Chapter 34

CHAPTER 34

“ W e merely think it would be difficult for potential clients to look past the growing controversy and trust us with their resources.”

Hector sighed, tried not to look as frustrated as he felt, and turned to question his business associate, Gabriel.

“I am hearing a lot of problems but not a single suggestion on workable solutions. What can we do to curb the situation?”

Gabriel looked uncomfortable as he glanced between Hector and the documents he was reviewing.

“I am not sure, Your Grace. If it were merely complaints related to the nature of your businesses or anything of the sort, we might have found a way to contain it. But as it stands…These rumors are vicious, and they are not completely baseless. Unless they stop completely, and people are given enough time to forget about them while you also work to prove that they are not factual, we might not recover from this.”

Hector groaned, tilting his head back to stare numbly at the ceiling and trying to ignore the twinge of pain in his shoulder. He had been at this for far too long. What was supposed to be a trip lasting a few days had turned into weeks.

Initially, he had expected the problems to be resolved quickly by his presence. He had hoped to quell their worries by assuring them that the rumors about Juliet were utter falsehoods and that the nature of their marriage did not impact Hector’s business acumen. As he began speaking with his business associates and tenants, he’d discovered that the problems were far more profound than he had predicted.

He had decided to handle it all within a span of three days, hoping to gain enough insight that would guide him on how to tackle the issues, but the first day set him off on the wrong foot.

The tenants he had met with were a little welcoming, but by the time Hector had delved into the situation, their faces took on a stiff expression.

“I merely wish to understand what reasons lie behind your refusal to pay your rents. We have never encountered such issues before,” he stated, hoping he came off as the approachable landlord he had always tried to be.

The tenants exchanged glances for a moment, and Hector was concerned this gathering would yield nothing good.

“The fact that your wife was raised in St. Catherine’s does not bode well for you,” one tenant finally informed Hector. “I do not mean to speak against the Duchess, but she does not appear to fit the position she has occupied.”

“We have all heard the stories of her mother’s passing. Such an illness would be remiss to ignore. I do not believe that your wife is a suitable woman to be the Duchess of Islington,” another said afterwards.

It was all so frustrating and ridiculous. None of these people knew anything about Juliet, yet they judged her as though she had been before their very eyes her entire life.

He had tried not to appear as offended as he felt and instead aimed to appeal to them.

“My wife is of sound health and mind, and she has put a lot of effort into being a fine duchess—which she is. You would watch how you speak about her. That aside, we have long since been in business, so my marriage should not be factored into whatever grievances you might have with me or my way of running things,” he pointed out.

“That is what you might think, Your Grace. But decision to marry such an unpredictable woman shows that you are likely to make even more questionable choices that would have dire consequences for all that depend on you,” the first tenant replied.

No matter what Hector said or did, no one was swayed to believe otherwise.

I am also under the cold glare of their scrutiny.

Hector had initially believed that they thought him untrustworthy solely because of his decision to marry Juliet, but he’d soon learned that they also found fault in who he was as a person.

On the second day, he had met some of his associates involved in the new business he had been trying to grow, and they had expressed concerns over his past that had filled him with dread.

“It is not that we do not trust you,” one of them voiced, uncertainty gleaming in his eyes as he addressed Hector. “It is just that… in as much as we hope that things have changed, we are wise enough to acknowledge that humans are not so easily shifted from their nature. You, Your Grace, have made some dubious personal decisions in the past. Your promiscuous activities have made their way in the form of murmurs and party chatter through nearly every household in London. And recently, you have taken a wife from a nunnery with a dubious history of its own. One cannot help but view it as an action taken to push the narrative that you are trying to make it look as though you have changed. A bid to hide the truth if you will.”

“Your rather adventurous hobbies would not pose a problem had it not been a trait your father also possessed in his youth. Although he eventually did away with such spirited trysts, he seemed to grow into more of an… I beg your pardon… unreliable character towards the end of his life,” a second associate stated with a blank expression. “And he encountered many losses in income along the way.”

“Which I recovered once I took on the title,” Hector felt the need to point out, ignoring the familiar feeling of inferiority settling within his bones.

“Yes, an impressive feat, truly. But what we are worried about is that you might have the same lapse in judgment that led your father to that unsavory position. Except, in your case, our investments would be tied up in the situation as well, making the losses even greater.”

And Hector had no idea what to say to them after that.

For weeks, he had given multiple reassurances and spoken to so many people. He had also asked his solicitors to find the source of the hearsay, but every single time, he seemed to fall short and invariably missed the mark.

There was always something new on their list that made him untrustworthy, something else to serve as the pillow with which they were smothering him.

He ached, both in his body and in his mind, and he longed to go home to Juliet.

In light of how badly he appeared to be failing at his responsibilities, he wondered if he even deserved to face her.

He had promised Lydia that he would care for her. His ability to do so was now at risk with no solution in sight as to how he could avert such a dire crisis.

Comparisons to his father served as a heavier anchor that held him down, reminding him that he did have severe failures to his name.

He had failed to save his mother, was unable to save his sister, and seemingly would fail to provide for his wife; a promise he had made to his sister which also seemed doomed to be compromised.

I cannot face you, Juliet. Not until I can solidify my promise to you that you will have nothing to worry about for the rest of your life.

Perhaps this was a sign of what he had always known. Maybe he wasn’t meant to receive any form of companionship and affection.

This was his fate for daring to be greedy and daring to want.

“Lord Somerton and Lady Anne are here to see you, Your Grace.”

Juliet immediately sat up straighter, eager to have some good company after the fiasco she had to endure two nights ago.

“Bring them in along with some refreshments, please,” she responded.

It was such a relief to her that Lord Somerton and Anne had decided to visit during Hector’s absence. She had expected him to return weeks ago, but it seemed that his urgent business affairs were intent on keeping him away much longer.

