Chapter 27

Chapter Twenty-Seven

C atherine and Beatrice's presence was deeply appreciated by Aurelia, who didn't know she needed them close until they had arrived.

But in the end they couldn't stay with her forever. They also had families and husbands to whom they had to return.

The house seemed larger and hollower without the chatter of her friends, but it was not only their absence that weighed on her heart. Her father's recent visits had left her more distressed than ever.

When Lord Keldbrooke had first arrived, only hours after her friends had left, Aurelia had hoped he had come to apologize. However, their meeting quickly devolved into the same wretched conversation she had previously endured.

He had asked her again if she had made up her mind about stealing from Philip.

Aurelia had been appalled. "You cannot be serious," she had said, rising from her seat with disbelief.

Her father had been undeterred and had moved closer to her, lowering his voice to a threatening whisper. "You had best make up your mind, Aurelia. The next time I come, I expect an answer."

That was two days ago. Each day thereafter he had returned, demanding an audience. Aurelia had instructed the maids and footmen to refuse him entry, but Lord Keldbrooke was relentless. He waited outside the house like a phantom, a constant reminder of the turmoil she was trying so hard to escape.

Today, however, Aurelia decided to meet with him. She could no longer bear the thought of him lurking outside the house; his presence was like an itch she was desperate to be rid of.

When the butler announced his arrival, she decided that their meeting would take place outside the house. She needed distance, both physically and emotionally.

As she stepped out she saw her father pacing at the gate, his agitation clear even from afar. Aurelia approached him slowly, her back straight and her heart heavy with dread.

"Aurelia," Lord Keldbrooke called out as soon as he saw her. His voice was soft, almost coaxing, but there was a sharpness to it that she couldn't ignore.

She stopped a safe distance from him, her eyes narrowing. "What do you want, Father?" Her voice was calm but beneath the surface she was trembling with frustration.

"I want you to think about what I have said," he replied, stepping closer, though not close enough to bridge the gap she'd intentionally maintained.

"I am trying to look out for you, can you not see that? Philip does not care about you. If he did, he would be here right now, would he not?"

Aurelia's hands clenched into fists. "He is not here because I pushed him away, not because he does not care," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But you would not understand that, would you?"

Her father scoffed. "And whose fault is that? You allowed yourself to fall into his trap, but it is not too late, Aurelia. You can still get something out of this marriage if you do as I say…"

"Enough!" Aurelia interrupted, her eyes blazing with anger. "I will do no such thing. I want nothing to do with your schemes! Nothing to do with you!" Her voice cracked at the end and she cursed herself for showing weakness in front of him.

But how could she not? How could she pretend she wasn't heartbroken by the realization of who her father truly was?

Lord Keldbrooke's face twisted with anger and he took a step forward. "Do not dare to speak to me like that!" he hissed. "After everything I have done for you, after all the sacrifices I made…"

"You call betrayal and deceit sacrifices?" Aurelia snapped back, her voice shaking. "I have been nothing but a good daughter to you, and this…this is how you repay me? By asking me to betray my husband?"

"He is not your husband," Lord Keldbrooke spat. "He is just a man who is using you. When he is done Philip will cast you aside like you are nothing! I am the only one who has ever truly looked out for you."

"You, Father , are wrong," Aurelia countered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Philip was right about you and I was too blind to see it, but I see you now. I see who you truly are and I want nothing more to do with you."

Lord Keldbrooke's face contorted with rage and before Aurelia could react he lunged at her, his hand raised to strike her.

She gasped and stepped back, but the footmen who had been watching nearby were quicker. They grabbed Lord Keldbrooke, pulling him away from her before he could injure her.

"Get your hands off me!" he bellowed, struggling against the men. "You ungrateful little…"

"Take him away," Aurelia said, her voice shaky but determined.

She couldn't bear to look at him anymore. The man before her was not the father she had once loved. He was nothing but a monster.

The footmen dragged Lord Keldbrooke away, his curses fading as he was thrown off the premises.

Aurelia stood there breathing heavily, her heart pounding in her chest. She had never seen her father so enraged, so desperate. All she now felt was a deep, aching sadness.

Unbeknownst to her, the entire exchange had been witnessed by John, who watched in silence, absorbing every detail before quietly slipping away.

Aurelia turned back toward the house, her legs trembling. As she walked inside, the weight of the confrontation pressed down on her heavier than ever. She had severed ties with the last remaining piece of her old life, and now all that was left was the broken shards of her marriage.

Would Philip ever forgive her? Could she ever forgive herself?

Philip sat hunched over in his study, surrounded by the oppressive silence that had become his only companion since Aurelia's departure.

The thick, dark walls of the room were closing in on him, mirroring the heaviness in his heart. He stared unseeing at the stack of documents scattered across his desk, their inky words swirling into incomprehensible shapes. Sleep eluded him; a distant memory overshadowed by the haunting scent of Aurelia which lingered in the air, filling the spaces where she had once resided.

