Page 82 of A Lady of Means
The other man broke free of Henry’s grip on his shoulder and turned in the Duke’s direction.
“Fine then, your Grace.Do you know whatyour betrothedhas done?”
The Duke stepped around him to stand in front of Moria.Her heart stuttered at the protectiveness of his stance and defiant gleam of his eyes.“My betrothed?She isn’t the one who committed the acts, Lord Garth.To my knowledge, she is a young lady who wrote down witnessed events in a personal diary.If any crimes were committed, they were not by my betrothed, but by those who stole the book and aimed to profit by blackmail or extortive means.”
She could feel watchful eyes on the Duke’s reaction, but George turned eyes on Moria.She could read only acceptance in them, even though some of the people she wrote about had been his friends.
“If it was even your little book.Some of the things in that notebook are quite scathing, but by my reckoning, the people who ought to be concerned here,” he turned to peer in Lord Garth’s direction, “are the ones who perpetrated them.”
My beautiful reckoning.Why was Devyn the man her thoughts ran to at that moment?When this one was here, healthy and hale, coming to her aid?
Tears stung like tiny bee stings, but she fought them off and wrote them off as relief over the Duke’s public show of support.She was sure to be adding more fodder for the gossips today with this display.With a Duke at her side, though, who would dare turn her sister away again?
Warm, soft fingers intermingled with hers and offered her the protection of his good name and his body.“Come on, my dear,” the Duke urged.
Moria looked down at their hands.Her engagement ring on her finger glinted in the afternoon sunlight.It was bright and shiny and large, but it wasn’t as beautiful as the pink stone that Devyn had given her.One of the Duke’s hands brushed against her fingers.To his left, Noelle and Fitz were looking at them in obvious fascination.Olivia’s eyes saw through her and held her for a moment, and then Moria looked to Kathleen.
“I hope to deserve you one day, all of you,” she said, meaning it with her whole patchworked heart.“The combined force of you all behind me, I felt like I could do anything.”
“We’ve never been able to counsel you when your mind is set on something, so we’ve just accepted our lot,” Lawrence replied.But pride was in his eyes.He’d have hunted down whoever stole from her and released her words; but instead, he’d walked at her side, staring down any and all potential challengers.
“I’d like to have a private chat with His Grace if all of you don’t mind, though?”
Jasper huffed out a breath, and then he was hugging her.“I’m proud of you, you know?”he said, his chin on top of her head.He was so sturdy and warm and unexpectedly hugging her, she didn’t pull away until he did.
She saw the unshed wateriness in Kathleen's eyes.Henry gave her a small wink.God knew she complained about being part of such a large family, but they showed up for her and stood at her side on her worst occasions.No questions asked.Maybe she could finally tell them the truth.She knew she had to finally tell the Duke, he deserved to know before being shackled to her for life.
Her three sisters and brothers and brothers-in-law all partnered up; Olivia on Fitz’s arm this time, as he waved at an old school friend and introduced the young lord and his mother to Olivia.
Miss Kelley followed three paces behind Moria and the Duke with her ward holding her hand.
“I meant what I said, earlier.”
Moria turned to face him, clutching his arm.“Oh?”
“You didn’t commit any crimes here, Moria.If you were even the one responsible for that book.”
“I was, I wasn’t the only writer; but I won’t deny it.I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”
“But why…why did you write the book, Moria?Surely it would have been easier just to burn the pages than to risk it leaking?”
She met his eyes, sensing her opening to give him a version of the truth, for good or ill.
“When I returned from mourning last season, there were all kinds of rumors…when the dancing partners and invitations dwindled, I found it hypocritical.They seemed to have no problem turning a cold shoulder to me over what they’dheardwhen I had witnessed worse.The first time I used such information to recover an invitation to a ball I felt…” She gave him a small smile, “Awful, yet proud of myself at the same time.I only had to use the information a handful of times to get what I felt I deserved, or to get myself out of situations that were not of my choosing; but I told myself information was currency, and I was never going to be a lady without such means again.”
“Do you know who has the book?”He lowered his voice, next to her, tipping his hat at some matron as they passed.
Moria looked up at him, nodding.“Thank you for answering my note, for meeting me here.I was afraid?—”
He turned his head to face her, slowing his strides.“I chose you.Whatever is said about you or to you, it affects the both of us.We handle this and whatever else comes.Together,” he punctuated his words, his finger brushing over hers where she clutched his arm.
Moria leaned her head against his arm, resolving to tell him everything he didn’t know.Olivia’s reputation and future were secure, seemingly, for another day.She let herself feel contented for the first time in a long time walking companionably with him in Hyde Park, listening to him recount his latest parliament campaign, and watching all those they came in contact with either vying for his attention or sporting a knowing smirk.
ChapterThirty-Four
D-
Where are you?Where have you gone?The report I read said that we may never know where you made your flight, or found eternal rest.
