Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

T he crisp morning air filled Edwin’s lungs as he strolled back to the estate, Ruby trotting happily at his side. The sky above was a perfect pale blue, the kind of clear, cold morning that sharpened the senses and made the world feel new.

For the first time in weeks, he felt lighter—unburdened in a way he hadn’t realized he could be. His thoughts kept drifting back to the night before, to the quiet conversation with Hanna in the drawing room, to the kiss they had shared in the soft glow of the firelight.

It wasn’t just the kiss, though that had been unexpected. It was the way she had listened, the way she had looked at him—not with pity, but with understanding. He had never shared so much about himself with anyone, let alone with her, and it had felt… right. The feel of her warm hand in his, the softness of her voice as she spoke to him—it all stayed with him, replaying in his mind.

He had come to truly care for her now, and that realization filled him with both joy and unease.

Ruby barked once, snapping him out of his reverie. Edwin glanced down, a smile tugging at his lips as the dog pranced ahead, his paws sinking into the frosty earth. It was a simple pleasure, walking in the cold morning light with his loyal companion—it soothed him. The weight of the past few months seemed to ease, if only for a little while.

But with every step back toward the estate, a thought nagged at him, the guilt simmering beneath his newfound contentment. Edwin had kissed his wife, shared a part of himself that no one else had known, and yet… he still hadn’t told her the whole truth about their marriage. He hadn’t told her about the true reason behind his proposal—the deal with her father, the papers that could ruin everything, or the lengths he was willing to go to prove Benjamin’s innocence.

His chest tightened at the thought. How could he tell her now, when they were just beginning to find common ground, perhaps even something deeper?

As he approached the front steps, he spotted Martin waiting by the door. His friend’s sharp eyes landed on him immediately, and he raised a hand in greeting.

Edwin quickened his pace, a sense of comfort washing over him at the sight of his trusted friend.

“Morning, Martin,” he called, giving Ruby a final pat before he darted off toward the stables.

Martin gave a nod, his expression thoughtful. “You’ve been out for some time,” he remarked, his tone light. “Everything alright?”

Edwin smiled slightly. “More than alright, actually.” He motioned toward the door. “Come inside. There’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”

The two men entered the manor, the warmth from the hearth hitting them as they stepped into the foyer. They made their way toward Edwin’s study, a place where they had shared many private conversations over the years.

Edwin felt a flicker of nervousness rise in his chest. He hadn’t intended to confide in anyone about the events of the previous night, but now that Martin was here, he found himself wanting to talk—to seek advice.

Once inside the study, Martin settled into one of the leather chairs by the fire, his gaze steady as Edwin stood near the mantel, staring into the flames for a moment before speaking.

“I kissed her,” Edwin admitted quietly, as if saying the words aloud would somehow change their meaning. He turned to Martin, gauging his reaction.

Martin raised an eyebrow, though his expression remained neutral. “Hanna?”

Edwin nodded. “Last night, after we talked.” He ran a hand through his hair, feeling suddenly restless. “It wasn’t planned. I didn’t expect it, but… it happened.”

Martin leaned back in his chair, studying him carefully. “And how do you feel about it?”

Edwin hesitated. How did he feel about it? There was a warmth in his chest whenever he thought of her, a tenderness that had taken root unexpectedly.

“I care for her,” he said, the words feeling heavier than he had expected. “More than I thought I would. More than I should .”

Martin remained quiet, waiting for him to continue.

“But,” Edwin added, his voice low, “I haven’t told her everything. She doesn’t know the full truth about our marriage—about why I asked for her hand. The arrangement I made with her father… She has no idea.” His hand clenched into a fist at his side. “And now, I don’t know how to tell her.”

Martin was silent for a long moment, his gaze steady, unwavering. “If you care for her,” he said carefully, “then you should tell her the truth. She deserves to know, Edwin.”

