Page 25 of Ravished by the Beastly Duke (Regency Beasts #1)

CHAPTER 25

W illiam’s estate in Bath was smaller, and yet it seemed even lonelier than his castle. He took another swig of his whiskey and shivered as it burned its way down his throat.

This was what he needed—a distraction from his life, a distraction from the fact that he had caused the one person he cared about the most so much pain.

It had been three days since he had arrived at Bath, and at first, he had been all too happy to be away, in a place where he could be all alone, save for the few servants there.

However, by the end of his first day in Bath, all he could think of was his wife and how terribly he missed her.

That was when he turned to alcohol, as that was the only thing that pushed Eveline out of his mind—at least for a brief moment.

He rose to his feet and staggered just a little, unable to keep his balance. He felt odd as he made to walk out of his study, his whiskey cup still in hand.

He knew he had to be careful. After all, he was excessively drunk. He took one tentative step after the other as the room spun around him.

He started when a dark figure suddenly stepped in front of him.

“Eveline?” he whispered as he held out his hand to touch her.

He was disappointed when he only touched the wall.

He slowly realized that the dark figure was nothing but his own shadow. Yet, he could not help but smile at the thought of Eveline.

Would it not be just perfect if his wife appeared right in front of him and he told her his deepest thoughts?

William imagined for a moment that she had appeared right in front of him. He held out his arms and imagined pulling her in an embrace.

“Eveline!” he murmured. “I know that I have hurt you. But it is the only way.”

He laughed hysterically as he imagined her asking him why he had done that.

“It is the only way, Eveline,” he said. “It is the only way that I can protect you and myself.”

For a moment, William came to his senses. He realized just how foolish he must have looked, running away from his home and his wife to hide out in Bath, while he imagined he was talking to the same wife.

“I suppose my father was right,” he muttered to himself. “I truly am not a man.”

He lifted his cup to his lips only to notice that it was empty. He decided then that what he needed was more alcohol. After all, if he were drunk enough, he would not even remember Eveline.

He left his study in search of more alcohol. However, he paused at the staircase.

He was not quite certain where to put his leg, as he knew that one simple mistake could cause him to roll down the staircase and possibly even break his neck.

He began to walk, one step at a time, his cup firmly in hand. He had barely taken two steps when he miscalculated. Instead of stepping on the next step, he missed it, and then slipped.

William swore as he landed on the floor with a thud. Thankfully, he did not roll down the staircase.

However, the cup in his hands did not quite make it, as it shattered immediately. Still dazed, he tried to pick it up. He winced as a jagged edge cut his hands, and a slight pain shot up his arms.

He dropped the cup and pushed himself to his feet. He heaved a sigh of relief when he finally made it to the bottom of the stairs in one piece.

At that point, however, he was faced with a new problem. He did not quite know where the alcohol was stored. He had not been to Bath in a long time, and he was not certain that the housekeeper was still awake.

Now, he was in the foyer, confused and alone and unsure where to go to get his alcohol. And even if he was somehow able to get his hands on the alcohol, he knew he still had to look for another cup, since the one he had was now broken.

He was still confused, unsure how to proceed, when he heard voices outside the house.

Because William was so drunk, he was not quite certain if he was imagining the voices or if they were real.

“Who is ‘eeeere?” he called, uncertain why his words had come out garbled.

He heard footsteps approach the front door. Again, he wondered if he was imagining them.

He wondered for a moment if the footsteps belonged to intruders, and he suddenly realized that he might, in fact, be in danger.

“I must protect my home,” he muttered to himself, planting his feet properly on the ground to steady himself.

His legs, however, soon buckled, and he fell to his knees.

The footsteps outside the front door grew louder, and he could even hear the sound of someone fumbling with the locks.

William rarely regretted drinking alcohol. However, as his vision blurred and his senses began to shut down, he regretted getting so drunk. He tried to keep his eyes open to no avail. The last thing he saw was someone entering the house through the front door.

At first, he was not quite sure if the person was a man or a woman. However, as the person came into focus, he realized who it was.

“Eveline?” he said as he raised his hand to touch her face in a final attempt to stay awake.

But he soon slumped and slipped into the darkness.

It had been four days since Eveline had arrived at Notley Manor, and unlike the previous days, she woke up elated.

She got dressed quickly and made her way to the drawing room to meet her sisters. Her ankle had all but healed, and she could now prance around in her father’s home without limping.

She had spent the past few days crying and moping about. However, her spirits had been lifted when Ava had informed her the previous night that Lily had promised to come to Notley Manor the following morning.

“Is Lily here yet?” Eveline asked as soon as she entered the drawing room.

She was disappointed to only see Stella with her head buried in a novel and Ava crocheting in the corner.

“I suppose she will be here soon,” Ava replied.

As if on cue, Eveline heard the voice of the footman.

“Lily!” She quickly rushed to the front door to meet her friend, her worries momentarily disappearing.

She hugged her friend as soon as she saw her.

Lily peered at her closely after they pulled apart. “You seem to be happy, Eveline. I am glad,” she noted.

