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Chapter Twenty-Eight
When Edward delivered the hired man back to his father, he had the audacity to look surprised. His mother and his sister who were lounging beside him, stood up when Charles dragged the man in.
“What is this?” the Duke bellowed.
“Father, there is no point in hiding the truth anymore. We know what you’ve done,” Edward said, trying to keep his voice calm and his anger under control even those words far worse were threatening to fly off his tongue any moment.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. His eyes flicked to the prisoner and then back to Edward. “What is this? Why have you brought this man into our home? Don’t you care about our decorum or has everything gone out for a toss since you met that woman?”
“You’re one to speak of that. Do you have any shred of honor left in you?” Edward demanded. “Burning down someone’s dreams and last hope just to get your vengeance, just because she dared to love me.” For one moment the Duke’s eyes widened as his eyebrows arched. He almost looked surprised.
His mother’s brows knitted together. “Edward, what are you talking about?”
“You should ask Father about it,” Edward said. “Ariadne almost died in the fire trying to save her father’s legacy. And he paid this man to start that fire.” He pointed at the man who was still in Charles’ custody. Maisie and the Duchess gasped audibly.
“You’re mistaken,” the Duke said. “I paid this man, but only to keep an eye on the woman. If I wanted to hurt her, I would have done so in the first place,” the Duke said. He didn’t show the slightest bit of remorse.
“I told you,” the man said. “I’m begging you. Let me go, please, I didn’t have anything to do with the fire.”
“He’s not lying. I acquired the property. Why would I want to burn it down?” the Duke said.
“Because you always find the worst possible way to hurt people,” Edward said. Growing up, he had never seen his father show him an ounce of sympathy. He always managed to get the most out of him, even if it meant bringing out the worst in him. “You taught me to be analytical, to not see beyond my goals. But I changed and you didn’t like this at all. And then I went against your wishes and wanted to make the woman I love my wife.”
“While you broke another poor girl’s heart and reputation,” the Duke scoffed. “Don’t think you’re so great yourself.”
“I know I’m not perfect. But Ariadne makes me want to become the best version of myself. Why can’t you stand my happiness? Why did you feel compelled to hurt her in the worst possible way?” Edward demanded. “Doesn’t it matter to you what I want?”
“What I want is my son—the future Duke back,” Lord Bromswell said. Father and son looked at each other in defiance. If his father thought he would break, he was very wrong.
“Very well,” Edward finally said. “I shall remain celibate for the rest of my life and not take a wife. Our family’s name will die with me.”
“Edward…” his mother said in shock and horror as she walked to him, “what on earth are you saying? You’re breaking my heart.”
Edward placed a hand on her shoulder. “I love you, Mother. I really do. But I can’t suffocate my own happiness for the irrelevant ego of a man who can’t see beyond his family’s title. There are more important things in the world out there. I know that now.”
His father’s body shook as he slowly sunk back into his chair, his face ashen like a ghost. “My son—”
“Father,” Maisie said, rushing to him, “are you all right?”
He would never forgive him for what he had done to Ariadne, but he didn’t want to make his father sick. He knelt next to his father who had his head buried in his head. He checked his pulse and temperature.
“I’m fine,” the Duke insisted slowly.
“I’ll call on the physician for him,” Edward said. “Maisie escort him to his room.”
“Are you leaving?” she asked.
“I have some unfinished business,” Edward replied. Maisie nodded. His father didn’t look up at him again.
“I bid you adieu,” he said to his mother before turning to his cousin. “Come, Charles, we need to make sure he’s taken into custody.” The man continued to plead but neither of them listened as they hauled him out of the house. Maybe it was only his imagination but before Edward turned away, he could swear he saw a single tear drip down his father’s nose.
* * *
After depositing the crook to the nearest constable they could find, Edward knew he had to return home. “I know it has been an exhausting day,” he said to Charles as they rode away. “But thank you for your help.”
“Will you go back to Ariadne now?” Charles asked.
Edward nodded. “I know it’s late, but I need to find out how she’s faring.”
