Page 36 of Her Duke’s Second Chance (Regency Second Chances #1)

CHAPTER 36

R obert opened the cemetery gate. A brisk wind whipped around his legs despite the sunlight that shone through the trees.

It had been ten years since he had ventured there.

He tried to convince himself that it was because he had rarely been to London during that period, but he recognized that it was time to admit he had actively avoided the place.

I have actively avoided seeing Angela’s grave.

He weaved his way through the gravestones, intent on his destination. She had been buried in the family plot, her simple headstone surrounded by the older graves of her grandparents and uncle.

He stopped in front of her gravestone and read the simple inscription; her name, followed by a Latin quote which lamented the briefness of man’s sojourn on this earth.

He sighed deeply and placed a bouquet of flowers upon her grave.

“Angela,” he said, and choked. “I still see you in my dreams sometimes. In them, your body is as broken as it was when they finally pulled the horse off you, but I always kneel beside you and try to put the pieces of you back together. And I always fail. Somewhere behind me, someone cackles with glee because I am trying so hard to do something outside of my power.”

He swallowed and looked off into the trees.

“I did not realize until today that it was a metaphor. That I have been trying to hold the old pieces of myself together, even though they no longer fit.” He huffed, shaking his head. “Yes, I know what you would say. ‘What poppycock, Emberford. Pull yourself together.’ And you would be right. But also wrong.”

He shook his head again.

“In any case, I came here today to lay down these roses, together with the burden of my guilt. When I walk out of those gates…I walk out a new man. I will always remember you. But I will no longer let myself fear that what happened to you will happen again; I will not let it stop me from living.”

He stood still for a few moments, subconsciously waiting to receive Angela’s approval before he turned and walked away.

Robert paused at the cemetery gates and looked back.

“Goodbye,” he said before closing the gate behind him.

Thomas glared at Georgiana in disbelief and began to scream at her.

“All that money I spent; the flowers I bought, the carriage I secured to take us to Gretna Green, the change of horses, the inns we stayed at! And she did not even agree to anticipate the marriage bed! Who is going to repay me for that?”

Georgiana shrugged indifferently, although she was quite apprehensive about what Thomas would do next. She wondered why no one had come to check on her or find out why Thomas was screaming like a banshee.

Can they not hear the commotion?

She suddenly remembered that the parlor door had been fashioned from thick, sturdy wood to prevent eavesdropping by nosey servants. It was a place where the family was able to have private conversations without fear of being overheard.

She also suspected that the servants were not lurking outside the door. Not if they thought she was here by herself, quietly passing the afternoon.

Her eyes flicked towards the bell—one quick pull would definitely summon a footman—but then looked down at her torn bodice. They were just as likely to believe Thomas’s explanation as hers.

She realized that he had effectively backed her into a corner.

Nevertheless, her answer remained the same. She would not allow him to blackmail her. He seemed to read the resolve in her face because he leaped at her and shook her violently.

“Who in Hell do you think you are? Do you think you can fight me? I know all about your little accident, but even at your strongest, you would be unable to overpower me. I could do anything to you.”

He flung her away and she struck the sofa, striking her shoulders against the backrest. She was winded, extremely dizzy, and unable to get up.

She knew she was helpless and began to fear for her life.

“We shall see if your husband still wants you after I am finished with you. I promise it will hurt. A lot.”

“No…” she protested, weakly holding her hand up to ward him off.

He laughed cruelly. “I am going to make you regret saying no to me before this day is done.”

Thomas’s eyes were wild and merciless. Georgiana had no doubt that he would hurt her. Maybe even kill her. She had no way of knowing. Her only wish now was that it would not be her sister who found her.

She felt a moment of sorrow for Robert. If he genuinely believed that he was the reason the women in his life got hurt, this would not help at all. As angry as she was with him, she would not have wished this upon her worst enemy. She knew he would blame himself once again.

She wondered if he would ever have the courage to try again. On the one hand, she realized that she loved him, and she wanted him to be happy. On the other hand, the thought of him with someone else made the bile rise in her throat.

Robert was hers.

“Please. Do not touch me!” she screamed.

Newston cackled evilly. “I am going to enjoy this. You have earned all the punishment and the suffering I intend to inflict upon you,” he said with a hateful sneer on his face.

She shook her head vehemently. “No, please leave me be. You will not get away with this.”

“Who says so? You cannot tell anyone without despoiling your own reputation. Who is therefore left to ruin mine ?”

He threw back his head and crowed. “Oh, I am loving this already. You will have to pay me for my silence, or else…” He held up the piece of gown that he had torn from her.

She stared bleakly at it, wondering to herself how much she really cared about her reputation.

“I would have to ask my husband for the money. I do not have such sums lying about.”

“Do you think me a fool?”

Georgiana hesitated, not knowing how to answer him.

“You do. You think I am a fool.” He glowered at her and clenched his fists.

“I do not know what you mean.”

“You think I do not know how banking works? You will draw up a promissory note and I shall go and cash it.”

Georgiana pursed her lips. “I am afraid I cannot do that. Only my husband can. And, as you are no fool , you know full well that the note must be signed in the presence of a banking officer.”