Damn her!

He ground his fists roughly into his tired eyes. Every effort to concentrate was thwarted by thoughts of her smile, her voice and the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed.

Sighing heavily, he forced himself to focus, but it was futile. The weight of his anguish made it impossible to absorb a single word.

Mr. Wimbledon knocked and entered, his face taut with concern. "Your Grace, you have a guest."

Philip looked up, his heartbeat quickening in anticipation. "Who is it?"

"Mr. John Smith, Your Grace. He has urgent news regarding Lord Keldbrooke."

With a wave of his hand, Philip acknowledged Mr. Wimbledon and waited impatiently for John to enter.

The door swung open revealing John, who looked visibly shaken.

"John," Philip said, his voice a low rumble. "What has happened?"

John stepped forward, his expression grim. "Your Grace, I have returned to Oakdale post haste to report on Lord Keldbrooke's conduct. He sought out Her Grace and…"

Philip's heart raced as he leaned forward, bracing himself. "What did he do?"

"He was violent, Your Grace," John replied, his voice tense. "He nearly struck her, but the footmen intervened just in time."

A chill ran down Philip's spine and he froze, his mind racing through the implications. After a moment he returned to himself, fury and concern battling within him.

"Fetch Mrs. Jarrow," he commanded. "I need to leave for London at once."

"Your Grace, you cannot go in your state," John replied, urgency creeping into his tone. "You are not fit to ride. You look as though you have not slept since Her Grace left."

"I cannot sit idly by while he terrorizes her," Philip insisted, his jaw tightening.

"Rest, Your Grace," John urged. "Her Grace is not in any immediate danger. If you ride now, you will only weaken yourself and be of no use to her."

The fight drained from Philip and he slumped back in his chair, his frustration boiling over. "Very well," he relented, though the anguish in his heart was palpable. "I will rest."

Philip mounted his horse as the dawn broke over the horizon. He wished he could blink and immediately appear by Aurelia's side.

In Bridget House, Eilidh entered Aurelia's chamber, breakfast tray in hand, her eyebrows knitted with worry. "Your Grace, I have brought your breakfast," she said, setting the tray down gently.

Aurelia barely acknowledged her, staring blankly out the window, the sun shining on her in a warm embrace that she could not feel.

Eilidh frowned, glancing at the untouched plate. "You should eat, Your Grace. It will do you good."

Aurelia turned to her, her eyes shadowed with grief. "I have no appetite, Eilidh."

"You must take care of yourself. I have heard there is a lovely park nearby," Eilidh suggested gently. "A stroll in the fresh air might do you some good."

"I do not wish to," Aurelia replied, her voice flat.

"Please, Your Grace," Eilidh pleaded. "Just a little fresh air?"

With a heavy sigh, Aurelia relented. "Very well. A brief stroll, but only to appease you."

Eilidh brightened, helping Aurelia into a cloak before they stepped outside. The chill of the morning air was refreshing, yet it did little to lift Aurelia's spirits. They walked slowly, the sounds of the city echoing around them, but the beauty of the day felt distant and unattainable.

A familiar voice suddenly sliced through the air, jagged and harsh. "Aurelia! I demand that you speak with me!"

Aurelia's heart sank as she turned to see Lord Keldbrooke striding toward them, his demeanor menacing.

Eilidh instinctively stepped in front of Aurelia, her expression fierce. "You will not speak to her like that, My Lord! She does not wish to see you."

"Step aside, girl," Lord Keldbrooke snapped, his eyes flashing with fury. "This is between me and my daughter."

Aurelia felt fear crawl up her spine as she took a step back, trying to distance herself from the brewing storm. "Father, please," she said softly. "I do not want to argue with you."

"Too late for that!" Lord Keldbrooke's voice rose, attracting the attention of passersby. "Do you not understand that you are being manipulated? Your husband has turned you against me!"

Aurelia shook her head, her heart racing. "Philip did not manipulate me, you did!"

Lord Keldbrooke's expression twisted and he moved closer, his voice low and menacing. "You defend that scoundrel? He is the reason you are suffering. You should be with your family!"

Just then a horse galloped toward them in the distance. It was Philip.

Aurelia's heart leaped in her chest.

"Step away from her," Philip commanded, his voice firm.

Lord Keldbrooke's eyes narrowed and he took a menacing step forward, his fists clenching at his sides. "So…the Duke comes to protect his precious wife, does he? You are the one who has driven her to this madness!"

"Enough!" Philip shouted, a fierce edge to his voice. "Leave while I am still being pleasant, Keldbrooke."

In a sudden fit of rage, Lord Keldbrooke pulled a pistol from his coat, aiming it squarely at him. "I will take you down the same way I took down your brother!" he snarled, venom dripping from his words.

Aurelia gasped, instinctively stepping in front of Philip. "Father, please! Lower your weapon!"

Philip reached for Aurelia's arm, trying to pull her back. "Step away, Aurelia!" he commanded, but she stood her ground, her heart racing.

