The Penitent Duke (The Untamed Nobles #1)

Chapter Nineteen

Lucian stared in shock at the lady before him, everything he thought he had known and believed pulling together and then shattering apart. She was just as he remembered her, though there were shadows under her eyes. The way she was clasping and unclasping her hands told him of her nervousness but all the same, he could not speak.

“Lady Pearl?” Lord Radcliffe strode forward, staring at the lady as Lucian tried to take in a breath, his chest feeling tight and painful. “I thought…”

“You thought I had died,” she said, pressing her lips tight together as she looked to Lucian who, after a moment, managed a nod. “I know. I am truly sorry for the pain and the suffering you must have endured but we were not in love, Strathmore, and I never believed for a moment that you would take the guilt upon yourself in the way I have heard.”

Lucian tried to speak, struggled and coughed, only for Lady Rosalind to rise up, pour a brandy and then hand it to him. Grateful, Lucian took a mouthful, letting the heat wash through him as Lady Rosalind sat down beside him again. She did not take his hand but he felt her eyes on him all the same, no doubt wondering what it was that he was thinking.

“I thought I was responsible,” he managed to say, no longer looking at Lady Pearl but down at the brandy in his hands. Somehow, that was easier. “I thought your death was my doing.”

“I am truly sorry for that.” There was pain in Lady Pearl’s voice and Lucian, his chest still heaving, lifted his gaze to hers. “I never once imagined that you would feel yourself responsible. I knew there would be the mourning period but I could not believe there would be any real mourning. We were engaged, yes, but there was no real affection between us, no closeness.”

“Why?” Lady Rosalind spoke now, her voice wavering. “Why did you pretend you were dead?”

Lady Pearl drew in a long breath. “Because I was afraid of my brother.”

Lucian swallowed thickly; his brow furrowed. “Westlake? I do not understand.”

“You did not know him!” Lady Pearl leaned forward; her hands clasped tightly now. “The betrothal was arranged through him, yes, but you did not know the sort of gentleman he truly was. He was the very worst gentleman, ignoring my pleas and threatening… well, threatening to bring harm to you if I did not do as he demanded.”

“Harm?” Lucian repeated, still struggling to comprehend what was taking place. “What harm?”

Lady Pearl closed her eyes, a shuddering breath escaping her. “I was in love with another, though you did not know of it. Lord Gillespie sought my brother’s permission to marry me and my brother was so incensed, he not only threw the gentleman from the house but also made certain that he was beaten black and blue, forcing him to return to his estate to recover.” She swallowed hard, then opened her eyes. “Lord Gillespie wrote to me still, however, and when my brother told me that you wished to marry me, I became desperate. I agreed to elope but I soon realised that my brother suspected my intentions. He told me that if I did not do as was asked of me, then you would suffer the same fate – if not worse – than Lord Gillespie and that I would be responsible. Once we were wed, I had no assurance that his threats would not continue, for my brother is not as wealthy as he appears and was quite determined to have as much coin from you as he could.”

Blowing out a long breath, Lucian pushed one hand through his hair, overwhelmed by what he had heard thus far.

“I had no other choice but to pretend I had passed from this life to the next,” Lady Pearl continued. “I could not bring such pain to you and nor could I endure much longer.”

Lucian’s whole frame jolted. Why had he not known such a thing? She had never told him, had never given even the smallest hint that there was any sort of concern as regarded her brother. “You did not tell me, Pearl.”

“I could not.” Lady Pearl began to blink rapidly. “As I have said, you do not know him, Strathmore. You never truly did and that is because he did not let you see his true self. He wanted you to think well of him, wanted you to view him as a true and proper gentleman so that he would never expect anything dreadful. Then, when I tricked or coerced you into giving him coin, you would be more likely to do so. Or, if you discovered his actions, you would not believe it and might, no doubt, place the blame upon me alone… as he would seek to do too.”

“How truly dreadful for you.”

It was the first time that Lady Rosalind had spoken with sympathy in her voice and, as Lucian looked at her, he saw tears glistening in her eyes. His heart suddenly yearned for her, he moved closer, one hand going to hers but Lady Rosalind’s gaze lingered on Lady Pearl.

“I cannot imagine all that you must have suffered. ”

Lady Pearl smiled, her eyes still damp but no tears on her cheeks. “It was a very difficult time, I will confess, but Lord Gillespie gave me hope. I am truly sorry that I did not tell you of my intentions, that my plan made you bear such grief and remorse. It was never my intention for you to grieve for long nor to bear such guilt.”

With a nod, Lucian looked away, a tingling going through him which, slowly, began to fade. “You did not fall from your horse, then. There were no highwaymen, no thieves who forced you to the edge of the cliff. You did not fall to your death, then.”

