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Chapter Thirty-One
When Ariadne went to wake up Leda, she found her sister sitting on her bed, looking out the window. Ariadne knew she had a clear view of the studio from there. She looked up when she came in. “Do you think this is my fault?”
“What?”
“Everything that happened with Brexley,” she said, shrugging. “I was always eager to ask for his help. Do you think I might have led him on somehow?”
“No,” Ariadne said, walking to her sister and laying a hand on her shoulder. “You did nothing wrong. You’re just a child and there is nothing wrong with wanting better things out of life.”
Leda’s eyes welled with tears. “You always followed your own path while I depended on his kindness. Doesn’t that make me somehow culpable?”
“No,” Ariadne said firmly, wiping her tears away. “You’re in shock. I know everything that happened with Emma—it’s unfair to you. She was the only mother you have known for all your life. For her to betray us like that…” Ariadne shook her head, “but I have something to ask you.”
At that very moment, Edward entered the room. “I apologize for intruding.”
“It’s all right. Come in,” Ariadne said. She turned to her sister. “Edward’s parents have come to see us.”
Leda’s eyes widened. “Why? Does the Duke want to punish us too?”
“No, not at all,” Ariadne scrambled to explain. She looked at Edward who nodded encouragingly. “They have come to take us away from here. Edward has asked to marry me.”
Leda’s eyes widened. She looked between Edward and her as a little child. “It’s true?” Edward nodded. “I want you two to come live with us. Once we’re married, I’ll become your legal guardian and together we can give you the debut you deserve.”
Leda’s eyes filled with tears. “You really love her, don’t you? I can see it in your eyes.”
“Sometimes I can hardly believe it too,” Ariadne said chuckling. “So is it all right?”
Leda nodded. “I know you trust Edward, and I trust you.”
Half an hour later, they had their luggage packed in trunks. Ariadne looked around the small flat where she had grown up. She didn’t feel any particular attachment to it anymore. She had seen her mother and father die here and her own life had almost fallen apart. Two servants came up and carried everything out. The Duchess was saying something to Leda when Mrs. Tula walked in with a venomous look on her face.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“We’re leaving. Just like you wanted,” Ariadne said.
“I want a deposit. It’s the least that I deserve for all the troubles that you put me through,” Mrs. Tula demanded. Ariadne couldn’t believe the audacity of the woman. But before she could answer, the Duke did. “I want you out of here right now,” Lord Bromswell said in a cool voice.
“The flat is mine, Your Grace!”
“Do I need to remind you that it belongs to me now?” the Duke asked. He turned to his son and future daughter-in-law. “And I’ve decided to give it to them so that they can do whatever they see fit to with it.”
“You can’t do that!” Mrs. Tula cried.
“I can do that. Weren’t you making a trip to Gretna Green? I suggest you hurry. The weather can be quite unpredictable this time of the year,” the Duke said. It was a clear dismissal. Mrs. Tula huffed but it was clear that she couldn’t argue with him any further.
The carriage with its gilded windows was waiting for them downstairs. Ariadne turned back to look at her flat once before she got inside. “We will be back,” Edward assured her. “I have plans for this place yet.” Before she could ask him what they might be, they took off toward Mayfair.
Ariadne had seen Edward’s house before but Leda hadn’t. She took everything in with a quiet gasp and wonder in her eyes. “I say it’s far grander than Lord Brexley’s,” she said once they were inside the foyer. Ariadne agreed.
“Do you like it?” Edward asked. “We have another home in our country seat but this is where we live for most of the Season and when I need to attend Parliament.”
“It’s lovely,” she said. It reminded her of her father’s home when they used to visit their Grandmother.
“I will have the servants clean out the east wing. You and Leda will have rooms next to each other,” the Duchess said. When she saw Edward’s look of disappointment. “Only until the wedding,” she added with a meaningful look. Ariadne couldn’t help but blush, remembering the heat of his touch when he had kissed her. She didn’t know what exactly happened on a wedding night, but she imagined it was what would have come afterward if they had stayed in the moonlit garden. The thought caused her to blush harder.
Leda saw her and threw her a curious look but before she could ask her a question, another girl appeared at the end of the staircase. She knew almost immediately that it was Edward’s younger sister.
Before she could acknowledge her, the other girl rushed in to give her a hug. Ariadne was surprised but she hugged her back. When she pulled away, she was grinning at her. “I know it’s not proper but I was really overwhelmed. Edward has spoken a great deal about you.”
