The Portrait of a Scarred Duke by Patricia Haverton

Chapter 28

As Henry accusation thundered through the room, Seth had his full attention on Elinor. Her blue eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed, and her hands clasped so tightly in her lap that it looked like it hurt. If she was involved in this whole scheme, it was clear that she hadn’t anticipated this part. Either that or Elinor was an uncommonly gifted actress.

“Wh—what?” Elinor asked, her voice raw and watery.

An urge to go to her rose inside Seth. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and whisper comforting words to her. She just looked so miserable and vulnerable and so unlike the fiery, sharp-witted woman he knew.

But I don’t know that she’s wholly innocent here. Richard just admitted that he knew his brother was stealing from me and didn’t act. Why should I trust him when he says Elinor is innocent, when her perceived innocence would only benefit him?

“He isn’t your father,” Henry repeated, sneering. “He’s lied to you for your entire life, Elinor. How does that feel?”

“I can explain,” Richard said.

Richard turned desperately to Elinor and clasped her hand in his. Elinor pulled her hand away and then rose from her seat. She backed away, her chest heaving. The woman looked like a hunted animal, desperate to flee from a quickly approaching hunting party.

“How could you?” she whispered. “How could you do this?”

“I—I didn’t…you were conceived out of wedlock,” Richard said. “Oh, Elinor, I thought—”

“Was everything you said about my mother a lie, too?” Elinor asked. “Everything about my childhood?”

“Oh, yes,” Henry said, his eyes glittering with malice.

Seth curled his hands into fists. He was tempted to seize the man and hurl him from the room, but he wasn’t at sea. He wasn’t a seaman anymore, but a Duke. Seth had to find the truth to all of this, and he had to show restraint.

“I only wanted the best for you,” Richard said. “Elinor, your mother left when you were just a baby. She wasn’t happy, and Henry didn’t want to raise you as his daughter. You were born out of wedlock, you see.”

Elinor’s breath hitched. “Y—you always told me my mother was dead,” she whispered.

Guillan swore quietly under his breath. Seth had been so riveted on the situation before him that he’d nearly forgotten his friend was still in the room and still beside him.

“I thought that would be less painful,” Richard said. “I knew she was never going to return for you. Wouldn’t it be easier to believe that she was dead than to believe that she didn’t want you? Elinor, I know I should’ve told you, and I kept meaning to. It just became…”

“So easy to lie,” Henry said, his voice empty of remorse or kindness. “You should’ve kept lying, Richard. It’s all that you’re good at doing, apparently.”

Elinor looked so completely shattered that Seth felt as if his own heart broke watching her. He still didn’t know if she was innocent. It was entirely possible that Elinor had still been involved with the scheme and had simply not known this little detail. Richard may have even encouraged her in the hopes that this particular secret would remain buried.

“I would’ve preferred that you were honest with me,” Elinor said, her voice wavering. “I can’t believe that the two of you would behave in this way.”

Her eyes were suspiciously bright, and Seth’s chest ached when he saw the few tears fall from her eyes. She looked to him, as though she expected him to comfort her. And everything in him wanted to rise from his chair and do just that.

But I can’t take this risk. I’ve learned that this family lies, if nothing else. I’d be a fool to trust her, and even if—even if she is innocent, how would it look? Sending a man to prison and then courting his daughter?

“Well, this isn’t quite how I anticipated this meeting happening,” Guillan said, his voice uncharacteristically serious. “We shall prepare everything to present before the courts. It would be in your best interest to refrain from any other foolishness, Mr. Henry Thorebourne.”

Henry clenched his jaw. His expression hardened. “I have no intention of committing any foolishness, My Lord.”

“Very good,” Seth said.

He tried to focus on Henry, the man who’d stolen from him and his father for years, but Seth’s eyes wanted to drift towards Elinor. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her distraught expression and the way her hands twisted in the skirts of her gown.

Henry stood, looking at Seth with such venom that he wondered if the man might leap over the desk and attack him. Instead, he put his back to Seth and stormed from the room. Seth took a steadying breath. “We’ll need to make sure he doesn’t do anything foolish, like try to flee.”

“I’ll tend to it,” Guillan said.

