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“Is everything all right with you, Edward?”
“Yes, Father,” Edward said. “Why do you ask?”
“I heard some rather concerning news from my peers telling me that you had decided to switch to Liberal party views. Is that true?”
Edward raised a brow. “Merely because I made a single comment on the strata of our society? I’ve seen how the poor lived—”
“You were there for three days. You haven’t seen anything yet,” the Duke said. In the two weeks that he had come home, this was the first time his father had actually acknowledged what had happened. “And you’re forgetting, you were attacked by the very people you’re trying to defend.”
“I’m not defending anyone, least of all thugs and crooks. What I meant to say is that—”
“Moreover, you haven’t even attended the last two sessions of Parliament. I see your injuries are a fine excuse.”
“It’s not an excuse,” Edward said. He gritted his teeth against his father’s onslaught. He knew he was trying to unravel him but over the years he had learned his father’s tactics. He had learned to please him and his approval never came easy.
“You’re letting your political opponents gain stride on you. What if the King were to hear of this matter?”
“Then I would simply explain how I’ve found a new perspective on my old views,” Edward said with a shot of annoyance. He wasn’t being given the opportunity to explain his point of view. This is how things had always been between them and Edward could see the flaw in that now.
“Stick to what you know, Edward,” his father warned. Edward frowned at him. His father had taught him to think for himself while remaining within the boundaries of his family’s heritage and esteem. Edward didn’t think he was breaking any rules here.
“I’m not lecturing you about right or wrong, merely that you must make an informed decision before you want to speak on something. Our family has represented the seat at Parliament for years. You’ve not earned it on your own, but it has been gifted to you as a part of your legacy. One wrong move and the wolves are ready to pounce. People are always watching us.”
“And that is what everything comes down to in the end, doesn’t it?” Edward asked, failing to keep the anger from his voice.
The Duke blinked. “I was merely warning you. You walk on thin ice, Son.”
“I think my education has prepared me for the worst,” Edward said. He knew what his father was saying was true but Edward knew that he deserved that seat. He had prepared for it his whole life. And now his father was cruelly reminding him that it didn’t belong to him, not really.
Edward stood up. The tea had gone cold by then and he had no intention of drinking it anyway. “Is that why you called me here? To berate me?” This wasn’t surprising to him.
“You have been careless…” the Duke cleared his throat “since your accident. I was merely warning you. Pull yourself together before everything becomes a mess.”
“All right.” He made toward the door when his father said, “Wait.”
Edward turned around, watching his father’s pursed lips and flaring nose. “The footman informs me that you’ve been asking about the woman’s address.” The woman—he meant Ariadne. Edward could tell from his father wasn’t pleased about this.
“I was merely curious. I do not wish to return to the slum,” Edward said with as much disgust as he could. His father nodded and dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
As Edward walked down the hallway, a maid came up to him. “My Lord, this letter was asked to be delivered to you by your cousin.”
Edward’s heart raced as he spied Charles’ name. There was only one good reason he was writing to him.
I’ve managed to track a certain Ariadne Davy but unfortunately, her exact address isn’t known to me. However, since you’re eager to meet her, I’m writing down the general direction where she can be found. And for God’s sake, don’t get lost this time.
Charles had found Ariadne. Edward looked behind him, at the closed doors of the drawing room, and then put the letter in his pocket. His father must never learn about her.
