Page 13 of My Duke, The Stranger
“In this instance, I think it best that we return home,” the duke cut him off. “I am tired, Mr. Pembroke. I am famished. And I cannot begin to explain how much pain I am in…” He groaned as he touched his head. “Whatever it is you wish to speak to Miss Whitmore about can wait.”
Isolde was speechless. Even if she was not, what could she possibly have said? Now might have been the right time to tell the duke the truth, and possibly soften the blow by making it appear as if he had misunderstood her.
And yet… the way he held her by the hand, how close he stood, and that look he had worn when he saw her this morning, confirmed that such lies would only make things worse. As if things could get any worse.
Stranger still, while Mr. Pembroke scowled at her, no doubt knowing that she had duped the duke, he appeared unwilling to say as much.
The duke might have been new to this, but he was learning quickly. He was in charge. Mr. Pembroke did not look as if hewas ready to argue and disobey him, and that might just save her… at least for a time.
“Very well,” Mr. Pembroke said, his voice a cold warning. “Miss Whitmore, I suggest you say farewell to your family. We leave at once.” He looked at her with a scowl, a shared conversation that only Isolde understood, and he turned and strode away.
“He assures me that we are good friends,” the duke chuckled as he watched him go. “And truly, I do not know why, but I trust him. I guess that will have to do for now.” He exhaled and looked back at her. “Shall we?”
“Might I…” Isolde felt her father’s eyes on her. “Might I speak to my family quickly? I will meet you at the carriage.”
“Of course.” He squeezed her hand again, and once more, the look he gave her was one filled with affection and utmost trust. It broke her heart… “But do not take long,” he chuckled. “I might miss you.”
The duke shook his head and smiled to himself as he walked towards the carriage.
“Father, I can explain.” She turned to her father and winced when she saw his face. He was not angry. He was not upset. Rather, he was just disappointed, which was worse than anything.
“What is going on?” Marianne asked. “Why is Isolde going with the duke?”
“Are we going too?” Thomas asked. “Oh, can we go?”
“Isolde, what have you done?” her father asked.
She grimaced and looked away. “I did not mean it. I just… last evening… when I realized that the duke did not know who I was, I thought about how he had refused to help, while I thought about how much we needed it.”
“What did you say exactly?”
“I told him…” She still could not look her father in the eyes. “I told him that we are engaged.”
Her father groaned.
“It will not go that far,” she spoke quickly, desperately. “Likely, his memory will return any day now.”
“And when it does?” he pleaded. “Isolde, when he learns that you have lied to him? What will you do?”
If only she knew…
“Before that happens, I will have him help you,” she said, a vague idea coming to mind; a plank of wood tossed to her as shedrowned, not enough to save her, but enough to keep her head above water. “I will make it so. He will help, Father. I know that he will.”
“That does not answer the question, Isolde. Whether he helps or not, when he finds out that you have lied to him…” He looked toward the carriage, at the duke. “You know what type of man he is.”
“Was,” she said. “He is not that man now.”
“Will you listen to yourself? Will you think about what you are saying?”
“I hear it,” she said. “And I know it was wrong. But there is nothing to be done now. It is too late. All I can do is… I will do what I can and pray that this is not the end of us all.”
What more could she say? What more could she do? That single lie, that had seemed so small and innocent, was a pit in which she now found herself, and the walls were slowly collapsing so that she might be buried before long. Before that happened, she would save her family. She had to save her family.
“Trust me, Father.” She took his hands and held them. “I will think of something.” That might have been the biggest lie of all.
With that said, there was nothing left to do but join the duke as he waited. She kissed her father on the cheek, she hugged Marianne and Thomas tight, and then she walked nervouslytoward the duke, toward her new life, and toward a fate that was entirely of her own making, and one that she could not escape.
Five