“Your Grace,” Lord Somerton greeted in the earnest way he always did as he walked in, followed closely by his lovely sister. “Good afternoon. How are you faring today?”

Juliet fought the urge to spill her disconcerted feelings but forced a smile as she replied, “I am fine, thank you. How are both of you faring?”

“Oh, no differently from last week. Are you sure you are all right, though? Forgive me if I seem a bit too forward, but you look a little distressed.” the Earl responded, frowning slightly.

“Have you not been sleeping well?” Anne fussed gently. “You look a little tired.”

Juliet bit her lower lip, trying not to appear as weak as she felt.

Since Hector’s departure, Juliet was constantly under duress to attend social functions in his absence. She continued to remain intent on convincing people that she had nothing to be ashamed of and no reason to hide. However, her reception at each of those events had been incredibly discouraging and demeaning.

People would sneer, point at her, and whisper about how she was intent on posing as though she was perfect and above them all, even though she was nothing but a nameless nobody who somehow ended up charming the Duke into becoming his wife.

“ Your husband has been away for a while now, Your Grace, ” a woman had said mockingly to her face at the luncheon she attended two days ago. “ Are you certain that you are still married? I jest, but perhaps a closer look at your marriage is required. ”

As much as Juliet wished to ignore and overlook such conversations, she didn’t have the undeniable proof that things were fine between her and Hector.

The beginning of their relationship had been rocky, and although things had started to smooth over before he left, she now worried that the distance between them might once again tear them apart.

“I am just…I worry for Hector. His work seems to be taking quite some time, and I wonder if he is getting enough rest and eating well. There were times when he did not come down to eat for a day here or there and would refuse whatever was brought to his study. Now that he is so far from me, I cannot help but assume the worst,” she said, only half lying.

“I am sure he is doing fine, Your Grace. Especially with someone as wonderful as you are waiting for him at home. I am willing to wager that he cannot wait to return to you,” Anne encouraged with a smile.

“Dear sister, although your sweet words are very kind, I feel as though we should not make assumptions about the Duke.” Somerton shrugged with an apologetic expression.

“What…what do you mean?” Juliet asked nervously.

The man looked concerned for a moment then he sighed and leaned forward slightly.

“Your Grace, I really do not mean to give the impression that I disrespect the Duke. It is because I care for him and you that I feel as though it is only fair that you know this. His Grace…has not been known as a man who settles. He has always had an eye for perfection, wanting everything in his life to be right and good; otherwise, he would cast it aside. The same could be said for his choice of partners during the trysts he engaged in…”

“Edwin!” Anne scolded him in shock. “Why on earth would you bring that up to his wife!”

Juliet held a hand up, silencing Anne quickly.

“No,” the Duchess swallowed hard. “This is something I believe I must hear. Go on, Lord Somerton.”

The Earl flashed a look at his sister, his eyes narrowing for a moment before he continued.

“Again, I do not wish to cause you any distress, Your Grace. I merely wish to prepare your mind in case the worst were to happen. We would like nothing more than to believe that the Duke is committed to you wholly, but old habits cannot easily be suppressed. Considering his decision to stay away from home for this long, we must consider the possibility that his attention and affections have wandered elsewhere. We hope that is not the truth, we truly do, but with all the rumors that are going about…”

“Which are cruel and unfounded, Your Grace. And I am so sorry you have to endure such blasphemy,” Anne interrupted her brother again, looking angrily at him.

“Yes, dear sister. They are cruel, but they possess enough elements of truth for them to be believable,” Somerton said, glaring at his sister, his expression brightening as he turned to Juliet once more. “It is likely that whatever they might be, truths or falsehoods, your husband might have started to rethink his decision to marry you. It would not be the first time that someone of his status and…predilections did not wish to associate with someone they considered to be…flawed. Broken, if you will.”

Juliet could not believe that it was true. She hoped that Lord Somerton’s suppositions were mistaken.

Hector had promised that his work wouldn’t keep him away for too long. Now, they were approaching their fourth week apart, and she had barely heard from him. She had sent many letters, and within the first two weeks, she had received enough correspondence to make her feel as though all was well or at least would be.

It had now been many days since he’d sent her a letter. He had written to the housekeeper to enquire about the state of the household but not to her.

Had he really begun to regret his decision to marry her? Was keeping his promise to his sister not as important as protecting his reputation and honor?

This situation reminded her of her mother’s passing. How everyone had given her looks of pity and suspicion as though they were waiting for her to display the same behaviors her mother had exhibited before her demise. Even her own father did not want her afterwards and had opted to banish her and move on with his life alongside a new and untarnished family.

Was this all I was meant to be? Easily replaceable?

“I do not like this conversation,” Anne said suddenly, ignoring the aggravated sigh her brother expelled. “Let us discuss better things. You attended a luncheon a few days ago. Did it go well?”

Juliet was grateful for Anne’s attempt to shift her thoughts to lighter matters, but it was unfortunate that her choice of topic was another sore spot for the Duchess.

“It went…It was fine. I just wish I had not gone alone. If I receive another invitation, would you be willing to accompany me, Lady Anne? I am probably being a little too greedy, asking you for another favor when you have blessed me so often with your company in the last few weeks …”

“Oh, no, Your Grace! I would be delighted to accompany you. I know exactly how lonely those occasions can be without any friends that you know. The Ton can be rather hostile to newcomers. I would gladly go with you to spare you the pain of enduring their nasty behavior alone.” Anne smiled kindly.

“We are more than happy to have been present to keep you company here, Your Grace,” her brother added. “We understand that these circumstances have not been easy on you. I can only hope the reasons behind the Duke’s absence were honorable.”

With all the worries that were swirling around within Juliet, all she could do was hope for the same.