“I know,” Edwin sighed in frustration. “But if I tell her everything—if I tell her that our marriage was never about anything other than my plan to clear my brother’s name and that I proposed only for that purpose… What if she never trusts me again?”

Martin sighed, leaning forward slightly. “You cannot build a marriage, especially not a real one, on lies. If you continue to keep this from her, it will only grow between you like a shadow. It will poison everything, even the feelings you’ve both developed.”

Edwin felt the truth of his words, but the fear of losing Hanna, of seeing her trust in him shattered, gnawed at him.

“I want to prove that Benjamin was innocent,” he insisted, his voice tight. “I have to. It’s the only way to honor him, to make things right. And if I tell her everything now, she might not forgive me—she might not help me.”

Martin’s gaze softened, though his voice remained firm. “And you believe that keeping her in the dark is better? That she would thank you for it once she finds out the truth?”

Edwin turned away from him, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. He hadn’t considered that. Not fully.

“Do you love her?” Martin’s question came suddenly, cutting through the haze of his thoughts.

Edwin froze. Love? The word lingered in the air, heavy and dangerous. He had spent so long guarding his heart, building walls around himself to keep from feeling too deeply. But now… now he wasn’t so sure.

“I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice quiet. “But I care for her, deeply. And I… I want her to trust me. I want this marriage to be more than it was meant to be.”

“Then tell her,” Martin said simply. “If you want this to be a true marriage, you must give her the chance to know all of you—the good and the bad. And if she truly cares for you, she might surprise you. She might want to help, even after hearing the truth. Do not forget, her father’s reputation is horrid, and it is known he did not treat his daughters well even at the best of times. She may wish to help you bring him down.”

Edwin clenched his jaw, torn between his desire to protect his wife and his need to prove Benjamin’s innocence. He stared into the fire, the crackling flames mirroring his inner turmoil.

“What if she doesn’t forgive me?” he whispered, voicing his deepest fear.

Martin stood up, placing a hand on his shoulder. “That is a risk you must be willing to take. But if you keep hiding this from her, you’ll lose her for certain. It’s only a matter of time.”

Edwin nodded slowly, the weight of Martin’s words settling heavily on him. He knew what he had to do, but the thought of it made his stomach twist with fear. He had finally begun to open up to Hanna, to share parts of himself that had been buried for years. And now, with the truth threatening to unravel everything, he wasn’t sure if he had the courage to face it.

As Martin left the room, Edwin sank into the chair by the fire, his thoughts a tangled mess. He had kissed her. He cared for her. But the truth… the truth could tear them apart.

And yet, deep down, Edwin knew that Martin was right. He couldn’t keep hiding behind half-truths and silence. If he wanted Hanna to truly be his partner, his equal, he would have to trust her with everything—even the parts of his past that threatened to destroy everything he held dear.

But whether or not she would forgive him… that was a risk he wasn’t sure he was ready to take.

Edwin entered the drawing room, the soft click of the door echoing in the stillness. His eyes fell on Hanna, who was sitting near the fire, her head bent slightly in concentration as she worked a crochet hook through delicate loops of yarn. The golden light of the flames danced over her figure, casting a warm, serene glow about her. When she noticed him, her face lit up with a smile, and she placed her crochet down gently beside her on the chair.

“Good evening,” she greeted him, her tone light and welcoming.

“Good evening,” Edwin replied, a smile tugging at his lips as he crossed the room to join her. He sat down in the chair opposite, his gaze momentarily drawn to the small bundle of yarn and thread beside her. “What are you making?”

Hanna glanced down at the half-finished piece in her lap and smoothed it out with her fingers. “I found some patterns in one of your mother’s old sewing baskets,” she explained. “I thought I might try them. It feels like… a way to connect with her.”

Edwin’s eyebrow rose slightly in surprise, and a fond, bittersweet smile played on his lips.

