Page 2 of The Penitent Duke
A knock at the door stopped the man’s words and Lucian flung himself out of his seat, barreling across the room and pulling open the door, breathing hard as he gazed into the face of the butler. “Yes?”
“Lord Radcliffe, Your Grace.” The butler stepped to one side. “And Mr. Grant, the gamekeeper.”
Lucian grasped Lord Radcliffe’s hand the moment his friend stepped in. “Radcliffe,” he breathed, looking into his friend’s face, searching for answers. “Thank you for all you have done. Is there any news?”
Lord Radcliffe’s grey eyes seemed darker now, shadows flickering there. “My friend,” he said, quietly, “you should sit down, I think.”
Lucian closed his eyes tightly, understanding now while there was news, it could not be good. “Tell me, Radcliffe. Tell me now.”
His friend hesitated, then sighed. “We found a ribbon tangled in some branches,” he said, speaking quietly and slowly. “And a shoe.”
Hearing this, Lucian’s eyes sprang open. “A shoe? Where?”
Lord Radcliffe took in a long breath, shaking his head as he did so, his eyes squeezing closed. “At the cliffs.”
Lucian sucked in a breath, his head spinning, his heart pounding as he swallowed hard, over and over again. One hand went to Lord Radcliffe’s shoulder, gripping there as he tried to steady himself, but his friend merely guided him to a seat rather than letting him linger. Somehow, Lucian found himself sitting in his overstuffed chair with a glass of brandy in his hand, a coldness creeping into his very bones as he stared blankly ahead.
The cliffs were near his estate, a place where he had often walked or taken a ride on the days he wanted to be out in the clean, crisp air of the sea. They were steep, however, and filled with dangers and thus, he had always kept himself back from them for there was nothing but death waiting at the bottom.
Death which, it seemed, had now taken his betrothed.
“I am sorry, Your Grace.” The surgeon’s voice seemed to come from very far away as Lucian lifted his gaze to stare back at the man, seeing how he shook his head. “I shall excuse myself now and give you the time you require. Mayhap I shall leave a little laudanum with your butler, should your require it.”
Lucian could not say yes or no, such was the weight in his heart. He let out a breath and felt his chest aching, his eyes now burning hot. His breathing grew quicker now, more ragged as he tried to take in what his friend was saying, accepting the reality that he would never see Lady Pearl again. There had not been any great love between them but that sensationhadbegun to take hold of Lucian of late, though he could not have spoken for her. To lose her now, when his heart had only just begun to take a hold of her and clasp her to himself, was truly devastating.
And it is all my fault.
“It is not your fault.”
Lucian’s head jerked up, not realizing that he had spoken aloud.
“You encouraged hernotto ride with you,” his friend said gently, though there was a twist of firmness through his voice. “Her brother agreed to let her do so, despite the dangers of which every traveler is aware. You cannot blame yourself for this.”
Lucian’s throat ached as he spoke, his voice rough and grating. “I should never have permitted her. It was my affection for her which made me weak – and now, some dreadful accident has occurred and she is lost to the sea… forever.” Closing his eyes, he fought the tears which burned there, just as guilt struck hard at his soul. “I have been weak and foolish andshehas paid the price.”
“It was not your fault,” his friend said again, all the more firmly. “No doubt some dark and dangerous men were lying in wait, saw their opportunity and took from her what they could. I do not know if their intention was to do as they did in the end but all the same, none of this responsibility lies with you.”
Lucian shook his head again, refusing to believe it. “No. I will take the blame for this,” he said, heavily, his shoulders rounding as he dropped his head. “I do not know why I have escaped and she had to be the one who suffered, but I would give anything, doanything,to take her place.”
“Do not say that,” Lord Radcliffe began, but Lucian closed his eyes, threw back his brandy and then cut through the air between them both with one hand, silencing his friend.
“I will not be persuaded,” he said, a little throatily still. “I am to blame. I will accept that without hesitation and nothing you can say or do, my friend, will ever change my belief in that.”
Chapter One
Three years later
“Is it true?”
Lucian scowled as the door opened and his friend swung jauntily into the room, a broad grin on his face. “I do not think I gave you permission to walk into my drawing room, Radcliffe.”
“I do not need your permission,” came the breezy answer, his friend now slouching in one of the chairs opposite Lucian, crossing his legs at the ankle. “Well?”
The scowl on Lucian’s face grew darker. “I do not like you always coming in here making demands on me or asking your incessant questions.”
This did not seem to push Lord Radcliffe back for he merely shrugged and then tilted his head clearly waiting for Lucian to answer. This, Lucian reminded himself, was why he had become rather tired of Lord Radcliffe of late. The man was always pressing him, coercing him and otherwise irritating him – and today, it seemed was no exception.
“You know that I will simply sit here until I have my answer.”
