AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Then what was he doing last night?” Leticia asked. She raised her eyebrow at Edwina smugly, a taunting sort of expression that made Edwina’s blood boil.
“He was helping those women!” Edwina cried heatedly. “Their carriage had broken down. He only wanted to help them.”
“And what about the night Lady Stafford was attacked?” Leticia asked, refusing to be thwarted. “She said she saw a scarred man.”
“There could be any number of men that fit that description,” Edwina argued. “This man could have even stolen a gentleman’s outfit for all we know.”
“But where was your husband?” Leticia repeated. Edwina did not respond immediately.
“You see, you have no proof that he did not do it. What kind of wife does not know where her husband is at night?” Leticia asked, her tone mocking. “You knew last night. When Lady Pembroke described Lady Stafford’s attacker, you knew that your husband looked guilty which is why you fainted. Tell me I am wrong.”
When Edwina did not respond again, Leticia scoffed again, a cruel smile on her lips. Hate filled Edwina’s heart, wondering how anyone could be so cruel.
“I cannot help you with your husband’s arrest,” Leticia told her coldly. “He must stand trial, and if he can prove that he is innocent, then he will be freed, and you will be happy, yes? But if he cannot prove his innocence, then we can discuss more how you might be able to keep your title as Duchess of Hillow.”
“I would never,” Edwina told her, her voice low.
“We shall see,” Leticia told her, her smile like a knife. “You think you are so much better than the rest of us, but you are not. You will see how much power and wealth mean to you when someone threatens to take it all away from you. You will come groveling back to me for help, and I will never forget it.”
Edwina stood to leave, giving Leticia a small curtsey. As she turned, though, a knock came on the door, and the door opened without Leticia calling out for the person to come in. When Albert stepped in, he saw Edwina and paused.
“Ah, I did not realize you had a visitor,” he said.
Leticia turned back around, breaking into a grin. Albert came forward and took his wife’s hand, kissing it dramatically. Suddenly, something about the gesture seemed fake to Edwina. She could believe Leticia’s love for her husband, but there was something about Albert that struck her as odd.
“Albert! You are home at last,” Leticia cried. “Oh, you must be so tired.”
“I just wanted to let you know I was back from the gaol,” he said then smiled sheepishly at Edwina. “My apologies, Your Grace. I know this is a terrible time for you. I will not interrupt your visit with my wife.”
“That is all right,” Edwina protested, wanting to be as far away from the couple as possible. “I was just leaving.”
“Do let us know if there is anything we can do for you,” Albert said, stopping her before she passed him. She wanted to quip back at him that he could have the charges against her husband dropped or that he was the cause of her distress, but she knew there was no use. As she looked up at him, she met his cold blue eyes and felt her stomach churn.
Leticia turned back to her mirror, and the maid finished pinning her curls to her head as though Edwina had already left. Struck by Albert, Edwina looked to the ground, uncomfortable with the way that he looked at her. For a moment, she thought his expression looked pitying, but her blood ran cold.
“Thank you,” she said politely, breathlessly, her heart pounding in her chest. “I think I must be home to rest now.”
“Of course,” he agreed, taking her hand without her permission and kissing her knuckles lightly.
Her skin crawled as she pulled her hand away and mumbled a thank you as she raced for the door. Something told her she needed to run, put as much distance between herself and the Somersbys as possible before they felt the need to drag her into their destructive path.
