‘I did.’ He stroked her cheek. ‘I could not save my child, but I could save you. I could bring you here and give you a life such as I would have given my own flesh and blood.’ His gaze included both of them, and for the first time in a long time, Lucy did not feel like an afterthought. ‘But I can see now that my own people are as ignorant and as cruel as yours.’ He turned to Grace. ‘If you wish, we can leave now for Italy, or Morocco or any other land.’
Lucy gasped, her head spinning. Could she do it again? Leave a place where she’d become comfortable, if not exactly happy? Go out in search of another home? It was too much to think about. And looking at her sister, she could see Grace thought the same.
But the Duke was not finished. He moved in front of Grace, drawing her attention as he sank back down on one knee. And while he spoke words from his heart, Lucy looked to Cedric. It burned that she wanted to hear such words from him. After everything he’d done, it hurt that she still ached for him.
He didn’t speak; he didn’t try to interrupt. If he had, she would have cut him down with her bare hands. But he didn’t say a word to stop the love flowing between Grace and his cousin. And a moment later, Grace accepted the Duke’s proposal.
They were in love. And Cedric’s hope for a dowry worth a fortune was destroyed. She saw the bleak realization hit him.Saw, too, that he was a defeated man, and she feared for what that might lead him to next.
He caught her gaze, an apology burning there. She wanted none of it. He had betrayed her in every way. Or near enough. He had not whispered about what they had done together, but he had tried to destroy her relationship with her father. That was the one thing upon which she depended for everything.
And so she shook her head. And she deliberately turned her back on him. How many times could she cut him from her heart? How many times could she turn away from him and swear to never think of him again? How long would it take for the love she had for him to shrivel away to nothing?
Too many. And too long.
But she would find a way to do it anyway.