Chapter 25
Twenty-Five
Deena stood in Austin’s study, pondering where she should begin her search.
A week had passed, and Austin still had not returned.
Selina and Dominic knew nothing about his whereabouts either.
Dominic was furious and promised to murder his best friend for abandoning his sister.
They immediately took her in. But Deena did not feel abandoned; she felt that Austin was in some sort of trouble.
So, she escaped Greystone and travelled to Windemere, hoping to find some kind of clue that would lead her to him. Deena assumed she was in the right place, but when she saw a portrait of Austin’s father hanging above the oak table, she doubted it.
Perhaps there is something here that could lead me to him.
She approached the table slowly as if she was afraid that she might get caught in the act. When she eventually reached it, she opened the top drawer and found some letters, receipts, and a folded map. Nothing useful.
In the second drawer, there were more papers and a small leather notebook.
Deena opened the notebook and found some numbers jotted there.
She placed it aside when a single sheet fell out and caught her eye.
The date indicated that it was written twenty-seven years ago, and it was written in a feminine hand.
“My dearest Duke,” she read it softly, lifting the letter carefully.
Her breath caught as she read on.
My love for you has deepened since last night. I can only explain this feeling as a deeply sated ache. I long for you even when you are near…
It was clearly a woman writing to her lover. She was promising devotion and an unfailing love.
Deena’s hand trembled.
She did not know much about Austin’s father except that he had a reputation with the many mistresses he kept.
She also did not know much about his mother, only that she had died when he was young and that his father had not treated him right thereafter.
Austin never spoke about them much, but from what she heard, his father was an unlovable man.
And yet this woman loved him so deeply.
Deena’s throat tightened. She should stop. She should put it back. But she read on, and the final paragraph made her fingers go numb.
But this is not about me; it is about your son—
The door to the study suddenly opened, and Deena dropped the letter into the notebook, shoving it back into the drawer and slamming it shut. Ryan stood in the doorway.
“Why did you not knock? Have you forgotten your manners?” She snapped at him.
“Forgive me, Your Grace. But you have a visitor, and it seems urgent.” He looked at her apologetically.
Deena stared at him, confused. “Who is it?”
“A young lady. She did not give her name, but she said she is your friend.” Deena did not have time for this. She had no friends in London, so she doubted that she knew the uninvited guest.
What if one of Austin’s mistresses felt bold enough to present herself?
Her heart stopped.
“Take me to her.” Ryan nodded, and she walked with him.
Her mind filled with dread as she tried to think who her mystery visitor could be. Perhaps it was Miss Waldron, or Selina had come to check on her. They turned a corner, and Ryan stopped at the drawing room; he quickly opened the door for Deena without hesitation.
The light from the drawing room suddenly blinded her and Deena blinked against it. A young lady stood in the middle of the room, but she struggled to make her out as her eyes adjusted slowly.
“Deena…”
Deena froze.
That voice.
“Penelope?” she gasped.
When her vision finally cleared, she saw her friend standing before her. Pale-faced but healthy and alive. Her blonde curls fell carelessly around her shoulders, and she smiled brightly at Deena.
Deena’s knees buckled as Penelope ran to her with open arms. Capturing her in a warm hug, they clung to each other, sobbing and laughing at the same time. Deena’s mind could not fathom that her friend was there, so she pulled away to look at her.
“You are here,” she choked.
“Yes, Deena, I am here,” Penelope sobbed. “I am safe because of you.”
Deena let go of her friend.
“I…I did not do anything, Penelope. I failed you,” she said as tears cascaded down her face.
Penelope frowned at her. “What are you speaking of? Deena, you saved me!”
“How did I save you? And are you all right? Are you hurt?” Deena faffed over her, searching for bruises, exhaustion, or any sign the journey had broken her.
“I am fine, Deena.” Penelope laughed.
“How are you here?” Deena’s voice cracked. “How did you—”
“The Duke of Windemere found me.” Penelope’s fingers clenched around Deena’s sleeves. “Well…he had an investigator. It was a very frightening experience, but once the man explained to me what was happening, I calmed down.”
Deena’s mind spiraled with this information.
“How long ago was this?”
“Around a week and a half ago. I—lashed out at one of the nuns and got moved to a new convent.” Penelope looked at Deena sheepishly. “I believe only my family was informed, but His Grace found me, and he sent a letter with the investigator who had been following me.”
