Chapter 15

"Congratulations, Your Grace." A few ladies smiled and bowed respectfully as they walked past him.

William stood tall and dignified at the center of the ballroom, flanked by his sisters and his mother. As friends and acquaintances approached to offer their congratulations on the announcement of his engagement party, he accepted their well-wishes with a polite nod and a gracious smile, all the while struggling to shake off the unease that gnawed at him.

As he exchanged pleasantries with the guests, his gaze drifted across the ballroom, his eyes searching for a familiar figure amidst the sea of faces. But try as he might, he could not find her, and a pang of regret tugged at his heart.

Beside him, he could hear her sisters chattering as usual.

Juliet leaned in, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Did you see Lady Pembroke's gown? Absolutely dreadful, if you ask me."

Marina rolled her eyes. "Oh, do hush, Juliet. Enough of your judgment."

Sarah chimed in, "I thought it was rather daring, actually. Quite refreshing amidst all the usual pomp and frills."

Their voices blended together in a symphony of sisterly camaraderie, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter and playful teasing. But amid their lighthearted banter, William's attention remained fixed on the other side of the ballroom, where the Arnold family stood, deep in conversation.

"Look, there's Lady Pembroke's eldest," Marina whispered, nudging Sarah with her elbow. "I do believe he's eyeing you, Sarah."

Juliet shook her head in amusement. "Honestly, Marina, must you always play matchmaker?"

Sarah flashed her sisters a good-natured smile. "I'm quite capable of handling my own affairs, thank you very much."

William tuned them out as soon as his eyes landed on Esther, who stood near the flower arrangements. It seemed like she was trying to be as invisible as possible, which was rather new to him when it came to her naturally visible nature.

With a heavy sigh, he tore his gaze away, suppressing the urge to approach her.

For now, he would bide his time, content to watch from afar as the evening's festivities unfolded. But deep within his heart, he knew this was the end. He clenched his hands to release some of the tension, but it was not enough.

As per the customary procession, the Arnold family gracefully navigated the crowded ballroom, making their way towards the assembled guests. Esther, her demeanor a delicate mix of poise and trepidation, looked every bit the epitome of elegance in her attire. Her gown, a vision in pale bluish-grey, clung to her form with a subtle grace, accentuating every curve and movement with ethereal allure.

William felt his heart sink at her sight. He would have no right to watch her like this after tonight, so he allowed his gaze to linger on her beauty. He tried to remember every detail of her face, committing it to memory to access during moments he missed her unbearably.

But as Lord Seymour extended a cordial greeting, William's reverie was abruptly shattered, and he forced himself to tear his gaze away. Suppressing the tumult of emotions roiling within him, he mustered a polite smile and returned the greeting.

"How do you do, Lord Seymour?" he said with controlled politeness, unable to inject any warmth in his voice against the ache in his heart.

Adam Arnold seemed to have become just as reserved as William, which only added to the suffocation.

As William moved to approach Esther, his steps faltered when he noticed her distant demeanor. She seemed lost in thought, her hands fidgeting nervously at her sides. Harriet hovered nearby and seemed to be whispering something encouragingly.

Caught between the desire to reach out to Esther and the uncertainty of her current state of mind, William hesitated. But he knew better than to make this even more difficult for himself.

"Good evening, Lady Esther," he spoke against the lively chatter in the ballroom. "I hope you're enjoying the festivities."

Esther returned his greeting with a polite nod, her gaze momentarily meeting his before flitting away. "Good evening, Your Grace. It's quite lovely."

The curt and short response was a dull blade piercing his heart.

"You seem a bit preoccupied," he added uncomfortably, trying to read her past the dark clouds that seemed to surround her.

"Oh, it's nothing," Esther murmured as she toyed with the delicate fabric of her gown, giving him a forced smile. "Just lost in thought."

But William wasn't convinced. He studied her intently for a moment and noticed how her eyes subtly scanned the room, as if looking for someone. That assumption alone set fire to his bones that he could only interpret as jealousy.

"Are you worried about something?" he asked as kindly as he could, though he had half a mind to stand before her and shield her from anyone who wasn't him. He knew he was being unreasonable.

Esther's breath caught in her throat at his words, her eyes widening in surprise. She hesitated for a moment before shaking her head.

"No, not at all," she said quickly and slightly defensively, though the quiver in her voice betrayed her true emotions. "I'm not… attached if that's what you're implying."