Eveline chuckled as she led her friend to the drawing room, where Lily exchanged pleasantries with Ava and Stella.

“Now, you must tell me everything that happened,” Lily said the moment she sat down.

“The Duke told her that their marriage is only one of convenience and they shall only be friends and nothing more even after they have shared a bed,” Ava spoke up.

“I cannot believe it,” Lily gasped in shock.

“We were all shocked when Eveline told us. I suppose the Duke deceived us all,” Stella mumbled.

“This cannot possibly be right now, can it?” Lily asked as she turned to Eveline. “I had seen the two of you at Kensington Gardens, and I had been positively impressed by how much he seemed to dote on you.”

“And he still doted on me even a day before he finally made the announcement,” Eveline informed her.

“How bizarre!” Lily exclaimed. “Does the Duke even know that he is lucky that a damsel like you agreed to be his wife and fell for him?”

“I suppose he is not aware,” Ava scoffed.

“I suppose it is a good thing that this happened,” Lily said.

Eveline was confused. “How could this possibly be a good thing?”

“It is a good thing that he told you so early into your marriage. Now, you know he is only but a man with a deceitful tongue, and you shall never truly care for him the way you would a loving husband.”

“I suppose you are right,” Eveline relented. It was truly a blessing that she knew now the sort of man William was. “I cannot help but wonder if I should simply ask for a divorce.”

Ava dropped her crocheting pin, and Stella gasped. Lily was the only one who did not seem particularly shocked by her statement.

“I do not fault you for wanting a divorce, Evie,” Lily said. “After all, it is better to seek a divorce than suffer in silence.”

“Papa would simply swoon if he ever heard of such a thing,” Stella said.

“Since when did you care what Papa thinks?” Eveline asked.

“Papa could not possibly afford the rather expensive bill that comes with filing for a divorce,” Ava said. “We would simply go bankrupt. And since it could take five years for Parliament to approve it, you will still have to live in the Duke’s home for years.”

“This is why I say that marriage is nothing but a trap for women,” Lily declared. “It is almost impossible for a woman to get a divorce, and even then, it would take years, and it shall pass through Parliament, which consists of only men. And in your case, the man you wish to divorce is also a member of Parliament. How could your case possibly get a fair review when the Duke is still one of the people who would decide on the divorce?”

Eveline sighed as Lily’s words sank in. It was truly impossible for her to file for a divorce, given that her father would never agree to it. Even if it was not so hard, it would still take a rather long time, and that was if her case ever saw the light of day.

“I suppose I am tied to the Duke forever, then.”

The idea of remaining stuck in a loveless marriage where she and her husband would live in different homes was unfathomable. Even the mere thought of it made her shudder.

“Even if a divorce is far too expensive and tasking, Evie can simply get a legal separation.”

As Lily rattled on and on about her options, Eveline could not help but wonder if she truly wanted to separate from her husband.

What if he had only said those words because she was lacking in some ways or he did not find her quite desirable?

“Eveline!” Stella tapped her gently, pulling her out of her reverie.

“What is the grand plan that seems to have held your mind captive?” Ava asked.

“I suspect I might know the true reason why the Duke seems to not have a romantic interest in me,” Eveline said.

“Aside from the fact that he is a dishonorable man?” Ava sneered.

“Or a cruel one?” Lily added.

“I suppose it is easy to blame him, but I cannot help but wonder if he simply finds me lacking as a woman,” Eveline admitted, looking at her friend and sisters.

Ava and Lily exchanged a look that told her they found her words rather incredulous.

“How could you think such a thing?” Stella gasped.

“I am just wondering. Perhaps it is my robust figure?” Eveline continued. “I know that most people do not find it appealing.”

“Eveline, you cannot possibly blame yourself for the Duke’s inconsistency,” Ava insisted.

“Yet I wonder if I was simply not good enough. Perhaps in bed?” Eveline asked. “But he seemed to be rather pleased every time we spent time together in bed.”

“If he does not love you, then it is not because of anything that you have done. It is simply and solely for the reason that he is a shallow man who is incapable of love,” Lily declared rather fervently.

“I suppose.” Eveline shrugged. However, she was not quite convinced.

“It does not matter what the Duke’s reason is. All you have to know is that his love, or the lack of it, does not determine your worth. Any man would consider himself lucky to even be gazed upon by you.”

Eveline blushed as she smiled. She believed Lily’s words, even if only for a moment.

“Do you know what Eveline needs? An afternoon of fun to take her mind off her troubles,” Lily suggested.

Eveline’s ears perked up at this. “Now, I must hear about this,” she said excitedly.

“It would not do for you to simply sit at home all day. We should all go to Gunter’s Tea Shop in Berkeley Square. You do not have to think about the cost.”

Eveline found the suggestion rather pleasing. After all, Gunter’s Tea Shop served the finest tea in England, and she had only been there a couple of times.

“Oh Eveline, say yes, please!” Stella begged, bouncing excitedly on her seat.

“Stella, don’t be so forward,” Ava admonished.

Eveline nodded. “I suppose tea would bring some succor to my rather sour heart.”