Seth nodded gratefully. Guillan rose and giving Seth an encouraging nod, left the room. With him gone, a strange numbness settled over Seth. It was now just Richard, Elinor, and himself. And while Seth had just solved the mystery of the discrepancies and strange charges in the dukedom’s records, Elinor looked as though her whole life had fallen apart.

And I’ll only make this so much worse.

“You lied to me,” Elinor whispered.

“I know,” Richard replied, “and I’m sorry, Elinor. I truly only wanted to do what was best for you, and I felt that having—the only alternative was raising you as your uncle and letting you grow into a young woman believing that neither of your parents loved you.”

“But I’d have learned…I’d have learned to accept that,” Elinor said. “I would’ve forgiven you for all of it if you’d just told me, so I didn’t have to hear it here! From my—my father! From my father…”

Elinor roughly rubbed her eyes, and Seth slowly rose from his chair. He felt as if he’d had a bucket of water thrown over him. The last thing he wanted was to see her hurt. Even if she’d helped hurt him, even if she wasn’t innocent, everything inside him blazed seeing her so utterly distraught.

“Elinor,” he whispered.

Her eyes snapped to him. “I’m so sorry. So, so sorry. Seth. Your Grace.”

“You must not blame her for this,” Richard said. “Elinor didn’t know any of this.”

“It’s quite clear she didn’t know who her father was,” Seth said reluctantly, “but that doesn’t necessarily mean she didn’t know the rest. That doesn’t mean she didn’t participate in this.”

A sob tore from Elinor’s throat, but some of the sadness in her eyes melted away. Anger took its place. “You don’t believe me, Seth?”

“I want to.”

Elinor did something strange. She walked a few steps, her hands knotting tightly into her skirt. The woman looked as though she wanted very much to throw something or maybe break a few things. Seth wouldn’t stop her if she tried, but without warning, she curled her hand over the back of the chair in which she’d previously sat. Her entire body trembled, and she bowed her head. Elinor seemed to fold in on herself, her shoulders slumping downwards.

“You want to,” she repeated listlessly.

“It’s a risk,” Seth replied. “I don’t have proof that you were involved, but I don’t have proof you’re innocent. Either situation will—”

“Then, you’ve determined me guilty for something I didn’t do,” Elinor said, not looking at him. “How are you any better than my fath—than my uncle, Richard? He wouldn’t reveal my unc—my father, Henry’s crimes, and you told him that made him complicit in them. An accomplice. If you are willing to doubt me, to distrust me without proof, how is that any different? You’re complicit in my condemnation.”

“I have to consider the dukedom,” Seth said quietly. “And how this would appear. If I had these charges brought against your father, charges which will surely result in imprisonment, how would it look if I married his daughter?”

Elinor sighed. “Is that it, then? You’re going to send me away for something I didn’t do? For something I had no involvement in?”

Seth forced down the lump in his throat. What could he say? His defense was reasonable. Objectively, anyone would understand his reasoning and agree with it. He could not risk having a romantic relationship with a woman like Elinor, whose family had clearly stolen from him and who might have involved her in their misdeeds. But his heart hurt to say those words. He felt helpless and inelegant, all his words scattering to the winds except for the repetitive mantra of her condemnation.

“I’m sorry, Elinor.”

But what else could he say or do? This had to be how things were between them.

“I know you aren’t perfect,” Elinor said.

“I never claimed to be.”

She raised her head, and Seth’s heart plummeted to his stomach, seeing her red and teary-eyed face. Richard stood and reached for Elinor, as if to comfort her, but she moved away from him. Her eyes darted between Seth and Richard, looking at them both as if they were strangers.

“You shouldn’t blame her for her father’s mistakes or for mine,” Richard said. “I swear to you that I—”

“I won’t have you sent to trial,” Seth said. “You were trying to protect your niece, and your honesty might prove helpful in proving my points. That’s the best I can do.”

And he had to do it. Seth couldn’t leave Elinor on her own, without anyone to support her, and if he couldn’t take that role himself, he’d find someone who could. Like her uncle. Even if Elinor was angry with his lies, which she had every right to be, Seth was sure she’d manage to move past it. She’d forgive Richard eventually.

“I wasn’t finished,” Elinor said suddenly. “Don’t—don’t act as if I’m not here, Seth.”