"Why are you defending him?" Lord Keldbrooke spat, incredulous. "He is our enemy!"

"Philip is my husband, not my enemy. I love him!" Aurelia cried out, her voice trembling.

The declaration hung in the air, heavy with tension.

Lord Keldbrooke hesitated, his grip on the pistol loosening as he looked from his daughter to Philip, realization dawning in his eyes.

"Love?" he scoffed. "You love this man?"

"Yes!" Aurelia cried, her heart racing. "I will not let you hurt him!"

Lord Keldbrooke's expression darkened and he tightened his grip on the pistol once again, his eyes blazing. "Then you will pay for this, Aurelia. I will kill you unless he returns what he has taken from me, including you, my dear."

"You will do no such thing!" she screamed, her voice breaking with fear and anger.

"Watch me!"

Lord Keldbrooke's face twisted in fury and without hesitation he pulled the trigger.

However, instead of the sharp blast of gunpowder there was only silence.

He frantically pulled the trigger again, but the pistol refused to fire.

"What is this?" he snarled, striking the weapon in disbelief, his fury mounting as it failed to release the deadly shot he so desperately wanted.

Philip stepped forward, a grim smile playing on his lips. "That, Keldbrooke, is the end of your vile schemes."

Lord Keldbrooke's eyes widened in shock, and his grip on the pistol tightened. "What have you done?"

Philip crossed his arms over his chest, his voice calm yet laced with satisfaction. "I had my trusty aide John follow you after your visit to Aurelia yesterday. I knew you could not be trusted and I knew you would try something reckless. I instructed him to remove the bullets from every weapon in your townhouse."

Lord Keldbrooke's face turned crimson, his hands shaking with rage as he stared at the useless pistol. He looked up at Aurelia, but what he saw in her tear-filled eyes cut him deeper than any weapon could.

"You were truly going to kill me," Aurelia whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief and sorrow. "Your own child."

For a moment Lord Keldbrooke faltered. His hand lowered, his face softening as he took in the full weight of what he had just tried to do. But pride and anger quickly took hold once more, and his mouth twisted into a sneer.

"I was doing what I had to…"

"No!" Aurelia cut him off, shaking her head as tears slipped down her cheeks. "You were trying to save yourself. You never cared about me. You only cared about what I could do for you, how you could use me to get what you wanted." Her voice broke, raw and pained. "I am done with you. I never want to see you again."

Lord Keldbrooke opened his mouth but before he could speak, Philip moved in front of Aurelia, his jaw set with steely resolve. "You have wreaked enough havoc, Keldbrooke."

The older man glared at him, his pride wounded and his fury blazing, but before he could lash out further, Philip's fist shot forward in a swift, powerful motion. The punch landed squarely on Lord Keldbrooke's jaw with a sickening crack and he stumbled backwards, collapsing to the ground.

Philip stood over him, his voice calm but deadly. "I have collected every piece of evidence I need. The authorities will receive it all. You will spend the rest of your life in prison and there will be no escape."

As if summoned by Philip's words, the constables appeared at the edge of the park, striding forward with determined steps.

They seized Lord Keldbrooke, pulling him roughly to his feet as he cursed and spat in protest, but there was no more fight left in him. The totality of his ruin was clear in his wild, desperate eyes.

Aurelia stood frozen, her heart racing as she watched the father she once revered being dragged away in shackles. Tears continued streaming down her face and her whole body shook fiercely with emotion.

When Philip turned back to her the sternness faded from his face and was replaced with something softer and more tender. He stepped toward her slowly and uncertainly, his own flurry of emotions heavy in his heart.

"Philip," Aurelia said, her voice thick with regret. "I am so sorry. I should have trusted you from the beginning." She wiped at her tears, struggling to find her voice through her grief. "I…I did not know what to believe, Philip. I was so confused, but I now see everything so clearly. My father…he was never the man I believed him to be." She looked down, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And I lost you because of that."

Philip reached for her hands, holding them gently in his own. "You never lost me, Aurelia. I was a fool, blinded by my pain and my suspicions, but I never stopped loving you, not for a single moment."

Her heart leaped at his words and she met his gaze, searching his eyes for the truth. The love, longing and regret that shone in his eyes was undeniable. It was all laid bare before her and it made her heart ache.

"I love you, Aurelia," he said, his voice breaking with the depth of his feelings. "I always have and I always will. Can you ever forgive me for those terrible things I said to you?"

Aurelia's breath hitched, her heart swelling as his words washed over her. She squeezed his hands, stepping closer until they were toe to toe.

"There is nothing to forgive," she whispered. "I love you too, Philip."

A sob caught in her throat and she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest as the weight of everything that had passed between them began to dissolve.

Philip held her tightly, his heart pounding with relief and joy as he pressed his lips to the top of her head.

"I was so afraid I had lost you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

"You will never lose me," she whispered back, lifting her face to meet his gaze. "I am yours, Philip. Always."