only for Lucian to lean a little closer.
“I did not do this,” he breathed, seeing how her eyes rounded. “I can see that your thoughts linger towards my involvement but I can assure you, I did not – would not – do such a thing so as to injure Lady Rosalind in such a dreadful way.”
“No?” Lady Eleanor wrenched her hand from his.
“No!” Lucian exclaimed, though Lady Eleanor did not make to sit in the carriage. Instead, she simply glared at him. “For what purpose would I do such a thing?”
She shrugged, sniffed and lifted her chin. “I could not say,” she answered, quietly. “I must only hope that there was nothing cruel and calculating in what happened to Lady Pearl… and that the same will not happen to my dear friend.”
Lucian went white hot and then terribly cold as Lady Eleanor finished speaking. He wanted to tell her that she had no right to evensuggestsuch a terrible thing but the shock of her words was so great, he could not even find a way to say it. Lady Eleanor lifted an eyebrow and then turned into the carriage, sitting down and having the carriage door shut tightly.
Then, it rolled away.
Lucian closed his eyes and let out a slow groan, dropping his head and rubbing one hand over his eyes. Surely Lady Eleanor did not think that a word of what she had suggested was true? And even if she did, could he trust that she would not express that to Lady Rosalind? Yes, he knew that she had been terribly shocked by what had happened but he had to pray, had to believe that Lady Rosalind would not believe that he had anything to do with it!
“Mayhap Lord Westlake saw what went on.” Muttering to himself, he rubbed one hand over his eyes again and then made to stride back to the path, only for a sudden gust of wind to twist over him.
Lucian shivered. It had been a fine sunny day but all the same, the pond water had not been warm and now, even the smallest gust of wind made him feel all the colder. He could not do anything now. It would be best to return home, bathe, change and then go to find Lord Westlake thereafter.
Lifting his chin, he made his way back towards his own carriage, only for a small, somewhat scruffy looking child to rush up to him.
“Your Grace?”
Lucian took a step back so that the boy could not put a grubby hand on his clothing. “What is the meaning of this?” he exclaimed, but the boy seem to care nothing for his sharp tone. Instead, he looked up at Lucian asthough somehow, he might be able to ascertain whether or not he truly was the Duke of Strathmore.
“Are you?”
Lucian stepped back again, his jaw tight. “Be off with you!”
“But I have a message!”
This stopped Lucian short. He turned and looked down at the small child, seeing an earnestness in his expression. Normally, he would not have cared about a street urchin, normally he would have dismissed him and stepped away, not believing that he truly did have a message for him but there was something about this boy’s face that made him pause. He did not know what it was, whether it was the wide eyes, the clasped hands in front or the general demeanor of earnestness but, despite his cold, despite his shivering, Lucian relented.
“Yes, I am the Duke of Strathmore,” he said, after a few moments. “What is it?”
