Page 66 of His Scarred Duchess

Edmund’s laugh was bitter. “Oh, he meant it. Made sure I knew it, too. Every time he looked at me, I could see the accusation in his eyes.”

Without warning, Adeline rose from her seat and crossed to Edmund’s chair. She knelt beside him, taking his hand in both of hers. The warmth of her touch sent a jolt through him.

“Listen to me,” she said firmly, her green eyes intense as they met his. “Your mother’s death was not your fault. You were an innocent child, Edmund. Your father had no right to place that burden on you.”

Edmund felt a lump form in his throat at her vehemence.

How is it, he silently wondered,that this woman, whom I’ve known for such a short time, can see into the very heart of me?

“Thank you,” he managed, his voice rough with emotion. He squeezed her hand, marveling at how small and delicate it felt in his.

They sat in companionable silence for a moment, the only sound the crackling of the fire. Then, hesitantly, Adeline spoke again.

“What was he like? Your father, I mean. When he wasn’t…”

Edmund’s back went rigid, his old defenses rising. “He was… a man of appetites,” he said curtly. “Always seeking the next distraction, the next thrill.”

Adeline tilted her head, sensing there was more to the story. “And you? How did you fare in all this?”

Edmund pulled his hand away, rising abruptly from his chair. He strode to the fireplace, bracing one arm against the mantel as he stared into the flames.

“I learned to fend for myself,” he said, his voice clipped. “To expect nothing and be surprised by less.”

“Edmund,” Adeline murmured, coming to stand beside him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry. It’s clear this is painful for you.”

He turned to look at her, seeing the concern etched on her face. Part of him wanted to open up, to share the full extent of his father’s betrayal—with Joanna, with countless others. But the words stuck in his throat, held back by years of practiced reserve.

“It’s fine,” he uttered, his tone cooler than he had intended. “It’s all in the past now.”

Adeline flinched slightly at his tone, taking a step back. “Of course,” she murmured. “I… I should retire. It’s been a long day.”

As she turned to leave, Edmund felt a surge of regret.

Say something, a voice in the back of his head urged.Don’t let her go like this.

But his pride, his deeply ingrained habit of keeping others at arm’s length, held him back.

He watched in silence as she paused at the door, looking back at him with an expression he couldn’t quite decipher. Disappointment? Hurt? Understanding?

“Goodnight, Edmund,” she said softly. “Thank you for sharing what you did. I… I’m honored by your trust.”

With that, she was gone, leaving him alone with the crackling fire and the weight of his unspoken truths.

He sank back into his chair, running a hand over his face.

Fool, he berated himself.She offered you understanding, compassion, and you shut her out.

But the thought of laying bare the full extent of his father’s betrayal, of admitting how deeply Joanna’s actions had wounded him… it was too much.

Not yet.

Perhaps not ever.

Chapter Twenty-Five

“Will His Grace be joining you for breakfast this morning, Your Grace?”

Adeline looked up from her untouched plate, startled by the butler’s question. She had been lost in thought, replaying the previous night’s conversation with Edmund in her mind.