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“My Lady.” Otilia gave an elegant curtsy despite the storm raging in her. “So good to see you.”
The travel here had passed eventless, well, after the strenuous encounter with the blasted Earl. In the village, she took a local hackney to bring her here. Despite everything, she counted a victory to decide on her own life.
“Likewise,” Lady Mandeville answered. “Little Arthur’s christening was a splendiferous ceremony. A pity you missed it.” The boy was the Bentleys’ grandson.
“Your letter arrived only yesterday.” She could not believe so much transpired in a mere twenty-four hours. A veritable gale of emotions shook her insides.
“Come, the butler will show you to your rooms.”
The rest of the afternoon and evening rolled by in a predictable manner. After helping the dowager to her chamber, Otilia retired to her modest accommodation in a corner of the manor. Clean, aired and comfortable, she had nothing to complain about on the matter.
As soon as her head met the pillow, every second of this interminable day hit her like a volley of painful needles. With them, the copious tears. She wept for herself, for the loss of her uncle and aunt and the inevitable changes that came with it, and the disappointment of Edmund’s actions. And her loneliness. The utter and undeniable awareness she would forever be alone in this world.
Not only that, she admitted, at last. She cried for the loss of Edmund and what he once meant to her. The hurt he inflicted on her then and now.
As the dam emptied, she fell in a fitful sleep. She promised herself it would be the only and last time she would cry for him or for her lot in life.
CHAPTER TEN
Edmund slumped in an armchair in a corner of his club, a glass of brandy untouched on the table. He observed the other lords milling around with utter indifference.
His days had gone by in bleak succession. Get up, dress, go to the City, come back. Sleep—rather not sleep. Eat—rather not eat. Remember—rather not remember. Then remember, anyway. Crave, try to eradicate it. Crave anyway. The turmoil it provoked resembled a storm at sea as though the entire planet turned in on itself again and again. He strived not to admit even to himself that he missed Otilia. Tragically so.
Confessing to himself his feelings or what they meant was also out of the question. This led him to sail the storm inside blindly, without knowing where or how he stood. And why or what for? It would bring no relief or reprieve. No closure. Nothing would fill the void. Only Otilia, but she was gone. For good.
“Hey, Thornton.” His eyes lifted to see Brunswick approaching with Darroch.
“Brunswick, Darroch,” he uttered in a hollow tone.
“I had not heard Miss Kendall became Lady Mandeville’s companion,” Darroch said.
The mention of the siren got him alert. “What of it?”
“They are back in town,” the Duke revealed, much to Edmund’s eagerness.
“Indeed.” He said it as if it did not matter in the least but lent a careful ear to the conversation.
“Saw the dowager at the theatre last night with her.” The smile Darroch exhibited did not agree with the Earl one bit. “I thought you planned to marry her off.”
“Miss Kendall did not go along with it.” The blasted woman steered her life like a weathered sea captain.
“She is worth a tryst or two, I daresay.” Harris rubbed his chiselled jaw thoughtful.
Edmund was out of his chair and grabbing Darroch’s collar before the other man could blink. “Touch a hair on her head, and I will thrash you!”
The libertine raised his hands in surrender. “What befell you, Thornton? It was just a comment.”
“She is my late cousin’s niece. And to be respected,” he growled.
“Miss Kendall has not told you, I gather,” Brunswick started.
“Told me what?” With a jerk, Edmund let Darroch go and turned to the Duke.
“Several lords propositioned her.” The other man dropped the information like a cannonball. “I mean, why marry her? She is a mere orphaned miss.”
The words caused such a destructive impact in the Earl that he stepped backwards horrified. “Who?” he spat in rage.
“Darlington was one of the most insistent. He never missed an opportunity to bring it up with her,” Brunswick continued.