Lady Pearl shook her head. “I did not. I screamed because I wanted to make it appear that way but, truth be told, I was already riding on Lord Gillespie’s horse, making our way far from you and from your estate.” Her voice cracked. “I should not have kept my plans so secretive; I can see that now. But I feared that if I told you about my brother, you would not believe me or, even worse, might ask my brother about whether or not I spoke the truth. Then things would have become all the worse for me.”

Lucian let out a sigh, then rose to his feet. His legs were shaking just a little but he made his way directly across the room, bending down to take Lady Pearl’s hand. Looking into her eyes, he smiled, feeling a heavy weight – the weight he had borne for so long – loosen from his back. It slipped away completely and Lucian drew in a long breath, filling his lungs with air as though he had not been able to do such a thing for a long time.

“I wish that you had told me,” he said, as quietly as he could as tears rushed into her eyes. “Yet, in hearing all – in seeing, even, the darkness that has come over your brother – I can see why you did not. I am sorry for all that you have endured, truly and I hold nothing against you.” He squeezed her and, after a moment, Lady Pearl did the same, tears on her cheeks now. “Are you happy now, Pearl? Are you contented?”

She smiled then, her eyes glistening. “I am. Lord Gillespie has been the most excellent husband and I have found a happiness with him that I could have only dreamed of.” Taking in a breath, she let it out again. “I could not tell you that I was alive and wed to Lord Gillespie. Not when my brother believed that I was dead and gone.”

Lucian nodded. “You feared what he would do should he find out.”

“Yes.” Lady Pearl closed her eyes, her smile fading. “I love my husband dearly and I did not want my brother to bring any sort of trouble to him. Our estate is in Scotland and we were wed there, which means we are far from my brother’s estate.”

“Then why did you come to London again? ”

Lucian released Lady Pearl’s hand as Lady Rosalind’s question came across the room towards her. He rose but did not sit down again, making his way towards Lord Radcliffe who still stood guard at the door.

“I came because I heard that the Duke had come to London again,” Lady Pearl said, quietly, “and that my brother had made his way to London also. Knowing my brother and knowing that he blamed you for my passing, I was fearful of what might occur.”

“So you risked discovery in order to protect Strathmore?” Lady Rosalind asked, as Lord Radcliffe shared a look with Lucian. “That was very considerate of you.”

Lady Pearl shook her head. “It is the very least that I could have done. I have two faithful friends here in London, both of whom knew what I both planned to do and where I now lived. They informed me about my brother and his doings, so that I would be warned if he ever made any move towards Scotland or appeared to think that something was wrong as regarded the state of my supposed death. I could not remain in Scotland, fearful of what my brother might do.” Her eyes went again to Lucian. “My friends did not know of your heavy burden of grief and regret, Strathmore. Had they known, I would have revealed myself to you a good deal earlier for I never wanted you to carry this weight.”

“I understand.” Lucian, feeling a little more settled now, inclined his head. “You must not feel any guilt, Pearl, for you have only just freed me from my own! As I have said, I truly do understand and I am grateful to you for what you have done in saving Lady Rosalind from your brother’s dark intentions.”

“Indeed.” Lady Rosalind rose to her feet and came to Lady Pearl who, in turn, also stood. “Thank you for what you have done. I would not have known of Lord Westlake’s intentions without your warnings. I would not have been saved from him without you and please, you can be assured that I will never say a word to your brother about your presence here.”

“Nor shall I,” said Lady Eleanor, as Lady Rosalind and Lady Pearl embraced. Lord Radcliffe said the same, with Lucian adding his own promise, finding a sense of happiness beginning to fill him. Everything that he had borne for years was fading away, leaving him with a freedom that he had never before experienced. He had no anger against Lady Pearl, no upset or regret. Rather, he was simply glad – glad that she was safe, that she was happy and contented and glad that Lady Rosalind was now quite safe.

But when Lady Rosalind turned towards him, Lucian did not see the same happiness in her expression. Rather, there was concern, a line pulling between her brows, an uncertainty in her eyes. She offered him a smile but it lacked luster, her gaze pulling away as she sat down.

“You will return home now, I presume?” Lord Radcliffe asked, as Lady Pearl – now Lady Gillespie, Lucian reminded himself – nodded.

“Yes, I shall. My brother is injured now, it seems, injured by his own hand, and I expect he will need to take time to recover.” She smiled and then came to the door, clearly ready to take her leave. “I must return to Gillespie. You will know best what to do with Westlake, I am sure.”

Lucian, a little unsure as to what would be best, took her hand and then bowed over it. “I will see what can be done. But he will not be able to escape my wrath for what he tried to do, I can assure you of that.”

With a nod, Pearl put her other hand over his, holding them there for a moment. Then, with nothing more but a smile, she stepped to the door which was opened for her by Lord Radcliffe.

And then, she was gone.