“My mother loved crocheting,” he said softly. “She always said it helped calm her, especially when she… struggled with her nerves.” His voice grew quieter as he spoke of his mother, and the memory of her delicate fingers working through thread and wool, her eyes focused with determined serenity, came rushing back to him. “Whenever her panic would rise, she’d take up her hook and crochet something. It gave her a sense of control when the world felt too overwhelming.”

Hanna listened closely, her expression gentle and reflective. “I didn’t know that,” she murmured.

Edwin looked at her thoughtfully. “Speaking of your panic—have you had trouble in this regard of late?”

She shook her head. “I haven’t had an attack recently.” She seemed almost surprised by her admission. “It’s strange, really. Given everything that’s happened—the stress, the tension with my father—one would think I would’ve had a few by now.”

Edwin’s heart softened at her words. “I’m glad to hear it,” he said sincerely.

Hanna nodded slowly, a faint smile curving her lips. “Whenever I feel the familiar tightness in my chest, I do as you taught me. Slow, steady breaths… and it passes.” She met his eyes, gratitude shining in them. “Thank you for that, Edwin. Truly.”

Edwin felt a warmth spread through him, not just from her words but from the way she looked at him—appreciatively, earnestly, and with a softness that made him feel more connected to her than he had allowed himself to feel before.

“I’m glad I could be of help,” he replied, his voice quiet but sincere.

For a moment, a comfortable silence fell over the room. The crackling of the fire and the soft ticking of the clock on the mantel filled the air between them. Edwin’s mind was still, for once not clouded with the heavy thoughts of Benjamin, their marriage, or the secrets that loomed over them both. Instead, there was a quiet ease between them, a closeness that felt more natural with every passing day.

Just as the silence began to stretch on, both of them spoke at once.

“About last night—” Hanna began.

“I’ve been meaning to talk about—” Edwin said at the same time.

They both paused, wide-eyed, before bursting into laughter, the kind that felt light and unburdened. Edwin couldn’t help but smile at the way Hanna’s face lit up with mirth, and she covered her mouth, still smiling as she motioned for him to continue.

“No, you go first,” she offered, a playful glint in her eyes.

Edwin shook his head slightly. “No, please. Ladies first.”

Hanna hesitated for a moment, her fingers toying with the crochet pattern in her lap as if drawing strength from the familiar motions. Then, she lifted her eyes to his, her expression growing a touch more serious but still soft.

“I just wanted to say… about the kiss,” she began, her voice gentle. “I’m grateful for it. It was my first, and I’m glad that, despite everything—despite how we came to be in this marriage—it was with you.”

Edwin’s breath caught for a moment. He hadn’t known it was her first kiss, and the realization filled him with an unexpected tenderness. He swallowed, trying to find the right words.

“I didn’t know that it was your first kiss,” he said quietly.

Hanna’s cheeks pinkened slightly, but she held his gaze. “It was,” she confirmed, her voice steady. “And it felt… right. Even though our marriage wasn’t founded on love or affection, it’s not something I regret.”

Edwin felt something stir deep within him, a mix of tenderness and guilt. She had opened up to him, and yet he still hid so much from her. But before he could dwell on that for too long, he found himself speaking again.

“I must say, this is the first time I’ve kissed a lady with such passion and affection,” he admitted, surprising himself with his words.

Hanna blinked in surprise. “You… you mean you never kissed—” She broke off, looking at him with wide eyes.

Edwin chuckled softly. “That is not what I meant. I have, of course. But what I meant was that I never felt such a connection to the person I was kissing. As you know, I grew up a second son, so most connections I had were fleeting. Women who had their caps set for the titled brother but wanted a flicker of excitement in their lives were the ones who were drawn to me. I happily obliged, but there was never any true connection.”

“You never courted?” Hanna asked.

“I would say I had dalliances, not romances. I was young and foolish and looking for…” Edwin trailed off, his jaw tightening slightly. “By the time I seriously started considering my future, Benjamin had died. His death left such a stain on our family name that no one wanted to be near me. And of course, the rumors—that I had killed him—didn’t help.”

