Chapter 18 #2
There was a knowing look in those eyes. Also, a sense of excitement, joy taken at whatever it was that he was here for. He knew that Alaric was not home, which told her that the two had spoken recently. Alaric has been to see him. And that must mean… Clara thought she might be sick.
“Wh – what is it that you want?” she stammered, trying her best to appear confident, even if her world was crumbling.
“I am here to inform you that the terms of your marriage to my nephew have been reached, achieved, and exceeded in every measure.” He smiled in a sickly fashion. “You wished to escape scandal, just as you wished to trick the ton into thinking that this marriage was both real and happy –”
“It is,” she cut him off. “I mean…” She swallowed and stood tall. “It was no trick. Alaric and I are… this marriage is… we are happy,” she stumbled.
He smirked. “I am sure you are. However, now that such goals have been reached, it is time that the final commitment be actioned upon.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “That you are to move out of Wolfe Estate at once.”
She had seen it coming, but it did not hit her any less hard because of it. “Wh – what? No. That is not –”
“It is exactly as was agreed,” he said simply, not in the least bit put out by her obvious surprise and despair. “Were you not the one who asked for such a thing? When you came to my nephew and forced him to marry you –”
“I did not force him.”
“Begged then,” he said with bite. “You begged him, and he conceded, so long as you agreed that once the scandal blew over, you would leave. You wanted it, as he tells me.”
“That was…” She shook her head as if doing so might see her wake from a dream. “That was… things have changed. Alaric and I… where is he?”
“He is not here. You said so yourself.”
“You have spoken to him? When? What did he say?”
He smirked. “That is not important. What is important is that you pack your things and leave at once – and do not fear for your comfort, Your Grace,” he continued casually.
“You will be given more than enough to survive. Funds to live on. A home to grow old in. Not here, of course,” he chuckled.
“But you will want for nothing. I assure you of that.”
The world turned around Clara, and she thought she might be sick. When Lord Wolfe had appeared suddenly, she had known the news he would carry could only be bad. But even then, she’d had no idea just how tumultuous it would be. How world-ending.
Is that where Alaric went? To seek his uncle and beg him to drive me away? Does he really think so little of me…
It was impossible to comprehend. Impossible to believe.
She had known their kiss had shaken him, forcing questions to be answered that he was so desperate to avoid.
But deep down, Clara had known that the kiss was right and that Alaric, if given time, would see it for what it was.
He cared for her… he might have even loved her. He must!
And she loved him. It was hard for her to believe, considering all that had happened, but she knew it now like she knew anything.
For how he treated her. For how he acted around her.
She had found herself falling for her husband, such that she could not fathom him doing this to her. There was just no way.
“I don’t believe you,” she said.
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t believe you,” she said again. “I don’t believe that Alaric sent you – where is he? I want to speak with him.”
“I assure you, he did send me,” Lord Wolfe said, nonplussed by her rebellion. “Sadly, Alaric is…” He sighed and shook his head. “He is cautious, as he should be. He knew that if he was the one who told you what you must do, that you would deny him and then…” He grimaced.
“He sent you here because he knew he could not do it himself…” She felt some resolve in her argument, as if saying it might make it true. “He cares for me. He does not want this.”
“On the contrary.” His expression turned cold.
“He feared what he might do if you were to push him. I know you think my nephew is a kind, generous soul…” He laughed with amusement.
“But nothing could be further from the truth. There is a darkness to him, Your Grace. He hides it well, but it is there.”
“No…” She shook her head. “That is not –”
“It is true,” he said. “Did you ever stop to consider why he was so desperate to keep you at arm’s length? It has nothing to do with how he feels about you, of that I can promise. He did so for your own safety, because he knows well what happens when he allows someone to grow too close to another.”
Clara’s heart was racing as she tried to keep herself from spiraling. “What do you mean? I don’t… what happens?”
“Your Grace…” He sighed, and his expression became pained. “His ex-wife, of course. Helen. You do know what happened, do you not?”
She took a step back as if in preparation. “I know she died.”
“She died because of Alaric,” he said. “She died because…” He clicked his tongue with regret. “Well, he killed her, that's why.”
“What!” she cried and stumbled. “No, that is not –”
“It is true,” he said. “Why do you think he is so hesitant to speak of her? Oh, I am certain he cared for her once, but that is the point. Alaric might mean the best. I am sure he thinks he has what it takes to do right by those he cares for. But he is a wicked soul, Clara. Beset by demons and evils that you cannot imagine. Helena was a sweet girl, much like you. She, too, believed that he loved her. And then one day…” He opened his palms. “She crossed him, he grew angry, and now she is no more.”
The world continued to turn. Clara felt herself grow weak. It can’t be true. There is no way… I don’t believe it.
Yet it made too much sense to ignore. She thought back to everything she knew of the duke, how he had always treated her, his refusal to speak of his ex-wife.
His home was locked to the outside world.
Rooms closed, abandoned as if hoping to forget.
The rumors that swirled about him through the ton, borne from lies she had thought, but with seeds of truth.
For they had to have come from somewhere.
Was it possible? Had Alaric really killed his wife? Was he capable of such a thing?
Clara could not believe it. She refused to! There had to be an explanation. But as her mind raced and her reality shattered, Lord Wolfe looked upon her with pity. And in his eyes, she saw the truth.
“This is for your own good,” he said to her. “For your own safety.”
“Alaric…” She stammered. “I need to speak to Alaric.”
“That is not a good idea,” he said with a sigh. “He was angry when he came to me. Furious, in fact. He did so because he knows what he is capable of. And he asked specifically that I not return until I see you away.”
“I… that is not… no…”
Lord Wolfe came to her, resting a hand on her shoulder. “I am so sorry, Your Grace. Truly, my heart breaks for you. If it helps, try to see this for what it is. A blessing. Better to escape with your life and your freedom, than face what Alaric is truly capable of.”
Freedom… once, that was all Clara had wanted.
To escape her life and start afresh. To have a chance at living as she had been denied her entire life.
But before that chance came, she was presented with something else, a new type of life that she had not known was possible for her until it was. A life of happiness. A life of love…
No. She had never known love. She had thought she had. She had thought it would come to her. But now she knew that all this time, it was little more than a dream. Or rather, a different type of prison. A prison from which she was being offered an escape.
Sadly, she felt no relief. She felt no sense of joy. Despite the warning that Lord Wolfe gave her, she still could not believe it. Not that it makes a difference. Even if it is all a lie, the consequence is the same. Alaric wanted her gone, and there was nothing she could do.