Page 53 of Her Rogue of a Duke
Francesca so badly wanted to roll her eyes, but deep down, she was beginning to enjoy the distraction. “I appreciate your discerning eye, Lady Charlotte. However, I do find that individuality should be celebrated rather than stifled by conformity to societal norms,” she spoke at length, maintaining her pleasant, if icy smile.
Lady Charlotte shook her head with a haughty chuckle. “Individuality, yes, but one mustn't confuse individuality with a complete disregard for refinement and taste, my dear. It is an art to stand out without causing discomfort to those around you.”
Francesca’s smile felt tight and her lips strained. With a sigh, she finally relented, “I see. Your perspective is indeed enlightening, my lady. I shall certainly consider it in my future dress choices.”
Lady Charlotte nodded, appearing satisfied with herself and her work. She excused herself and moved on, leaving Francesca alone at last. Francesca maintained her calm and cool demeanor, but she could not deny that Lady Charlotte had played as an amusing, albeit a touch tiresome distraction. She could not let herself dwell on it, though. She simply had to focus on finding Liam for now. Once she did, she could finish up her… business for the night and leave.
An hour drifted by, and Liam’s absence was becoming increasingly conspicuous. Francesca's anxiety was mounting with each passing minute, and the sensation of being the subject of conversation in hushed tones became all but unbearable. Her cheeks flushed with humiliation, and they were no longer serving to add to the pretty pink hue of her look.
Unable to withstand the scrutiny any longer, she made a hasty retreat from the ballroom, seeking solace in the dimly lit corridors away from prying eyes.
Alone and finally away from the judgmental stares of the Ton, Francesca was able to breathe again. She wandered along, wondering where in the world Liam could be. He had been the one to invite her here this evening, with the strong hint that he intended to propose.
Had he perhaps changed his mind?
The thought should have sent her into a panic, but she could not make herself feel anything other than a small bit of relief. She silently scolded herself. She needed this marriage, she reminded. She needed to find Liam and see what in the world was going on.
Where could he possibly be?
As she turned a corner, a faint sound reached her ears and she froze. Had that been a… no, that was ridiculous. Frowning, she listened more carefully, but the sound came again. She gritted her teeth and her heart began racing in her chest. This time, she was certain. That had undoubtedly been a woman’smoan.
Creeping along the corridor as quietly as she could, Francesca followed the sound to a door that was slightly ajar. The woman’s sounds were more distinctive, whimpers mixing in with the moans, but Francesca could tell they were not sounds of distress, but of pleasure.
She hesitated at the door. This scene felt all too familiar. She had experienced this exact scenario before, and so she knew what she would find when she pushed the door open enough that she could look inside the room.
And just as she had anticipated, she found Liam, entangled in an embrace with another lady, locked in yet another passionate kiss.
Francesca stood, jaw slack, hardly able to believe that this was happening to her again. In that fleeting moment, she grappledwith a myriad of conflicting feelings—anger, humiliation, but overwhelming it all was a profound sense of disillusionment. She knew forgiveness should come easily, given her own transgressions with Joshua. It was rather hypocritical of her to hold this against Liam, but as she stood there watching the man she had intended to marry slant his lips over another woman’s and slip his hand up her skirts, Francesca knew she could not marry him.
If she did, this was the future she could look forward to. Constantly wondering if her husband was out with another woman. If he was sneaking away from her to be with someone else.
What might be worse, though, was that Francesca knew she would not care. Beyond the humiliation of her husband’s unfaithfulness, she would have no other significant feelings about the matter. The simple truth was she did not want Liam, and he clearly did not want her. This would be a cold, loveless marriage devoid of passion, and she simply could not bring herself to willingly trap herself in that life.
This time, Liam remained oblivious to her presence.
Francesca breathed a deep exhale, a bittersweet smile coaxing its way onto her lips.
A sense of finality settled within her, firming her resolve. She turned and silently walked away, leaving Liam to his liaison.
She determined then and there that it was best for her to follow through with Mr. Campbell’s plan and escape the suffocating confines of London society to his country home, where she could remain hidden until he had secured her future for her.
The chill of the evening air embraced her as she stepped outside, her mind made up. She felt a sense of liberation mingled with the weight of uncertainty about the path she was about to embark upon. This was for the best, she decided. She would not have to marry a man she did not love, though she had to admit she felt somewhat helpless having to rely entirely on her father’s old solicitor to help her. Still, between that thought and the prospect of entering a loveless marriage with a man who would never be loyal to her, Francesca found herself more willing to rely on someone else.
Exiting the ballroom by taking the long route through the gardens, Francesca waited for her carriage to be brought around, and when it stopped in front of her, she quickly climbed inside. She was ready to go home… or rather, Joshua’s home. Then, she would make for the country as soon as possible and wait for Mr. Campbell to do his work.
As the carriage jerked into motion and bore her away from the ball and Liam’s empty promises, she could not help but think of Joshua and she wondered what he was doing at that moment. Would he be waiting at the manor for her? Should she tell him about Liam, or slip away before he found out what her intentions were?
It would certainly be easier if she simply disappeared.
Releasing a long breath, she sank back against the cushions of the carriage seat and let her mind go blank. She did not want to think about any of that at the moment. She was exhausted. She would return home and rest, and then she would decide what it was she would do.
At least she had a plan. A way to move forward, if only temporarily.
She just hoped this would not be yet another decision she made that she eventually came to regret.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The winds whipped ferociously against the cliff’s edge, reminding Joshua of the fateful night all those years ago. He urged his horse, Alexander, closer to its precipice, squinting his eyes against the relentless gale as he scanned around. In one hand, he held a lantern he had brought with him high above his head to cast its glow along the path. He was not certain what he was looking for, but he knew he would recognize it when he saw it. Something, anything, that would help him recall the night of his accident more vividly or give him a clear indication of who his mysteriousangelmight have been.