Page 89 of Deviant Duchess
Hester did not seem to want to talk about the visit once they returned home, and Deborah had decided not to push. Perhaps one day their relationship with their mother would be healed, but for now, Deborah was content to let it be where it was.
Grace, though, was going to join them in Calder for an extended stay in two weeks, and they were both looking forward to it. All three sisters together again, just as they used to be.
“You are right,” Hester said, pulling Deborah from her thoughts.
She turned her head just in time to see Hester give her a firm nod, and together, they left the dining room to collect Adeline.
“Hester, are you well? Did the flowers bother your eyes?” Adeline asked worriedly.
Besides Deborah, Hester sniffled as she shook her head, then dabbed her red eyes with her kerchief. Deborah reached for her free hand, and Hester squeezed it tightly as she managed a small smile for Adeline.
“No child,” Hester said as the carriage began to take them home, “It was just- it was just such a beautiful day. The um, the flowers- they were overwhelming.”
Deborah gave her sister a comforting smile, knowing that it was not the colorful blooms that had overwhelmed Hester. It was the apologies that she had received from many of the other ladies strolling through the gardens. Some offered kind words. Others' apologetic glances and bowed heads. The people knew now, thanks to the article. They knew that Deborah had been a victim of Sylvester’s, and not the harlot he had once painted her to be.
Deborah had done her best to both keep Adeline looking away from the attention Hester received and be close enough to Hester for support at the same time, and in truth, the effort hadbeen exhausting. Even so, it had been worth it. Adeline was none the wiser of the rumors that once ruined Hester’s life, and Hester was starting to heal from wounds such rumors had created.
“I am quite well,” Hester assured Adeline again. “What of you? Did you enjoy your day at the conservatory?”
“I did,” Adeline answered readily with a quick smile, “Though I wish we could have brought home more flowers; I understand why we didn’t. I am sure they would not survive the long ride to Calder. And I must admit, as much I have enjoyed London, I am ready to go home.”
The word struck Deborah deep. When they first met weeks ago, Adeline had considered the London house her home, and the Calder Estate was just a place she was forced to live in. Now, she saw both as her rightful homes.
“You will love it, Aunty Hester,” Adeline said excitedly. “Our gardens there are not as big as the conservatory’s; however, they are stillverylovely, and Uncle Cedric said that we can order any seeds or bulbs we like to add to the gardens for next spring. We can make it bigger and better than even London’s most beautiful gardens if we wanted to.”
Deborah and Hester both smiled lovingly at her.
“I would love to help with that,” Hester answered enthusiastically.
“As would I,” Deborah readily agreed.
The three of them chatted easily for the rest of the ride home, and after a beautiful day in the warm gardens, Adeline dismissed herself to take a cool bath and relax with a book. After hugs and kisses were shared between the three of them, Hester and Deborah removed their hats and gloves and went to Cedric’s study, where Mr. Early advised them they would find him.
The moment Deborah opened the door, Cedric looked up from his desk with a grin, and she knew then, before he even said anything, that Sylvester was getting his due. He stood up and clapped his hands, then rubbed them together.
“Ladies! How was your day? As good as mine I do hope,” he said enthusiastically as he came around his desk.
Deborah looked over at Hester, both of them grinning.
“It was a very interesting day to be sure,” Hester answered for both of them.
“Interesting indeed,” Cedric answered.
He went to Deborah to give her a swift kiss on the lips, then squeezed Hester’s shoulder warmly before he went to the drink cart, where a bucket of champagne and ice already stood, chilling. He picked up the bottle of champagne and popped the cork, all of them laughing as the foam shot out.
“I take it we are celebrating?” Deborah mused, and she and Hester closer. closer.
“Oh, indeed we are,” Cedric replied readily, pouring them each a glass, “It took parliament no time at all to ban Fairborne. There was even talk of stripping him of his title and passing it on to the next male heir. I spoke with the Royal Bank of London’s head of accounts and his lines of credit are already seized. An investigation has been opened regarding the illegitimate children, and to put the sugar on top it all, I rode by Fairborne’s estate, and the place was in a state of frantic disarray.”
“What does that mean though?” Hester asked, accepting her glass of champagne.
“It means that Fairborne is either trying to run or that the bank is seizing all of his assets. Perhaps even both,” Cedric explained, then held his glass up.
Deborah’s grin grew wider as she and Hester clinked their glasses against Cedric’s.
“We did it, ladies,” he said in way of a toast, “We gave the blackguard his due!”
Giddiness swept through Deborah as she took a sip of the champagne. After years of failed attempts, they’d finally given Sylvester the justice he was due.