Thomas growled in frustration. “Well then, you had better go to the bank and get me some gold. I shall wait here. If you even think about betraying me, I shall come back and finish the job with your sister.”

Georgiana did not doubt that Newston would carry out his threat. The door abruptly flew open and a tall, dark shadow loomed menacingly in the doorway.

“Robert.” She breathed in both horror and relief.

Robert stalked into the room towards Newston, his eyes black and dangerous, ready to inflict unspeakable pain upon him.

“You dare to threaten my wife ?”

Thomas whimpered, hunching in on himself. “I-I-I-I-”

“ Shut your mouth! ” Robert commanded.

Robert’s eyes flicked to Georgiana, looking her up and down. “Are you all right? Has he hurt you?”

Georgiana looked down at her gown. She pointed at the large rip in the bodice. “He grabbed my gown and tore it but nothing more. I am fine.”

“You look quite pale and ill,” he observed worriedly.

While Robert’s attention was diverted, Thomas tried to scurry past him, but Robert reached out a hand and grabbed him by the back of his jacket without looking away from Georgiana. “You are not going anywhere, you cockroach.”

He lifted an eyebrow at Georgiana. “Are you sure you are well?”

“I did not touch her,” Thomas protested.

“I told you to shut your mouth,” Robert snapped.

Georgiana shook her head. “He pushed me down and tore my gown; other than that, he has not touched me.”

“That does not answer my question. Are you well?”

Slowly she shook her head. “I am very dizzy, and I feel weak. I feel a headache coming on, and my skin is somewhat clammy. I could do with some tea.”

Robert approached Georgiana, still holding firmly onto Thomas’s jacket. “Let me help you sit up.” He cupped her shoulder and straightened her up from her awkward position on the sofa. He then pulled the bell, Thomas’s jacket still fisted in his hand.

“Er…Your Grace? Will you let me go?” Thomas’ voice quivered with fear.

“No,” Robert snapped without looking at him.

The door opened and the butler came in. “Where have you been, Sinclair, while your mistress was being assaulted?” Robert demanded.

Sinclair blanched, his eyes bugging out of his head as he stared from Thomas to Robert, and then down at Georgiana. “I…” his mouth hung open uselessly, lost for words. “We thought that Her Grace was alone,” he said weakly.

Robert frowned. “You mean to tell me this man snuck into my house behind your back, and you had no idea? How is that possible?”

The butler only gaped at him, completely bewildered.

“No one saw him enter? Neither a footman nor a maid?” Robert asked in disbelief, shaking Thomas like a rag doll.

The butler cautiously shook his head. “We-we did not know.”

“Robert,” Georgiana called to him in a quelling voice, trying to calm him down.

“No! This is unacceptable!” He shook Thomas again, now thoroughly enraged “A total stranger snuck into my home and threatened my wife , and none of you saw a damned thing?”

Georgiana leaned against the sofa, now completely exhausted. Her single movement seemed to accomplish what had, thus far, been ineffective.

Robert shoved Thomas into an armchair, where he landed with a thud, and went to clutch Georgiana’s hands.

“Are you all right?” He turned to Sinclair. “Hurry up and get her some tea with whiskey in it.”

The butler bowed. “Immediately, Your Grace.” He hurried to do Robert’s bidding.

Robert rubbed her arms gently and stared into her eyes. “I should have been here,” he said apologetically.

She smiled tiredly. “You are here now.”

He blew out a breath and got to his feet. His eyes narrowed as he turned towards Newston. He reached down with one hand and raised him to his feet, Robert’s fist wrapped around Thomas’ collar.

“And you, how dare you come here and threaten my wife? Have you no shame?”

Thomas struggled and choked out an answer. “You are strangling me.”

“And?” Robert said.

“I cannot…breathe.”

“I fail to see the problem.”

Thomas began to turn blue.

“I ought to report you to the authorities for this. You attacked a lady.”

Thomas’ eyes slid to Georgiana’s exposed bodice. “Scandal,” he choked out.

“Not when they hear what you did, you shameless dandy.”

“There…will…always…be…those who…wonder.”

Georgiana sighed. “He is right, Robert. The ton loves scandals too much not to speculate endlessly. Daisy will get caught up in this…” she shook her head, “Just let him go.”

“Absolutely not.” He shook Thomas a bit more, looking indignant.

“You will kill him,” Georgiana protested weakly.

“It would serve him right if I did,” Robert said stoutly.

“P-please,” Thomas wheezed.

“Oh, suddenly you want to beg? What happened to the punishment you were going to mete out on me?” Georgiana snapped, glaring at Thomas, “It would behoove you to be silent before you enrage me, and I ask my husband to give me your head on a plate.”

Thomas went pale and silent.

Robert smirked at Georgiana. “I would do it too,” he said quietly.

“I know.” She looked away from him, pursing her lips. She did not know what had gotten into her, but after everything he had said to her, Thomas’s pathetic plea for clemency had been the last straw.

“Send him away please,” she said.

Robert bowed to her. “As you wish, my lady.”