Hanna’s eyes softened, her hand instinctively reaching for his, though she stopped short of actually touching him. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t realize…”

Edwin shook his head slightly, his eyes distant as he stared into the fire. “It’s not something I like to talk about. Benjamin… he was the better of us. Everyone loved him. He was charming, kind, always the center of attention. And then, when he died, people were quick to believe the worst. No one questioned the lies.”

He clenched his jaw, the weight of those old memories pressing down on him again.

As the fire crackled softly in the hearth, its warm glow casting flickering shadows over the room, Edwin sat in silence, his heart heavy with the truth he was about to confess. He had to tell Hanna. After everything they had shared, after the unexpected kiss and the closeness they had begun to feel, he could no longer keep the secret buried. The weight of it was becoming unbearable, and though he had been torn for days, Martin’s advice lingered in his mind— if you care for her, then you should tell her the truth .

His gaze turned to Hanna. She was sitting across from him, still, her hands resting on her lap, her delicate features softened by the soft firelight. He had never intended to care for her this much. But now, looking at her, the truth felt like a jagged stone lodged in his throat.

Just as he opened his mouth to confess, Hanna spoke again, her voice soft but steady.

“I'm grateful to be married to you,” she said, her eyes meeting his with sincerity. “I know I feared you when this all began. I feared that you were like my father—or worse, that you would be cold and unkind.” She paused, furrowing her brow slightly as if gathering her thoughts. “But now, I know you are honorable and good. You have shown me kindness, more than I expected, and you saved me from a future I dreaded.”

Edwin felt his heart clench, his guilt growing heavier.

Please, don’t say more . Let me tell you the truth before this goes any further.

But Hanna wasn’t finished. She looked down at her hands, her voice taking on a more somber tone. “Before we got married, I was so afraid that my father would marry me off to one of his horrid friends. He could have, you know—he had no intention of letting me choose for myself. He would have sold me off to the highest bidder, someone he could control.” Her lips thinned, a bitter edge to her voice now. “His friends are just as corrupt as he is. They lie, cheat, and deceive to further their own agendas. I would never have been happy with any of them.”

Edwin’s breath caught. The moment she spoke of her father’s friends, a sudden chill ran down his spine. He hesitated, unsure if he should press her further, but he needed to know what she meant.

Cautiously, he asked, “What do you mean by that? His friends—what kind of men are they?”

Hanna’s expression hardened, her disgust for her father clear. “They are liars, Edwin. Duplicitous men who will do anything to line their own pockets. They surround themselves with deceit, using falsehoods to climb higher, to better their positions in Society. My father is no different. His reputation is far from impeccable, but behind closed doors, he is a schemer. I feared for so long that he would marry me off to someone like that. It would have been unbearable.”

She paused for a moment, her eyes meeting his with raw honesty. “When he arranged our marriage, I was terrified. But now… I’m grateful. I didn’t know what to expect, but I see now that you are nothing like those men. You have integrity, Edwin. You are good.”

Edwin felt his chest tighten, guilt twisting inside him like a blade. Her words were a knife to his conscience, the weight of his deception pressing down on him harder than ever. Good, she had called him. Honorable. But how could he be either of those things when their marriage was built on a lie?

He opened his mouth to stop her, to finally confess, but she spoke again, this time with a more hesitant tone, as if wrestling with something inwardly.

“There’s something I must tell you,” she said, her voice quieter now, almost fragile.

She looked away from him, her fingers nervously fiddling with the fabric of her dress.

Edwin felt the air leave his lungs as a cold sweat prickled the back of his neck. Whatever she was about to say, it seemed heavy. His own confession hung on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed it, unsure now. Instead, he braced himself for her revelation.

“Go on,” he urged softly, his heart pounding in his chest.

He could feel the air in the room shift, the quiet space between them thickening with unspoken truths.