“I wasn’t.”

“You were,” she said, swallowing hard. “You very clearly were. You and my fath—my uncle want to talk about this as if I’m not here. I understand your reasons. They make sense, and my position is all too clear to me. You don’t need to remind me of it, Seth. As I was saying, I know you aren’t perfect. That’s something I liked about you. But I never thought you were weak.”

“It isn’t weakness to be concerned about others, especially with those whom are entrusted into your care,” Seth replied. “I’m sorry, Elinor. Truly. But I must do what is best for my tenants.”

“Aren’t I one of them? Aren’t I also a part of the dukedom you’re so set on protecting?”

“Yes. But you…you put me in a difficult decision.”

Elinor gazed at him like he’d just destroyed something inside her. But how could Seth be certain that her dismay was from an innocent victim and not a skilled actress? Or even from the revelation that her father wasn’t the man whom she thought he was? Seth’s throat grew tight.

“You will be put in many difficult positions as a Duke,” Elinor said, “or so I imagine. You’ve braved all those storms at sea, all those accidents and incidents. You threw yourself into your adventures, and yet now, you hesitate. When it’s me, when it matters to someone other than yourself, you show caution.”

“As well I should.”

His defense sounded too cold and feeble to his own ears, and he doubted Elinor would be fooled by it. She lowered her head once more, and she sobbed. That low, drawn-out sound seemed to fill the entire room. Seth imagined himself apologizing and going to her, of wrapping his arms around her and assuring her that he still loved her.

But how could he? If she didn’t love him and her behavior had just been a ruse, how could he live with that? Because eventually, she’d make a mistake if that was the case. Eventually, the truth would be revealed, as it always was. And Seth wasn’t sure if he could survive the heartbreak that would come if, years in the future, he learned that Elinor really had deceived him.

“I’m sorry that it ended this way,” Seth said, “if you are—indeed—innocent. I’ll see that you’re paid for your commission. And I will give you…a few days to arrange your affairs and return home, if you need them.”

Rationally, he knew that he was being generous. He was returning Elinor to the life she’d had before she met him. He was giving her the money that she and her uncle desperately needed. There were some of the ton who’d have been much less kind than he was being, and yet Seth felt sick with himself. He wanted to do more. He should do more.

“Your Grace, I beg you reconsider,” Richard said. “I can assure you that Elinor—”

“Why would he believe you?” Elinor asked. “You’ve proven that you will lie, even to the people you love. What Seth says makes sense. It’s entirely reasonable, and I—Seth, I hate you for that.”

Seth hissed between his teeth. He deserved that, didn’t he? For saying that he couldn’t believe her, that she had to leave, even though it was hurting the both of them?

Elinor rubbed her arms, as though she was trying to force warmth into them. The room wasn’t cold.

“I’m sorry,” Seth said, again. He didn’t think he’d ever be able to apologize enough to her. “I just can’t take the risk that you were involved. What kind of Duchess would that be, one who only seduces a Duke for what he has?”

“It would make me like most ton women,” Elinor said. “That’s what you mean. You only think of it differently because I’m not titled or wealthy.”

“I think of it differently because I love you,” Seth murmured. “Because I thought we might be something together, but now, I don’t see how that can possibly be.”

“Because even when I’m innocent, you deem me guilty,” Elinor replied.

She wasn’t wrong. Seth slowly nodded. “I’m sorry, Elinor.”

Elinor rubbed her hands roughly against her eyes. “I’ll leave at once, Your Grace,” she said coldly. Her back straightened, and she rolled her shoulders back.

Seth’s chest hurt at how wounded and strong she looked in that moment, how defiant. She looked every bit like a Duchess in that moment, so resilient and persistent.

But that can never be.

Elinor turned and trudged to the door without ever asking for or receiving a dismissal. Her uncle slowly stood, and Seth gave him a small, assenting nod. Richard hurried after his niece, and Seth stared at the open door through which they’d left. Everything inside of him insisted that he chase after her, that he not let her leave him.

But he couldn’t do that. He must not do that. Seth sank into his chair and gazed at the ceiling instead. It was over and done with, the initial confrontation, at least. And despite having found the source of the theft, he felt as if the cost had been much too high. He’d lost Elinor forever.