Page 88 of Deviant Duchess
“Will you be here when I wake up?” She murmured, her eyes already closing.
“Always, love,” he promised, placing a kiss on her forehead.
“Always.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
“They printed it,” Cedric announced, walking into the dining room.
Deborah, Hester, and Adeline all looked up from one another; their breakfast conversation paused mid-sentence as Cedric made the announcement.
“Already?” Deborah asked, her nerves starting to frazzle. It had only been two days since Cedric had taken his proof to the newspaper offices. She and Hester had both wagered that it would take longer for Sylvester’s crimes to be printed, seeing as he was a noble of otherwise good standing.
“See for yourself, my darlings,” Cedric said, sliding the newspaper across the table toward them.
He then took a seat at his usual spot at the head of the table and picked up a link of sausage from his already made plate, taking a bite with a satisfyingcrunch.
“They got him good,” he said, his mouth still full as he pointed to the paper with his sausage. “They wrote about everything I gave them. The mistresses. The illegitimate children. The financial issues.”
Hester and Deborah moved closer together so they could read at the same time and quickly began scanning the article.
“I want to see,” Adeline piped out.
“No,” All three of them said in unison.
Adeline immediately frowned and crossed her arms as Cedric chortled, Hester gave her an apologetic grin, and Deborah reached out for her hand.
“This is a…delicate subject matter, my darling,” she explained, “Would you please go upstairs and fetch your hat and parasol? I believe the three of us ladies should take one final, long stroll through the conservatory gardens before we take our leave for Calder.”
Excitement quickly replaced Adeline’s annoyance, and at once she hopped out of her chair and ran out of the dining room.
“No running!” Deborah, Hester, and Cedric all scolded in unison, and the three of them chuckled when Adeline responded with a rather loud and unladylike “UGHH!”
With Adeline gone, Deborah and Hester quickly looked back down at the paper, finding the places where they had stopped. Deborah read it thrice, and she was sure that Hester did the same, even perhaps a few times more, as if she needed the proof.
“You did it,” Hester breathed after a long moment of silence. “You actually did it. You brought him down.”
“Well, there is not quite proof of that yet. However, I would not be surprised if Parliament makes the announcement later today that he is ousted,” Cedric replied, standing up just as quickly as he sat down as he shoved the last bite in his mouth.
“However, I will grab Godric, and we will go investigate. The town is no doubt already abuzz with such lascivious gossip. We are bound to hear something.”
He hastily swallowed his last bite before leaning down and planting a hard kiss on Deborah’s lips, making her laugh.
“I love you, I shall be back shortly,” he said cheerfully as he took a step toward Hester and planted a loud kiss on the top of her head, making her giggle as well.
“Love you, too,” Deborah called after him. “Should we wait to take Adeline to the conservatory?”
“Go, have an amazing day, and I will catch you up when I get home!” He called back as he strolled out of the dining room.
Once alone, Hester turned to Deborah, her green eyes wide and hopeful.
“Do you truly think this is possible? That he is finally going to pay for all his crimes?” She asked.
Deborah gave her an encouraging smile as she took her time.
“I have faith that it is,” she replied, “But let us not waste the day worrying about it. We leave for Calder the day after next. We have made the appropriate visit to Mother, and our last two days in London should be happy ones.”
Deborah winced as she thought about how their visit to their Mother, Uncle, and sister had gone. Grace was as loving and kind as usual, and Uncle Archibald seemed relieved but distant in his way, but their mother’s show of happiness just did not seem quite genuine. It strangely felt over the top, and it made both Hester and Deborah uncomfortable. However, Hester accepted the overly warm welcome with grace, and whatever contempt she held for Frances’ lack of action in the beginning was firmly kept in check.
