Reluctantly, Richard relented, holding out the sheet between them so they could read it together—an action that turned out to be one of the worst mistakes he had ever made.
The rumors about their marriage were vile, but they weren’t anything he had not heard the night before.
No, the pill that had been hard to swallow came several paragraphs down, bearing information that sucked the air right out of Richard’s lungs.
If indeed the Duke and Duchess have not shared that first dance between the sheets yet, there is reason to believe that the Duchess is being cared for by another—one with whom she shares a fondness for dogs and likely other subjects. The two have been spending quite some time together, and sources within Wexford Castle say that it is unlikely that some pooch would be the only factor that garners and holds their interest.
It would not come as a surprise, given the rather irredeemable past that the Duke could not shed off so easily, even after marriage. Apparently, he has barely shown the Duchess any interest, leaving her no other option but to find solace in the arms of another—an action that might seem fair to some and infidelity to others.
At the end of the day, whoever the Duchess’s dog trainer is, he has certainly gained more than just the loyalty and commitment of the critters he was hired to educate.
“That is ridiculous. I knew they were thirsty for gossip, but this is too far a reach, even for them.” Nancy snorted with an irritated eye roll.
But Richard barely heard her, overwhelmed by the doubts and fears rearing their heads at once.
He had thought—he really believed that she wanted him.
It was impossible for anyone to care for him, much less someone as remarkable as his wife. He was not enough—he would never be enough, forever roaming in the shadows of obscurity, destined to remain alone.
Unlovable, just as his father had told him countless times.
“Richard.” Nancy reached for him, looking shocked when he brushed her hands away. “Richard, it isn’t true. I swear, there is nothing between Mr. Aldridge and me. All we do—all we have ever done is train Dash. Please believe me!”
“Why?” he spat, meeting her gaze coldly. “Just as I believed that you wanted me? Just when I trusted you when you asked me to meet you halfway? You simply wanted to make a fool out of me. Did it amuse you, how gullible I was? Were you entertained by how broken I am? You surely found it easy to manipulate me into giving you what you wanted.”
Nancy stepped back, hurt flashing in her eyes as she attempted to defend herself.
“Richard, why would you say that? That isn’t true, none of it. I would never?—”
“You would never? Do you really think me an utter fool? All those hours spent with him—talking and laughing as though there was nothing more grand to you than your time with him… all that was nothing? You never once thought of being with him since your husband paid you no mind?”
She looked like he had struck her across the face, tears filling her eyes rapidly.
“How dare you?” she queried coldly as tears streamed down her face. “After all I did—I came to you! Time and time again, Richard. I made so much effort for us to make this stiff, void dance we call a marriage work. And yet, you believe I would go behind your back and fall into the bed of another man?”
Her voice grew harder and louder as her statements progressed.
Soon, Richard’s chest began to hurt, but the feeling paled in the face of the flames of betrayal licking up his spine, filling his mind with so much smoke that he could barely harbor a single thought that wasn’t attached to the matter at hand.
“If that is what you think of me, then I’d rather be elsewhere than share a home with someone who believes the worst of his own wife.”
But before he could say anything, Nancy gathered her skirts and ran into the house, followed by Dash, who did not even spare him a second glance, leaving him to stew in his bitterness.
The Duke inhaled and turned angrily to the butler as he crumpled the sheet.
“Inform Mr. Aldridge that his services are no longer required. I want him out of my estate before the day’s end.”
* * *
No amount of deep breaths seemed to be able to calm Nancy down.
Each time she inhaled, it hurt, causing more tears to pool in her eyes and spill the next moment. She was sobbing by the time she arrived at her bedroom, barely able to hold herself up.
Mrs. Silverstone was waiting for her when she arrived, her weathered face holding an expression of dismay as she took in the distraught state of her mistress.
“Oh, Your Grace,” she gasped, holding her arms out to her.
Nancy fell into her embrace, heaving, crying harder as her mind replayed Richard’s words over and over again. He did not even try to hear her out, believing the words of a stranger over hers without much consideration.
