Page 9 of My Lord, My Rogue
Benjamin opened his mouth and closed it, unsure of what he wanted to say. He felt bad for Lancaster.And for her.He tried not to stare but noticed she had changed over these past few years. She was more beautiful. Fleetingly, he wondered if men had a code of honor that prevented them from courting women from friends’ previous relationships. He could not, of course, considering what this relationship had done to his best friend. He could never countenance it.
“That would be a good start,” the duke acknowledged. “I was told . . . I thought you were dead.”
While his words were hard, Benjamin noticed Lancaster’s expression appeared sympathetic.
“Lord Aster, my h . . .husband,” she started slowly, “was abusive.”
Lancaster’s eyebrows raised, and his eyes seemed to lock with hers.
Lady Aster took a deep breath, which hitched with emotion. “You are right. Perhaps, I should say first, Adam—may I still call you that?” she asked, pausing.
Adam nodded his consent.
“Please accept my condolences on the loss of your father. He was a gentle and good man.”
He nodded and remained quiet.
“I apologize for all that I put you and your family through. There can be little excuse for what I did. I am dreadfully sorry.” Her head hung for a moment on that last word. When she again looked up, her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I deserve whatever you have to say to me. I dishonored you, my family, and my dearest friend.”
“I fought a duel,” Lancaster ground out, “thinking you were dead because of him.”
Tears trickled down her cheeks. “From my vantage point, I could see no other way. I had accepted your proposal and then found myself in a grievous situation—all my fault. But all the same, I was pregnant, and he abused me . . .”
“What do you mean,abusedyou?” Benjamin inserted, feeling his own anger rising. “Did he hit you?”
She turned away. “Yes. When my father would not give him my dowry, David wanted to make sure I understood its value.”
Lancaster touched her chin and gently pulled her face back to him. “He hit you? You were pregnant?” The Duke’s voice boomed.
She nodded, shuddering. “Many times,” she said in a wobbly voice.
Lancaster stepped back, red-faced and appearing furious.
“My maid Bridget and . . . my aunt,” she said, looking each man in the face as she continued, “they helped me leave. And Randall.” She nodded toward the groomsman, who stood staring at the three of them.
“Your parents? They saw nothing to let them know?” Lancaster asked in a heated tone.
“No. Bridget knew. I hid my bruises, or so I thought. And I told my aunt. Well, she confronted me about the bruises and the marks on my neck and hid me at her house. She was going to my parents. I begged her to help me get away first. Aster was cruel. That was when we devised a plan. It became vital my parentsknew nothing. That was the cruelest part—what I did to everyone that loved me. I made them all think me dead until it was safe to tell them. They left immediately to be with me.”
“I remember when they left town. It was sudden.”
Benjamin felt a sliver of admiration for her courage in this moment. Many men had wilted before His Grace’s ire. Yet, this diminutive woman was steadfast, showing only remorse and reliving the pain in order to apologize. How low must a man be to physically hurt a woman? If Aster had not already been dead, he would have torn him apart with his two hands.
“I faked my death to escape him. He never wanted me, only my dowry. I overheard a discussion between David and his mother. Papa refused to relent because he had the agreement with you. When he failed to get my money, he hit me. Beatings happened too often.” She turned away, apparently struggling to maintain her composure.
“Your father is an honorable man and had only your best interest at heart,” Lancaster said, his voice as firm as a rock.
Benjamin willed himself quiet. He would never have believed something like this could have happened to her.
“I remain astonished your parents knew nothing of his behavior . . . or your plans,” the duke repeated to himself, his tone incredulous. “I never gave him enough credit for the actor he was.”
“No. They did not know. I could not risk them trying to talk me out of it or telling David . . . Lord Aster, thinking they were doing the right thing. My husband told me no one would ever believe me,” she said, fighting to keep her voice steady. “He accused me of trying to conceal your child and using him.” She pushed her chin up, appearing determined.
A long moment of silence followed before Lancaster spoke. His voice had softened. “I am sorry for what you experienced. Aster was a fool, Honora. I would never have compromised you and left for war.”
“I well knew that truth . . . but I was afraid no one would believe me,” she murmured. “So, I tried to make it work.”
“Evie and I married,” the duke said without preamble.