Hanna took a deep breath, clearly unsure how to continue. “There’s something you don’t know,” she began, her voice steady despite the weight of her words. “When we left my father’s house after the last visit, I argued with him for a reason. The ledger he showed you was not accurate. He had it cleaned up properly before you looked at it to make it appear as though he was successful. He has hidden away all of the documents showing that he is a terrible fraud when it comes to his businesses.” She swallowed, her gaze flickering to his before darting away again. “He wants to make himself look better in your eyes, but that is deceptive. I told him he could not. That is why we argued.”

Papers .

Edwin’s mind raced. He’d known something was wrong with those ledgers. Did she have information—evidence—about her father’s dealings? Could this be the key to clearing Benjamin’s name?

“What kind of documents has he hidden?” he asked, careful to keep his voice even, though his heart was thundering in his chest.

Hanna hesitated, clearly torn. “Correspondence. Documents about his business dealings. Receipts and letters from his business partners about the losses they suffered over the years. He will only show you the side of his business that is successful, now that you are partners.”

A cold, heavy silence filled the room. Edwin sat back, his mind reeling. The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place—the secrets her father had been hiding, the underhanded dealings, and most importantly, how it was all connected to Benjamin. If the Earl of Worcester lied and deceived others, then it was no wonder Benjamin had fallen for his lies. If he’d shown Benjamin the same ledgers, he’d have looked like a success, and Benjamin, who could be gullible at times, might have thought him the successful man he had been in the past.

Edwin’s throat went dry, his mind whirling with the implications of what Hanna had just told him. He had entered into this marriage for information, for clues that would clear his brother’s name—and now his wife had unknowingly laid it all at his feet.

But how could he ask for those papers now, knowing what she thought of him? She trusted him, believed him to be honorable. How could he destroy that trust with the truth?

His mouth went dry, and he forced himself to speak, his voice rough. “Hanna… thank you for telling me this. I… I wondered about the ledgers he showed me. They seemed too pristine. Do you think I am the first he showed them to?”

He did not want to reveal the full truth about Benjamin just yet, but he had to find some way to use this to his advantage.

Hanna looked at him, her expression full of turmoil and uncertainty. “I… I do not know. I know my father has long done all he could to hide his failures. And I know he has had successes as well. He would not have had the opportunity to work with others if he had been considered merely a profligate.”

Indeed, that was true. Worcester’s reputation when it came to business was multifold. In his youth, he had been quite successful with a number of businesses, but after his wife’s death, that had changed. He’d come to be known as a man of shattered fortunes, but even at his worst, he sometimes succeeded—or so it seemed.

“Hanna… I wondered if you might be able to help me take a look at these documents. We are partners now, and I want to make sure that this partnership does not unravel before it begins and does not drag us down with him should there be old debts or things I am unaware of,” Edwin said.

That wasn’t a lie, he had to know. However, what he really hoped was to find documentation that proved her father had been involved in Benjamin’s downfall—that among the documents she had mentioned lay the evidence he needed to redeem his brother.

Hanna paused for a moment, her fingers tangled in her skirt’s material. Then, she raised her eyes to his and nodded. “I can. I can help you. You are my husband, and I want you to succeed—and a man like my father should never bring down an honorable man with his lies.”

Edwin’s heart lurched. The moment was here. He could tell her the truth about why he had asked for her hand, or he could continue with the lie and use the information she had given him to finally bring down her father and exonerate Benjamin.

He opened his mouth, ready to confess the full truth, but when he spoke again and his voice filled the space between them, the words that came out were not those his heart had wished to say, but those his mind had desired to express.

“Thank you, I would be grateful for your help. If anyone can get the documents I require, it is you.”

“Of course. I am your wife after all, and husbands and wives must stick together. After all, we had meant to be one another’s helpmates,” she said with a smile.

Edwin gulped and nodded, ashamed that he had not told her the truth and even more ashamed that he hadn’t been able to stop himself from using her.