“That explains why you have not been receiving my letters,” Deena whispered and suddenly felt lightheaded.
“Yes, I have not received any letters from you,” Penelope choked on her words. “When I saw your name in the letter the investigator gave to me, I instantly felt hopeful.”
Deena’s heart clenched, and her voice cracked with emotion, “What did he write?”
Penelope reached for her hand and squeezed reassuringly.
“His Grace wrote that he knew what you had done for me. That you had risked everything and that he owed you. He said he would send his solicitor, Mr. Whitman, to the convent the very next day if I agreed to leave immediately and return to England.”
“Austin did that?” Deena’s legs gave way. She sank onto the nearest sofa, pulling Penelope down beside her as she kept talking, words tumbling over each other.
“Yes, Deena. Because of you.”
“Tell me more.” It almost sounded like a plea.
“I obviously agreed. But around this time, the nuns were starting to suspect my pregnancy. My gowns were beginning not to fit anymore, and the sisters were watching me too closely.” Penelope’s eyes glazed over as she spoke.
“But Mr. Whitman arrived at just the right time, with papers, money, and a closed carriage. He told the nuns that I was being recalled by my family.”
“And they did not suspect anything?” Deena was completely intrigued. Her emotions continued to unravel as she listened intently to Penelope.
“They didn’t argue because Mr. Whitman can be very… persuasive. We left that very night, and I stayed at a safe boarding house.”
Deena’s throat closed. “But you are here? What happened—”
“My family read about us in The Daily Scribe.” Deena felt the guilt eat at her. “They found out about my pregnancy, and last night they were waiting at Calais.”
“Oh, Penelope! I am so terribly sorry.” Fresh tears began to fall down Deena’s face.
Penelope’s voice dropped to a gentle whisper.
“It is not your fault, Deena. Even without The Daily Scribe, my father had spies at every port. They somehow knew I was coming, and they had men ready to drag me onto the next ship bound for the West Indies. They were going to lock me away until the baby was born and then give it away…or worse.”
Deena held onto Penelope’s hand. The blackmailer must have informed her family.
“But His Grace was there,” Penelope continued.
“He had come ahead. He stood between them, and me all night. He argued and threatened lawsuits. He told them he was the Duke of Windemere and that if they touched me, they would answer to him in every court in England and France. Even the harbormaster was afraid of him.”
“He truly said all of that?” Deena’s heart softened.
“Yes, he stared my father down until the man backed away, and by dawn, they were gone, and I was free.”
Deena’s tears fell freely. Austin had saved Penelope; he had been planning to all along, and she had not seen his intentions clearly.
“I thought I’d betrayed you.” She lowered her eyes, too ashamed for her friend to see the guilt within them. “I wrote that article to buy time, but it was not enough. And when I received no response from you, I imagined you all alone. And I thought—”
Penelope cupped Deena’s face with both hands. “Deena, I did not receive any letters from you. I swear, if I did, I would have responded. I thought that you wanted nothing to do with me, and I understood. I truly did; I was not your responsibility. It was my mistake that got us into this mess.”
“But I could have protected you better—”
“You saved me,” Penelope repeated, cutting her off.
“You stood watch for months so I could finally know what love is. You lied to the sisters for me. You risked your own freedom every single night so I could see Edward. And when everything fell apart, you still tried to protect me…even when it meant hurting yourself.”
Deena shook her head. “I almost ruined you. I almost—”
“But you didn’t.” Penelope’s voice cracked. “You married a man who chose to help me because of you. He said—” Her voice broke. “He said you would want me safe. That even now you think about me.”
Deena sobbed. All this time, Austin planned to help her despite everything.
“I am so sorry,” Deena choked. “I could have done more.”
“You did everything you could,” Penelope whispered fiercely. “You did more than anyone ever has. You gave me time and hope. And…you gained quite a dashing Duke, too!”
Deena laughed through her tears. “He is impossible but wonderful.”
“He is too wonderful and too handsome.” Penelope grinned, wiping Deena’s cheeks with her thumbs. “Although he does swear like a sailor when he thinks no one is listening, he never once made me feel like a burden, and he treated me like family. I thought to myself that he is just like you.”