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Chapter Twenty-Seven
Once upon a time, Belle enjoyed coming to London. Though she wasn’t very eager to find a husband the way her father had expected her to. But London was such a festive city with so many events and so many places she could attend that she’d always liked it when she would come to Aledene Manor to stay.
Now, the manor felt like the place of her confinement.
She and her mother clung to each other as they got out of the carriage and made their way to the door. The Duke walked behind them, as if he wanted to see with her own eyes that she entered the manor.
He stopped the moment they went through the doors, crossing his arms. His glowering eyes followed her as she went through the foyer and then Belle no longer bothered to pay him any mind when as she went up the stairs. With her mother by her side, she focused on heading to her bedchambers. Her mother had been crying during the entire carriage ride that she was afraid she would collapse.
She was happy at least that her father didn’t follow them this far.
“Mother, have a seat,” she said quickly, steering her to the bed.
“Oh, heavens, Belle.” The Duchess lifted her hand to her forehead. “’Please forgive me. I failed to protect you.”
“Mother, you do not have to worry about that right now.”
But her mother seemed delirious, tears once again streaming down her face. She burrowed her face in her hands and Belle could do nothing but sit by her side and gather her into her arms.
“I am your mother,” she sobbed. “I should be able to protect you. I should be able to let you have the life you want to live.”
“You did all you could, Mother. In truth, it is all my fault I was caught here.”
The Duchess looked up at her. “Why were you still in London, Belle? You should have already been on your way to Scotland.”
“A foolish mistake,” Belle said.Though it is a mistake that led me to Stephen.“On the night that I left the manor, there was a storm. You know how jittery Shadow is when it comes to loud noises. She was startled at a boom of thunder and she threw me off her back.”
“Is that why you have that limp?”
“Yes, I hurt my ankle. Thankfully, there was a kind man nearby who helped me. He had a physician take a look at my ankle and after we found that it was sprained, he asked the physician to have me stay with him until I’ve recovered.”
“He does sound like a kind gentleman, indeed,” the Duchess said, wiping delicately at her tears. “But had none of that happened, your Father would have never found you.”
Belle leaned closer. “Does he know that you are the one who helped me?”
She shook her head. “I wouldn't dare tell him. I suspect that he may think so, but I have done nothing to lead him to be sure about it.”
“You cannot tell him, Mother,” Belle said, even though she knew her mother was well aware. If there was anyone who knew how to avoid the Duke’s wrath, it was his wife.
The Duchess patted Belle’s hand. “I know, darling.”
“Do...do you think he will do something to Mrs. Stanton and her family?”
The Duchess shook her head. “I do not think so. But then, I’ve never seen your Father this angry before. I am not sure what he might do.”
Those words didn’t console her much. Belle also didn’t know what her father was capable of and she was afraid that the Duke might want to punish Robert and Anne for harboring her for so long. She hoped all his anger would remain focused on her.
As if summoned, the door burst open and her father strolled in. Her mother instantly went rigid, but Belle only squeezed her hand and held her father’s glare. Though she was well aware that it might land her in more trouble, she couldn’t bring herself to back down any more than she’d already done.
“I suppose you have thought of my punishment already,” she said to him.
Her father stayed on the other side of the room. He regarded her silently and then his eyes slid to the Duchess. He jerked his head to the door and said, “Leave us.”
The Duchess rose reluctantly. Belle suddenly wished her mother would stay, but she knew it was best that she deal with her father on her own.
Silence ensued as her mother took her leave and then the Duke said, “Did you leave in order to escape marrying the Marquess of Winchfield?”
“I think you know the answer to that.”