"Oh." He looked away, slightly embarrassed. "My apologies, that is not what I meant."

He said that as if some part of him hoped that Esther would just look him in the eye and tell him that this meant more to her. Wishful thinking. He simply would not dwell on it.

"Of course not," she replied sourly. "My mistake."

"What? Lady Esther, no." He sighed somewhat exasperatedly, and he noticed Harriet taking it as her cue to leave them be. The two stood before each other awkwardly as he racked his brain for something to say. "I apologize for how harsh I was the last time we met. I could've been kind in my reminder."

She shook her head. "I let myself get carried away. Now I wonder why."

"I assumed you were managing your expectations," he said a little nervously. "If there was anything on my part that led you to assume?—"

"I'm not sure anymore," she cut him off sharply. "I'm still wondering why I felt that perhaps your praise for me was genuine."

"It was, Esther," he whispered sadly as his fingertips brushed against hers comfortingly. "I only say what I truly think of you. But otherwise, anything else was only to facilitate our agreement."

She nodded subduedly. "You're a surprisingly good actor for someone with no interest in theater, though. You had me believing that you might want to marry me."

Truth be told, I nearly convinced myself as well.

But William was aware deep down how badly he wished to keep her near for as long as he could.

"For someone who likes theater, I thought you'd know when I was simply playing the part," he said sadly, though he attempted to inject some humor in his tone. "Lady Esther, I would never want to hurt you. Not on purpose, at least, although pain and conflict is inevitable within any dynamic."

"Then what was your intention?" she asked quietly.

When he spoke, it felt like a lie. "To uphold my duties. You know that."

No, it's because I'm a coward. I'm doing the one thing she's constantly asked me to challenge, hence she deserves better than me.

But William didn't want anyone to be better than him for her. The thought of Esther dancing, laughing, and kissing someone else other than him made him feel sick. Literally.

Before Esther could retort, she was interrupted by the arrival of a tall, slim man. William's expression remained composed as he turned to greet the newcomer.

"Lord Paddington," he acknowledged, giving the man a polite nod. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"

Richard Dowding smiled courteously, though there was a subtle brazenness to his demeanor that did not go unnoticed. "I simply came to inquire about your well-being," he replied smoothly, his eyes lingering on Esther for a moment longer than necessary.

William was suddenly overtaken by the urge to stick his fingers into Richard's eyes, but the man turned away from Esther to address him directly.

"How goes your business? I've heard whispers of retreating business partners."

William noticed Esther walk away and reach for Lady Linfield's arm, and he was close to simply ignoring Richard and going after her. Then again, he didn't want to accidentally mislead her by doing so, and he wanted to avoid hurting her more than he'd already had.

"There have been no definitive answers yet," he said curtly. "Either way, I'm not too concerned. My business will fare well regardless."

"I feel relieved for you."

William only nodded as he watched Harriet take Esther far away from the bustling crowd.

"Shall I be allowed to ask your sister, Lady Juliet, for a dance?" Lord Paddington asked.

William nodded. "Please, do not wait on my account."

As Richard moved towards Juliet, William noticed he glanced at Esther once more, who was now out in the entrance hall. He wondered why Richard, while asking to dance with his sister, looked at Esther so intently with a strange darkness in his eyes. It annoyed him.

William made his way past the throngs of people to Esther and shielded her from Richard's view.

"Esther," he asked, "why did you run off like that?"

"Your Grace, I apologize," Harriet interjected softly, "but I must ask you to give Esther a little privacy. We'll only be a moment."

His confusion deepened as Esther suddenly darted away from him, leaving him standing there with a furrowed brow and a sense of bewilderment.

Before he could gather his thoughts, Harriet's voice cut through the air. "On another note, you should consider your sisters' partners more wisely."

The weight of her words settled heavily upon him, and for the first time, William sensed a ripple of tension between them. Harriet's usually warm demeanor had taken on an icy edge, though he understood it was out of defensiveness and not entirely directed at him.

"I don't understand." He searched her eyes for answers. "Speak freely, Lady Linfield, especially if this is a matter of safety."

But Harriet merely offered him a tight-lipped nod before she turned away, leaving him to grapple with the unsettling feeling that something significant had just shifted between them.

Richard brought Juliet back to William, shooting her a bright smile. "It's always a pleasure to dance with you," he said. "Our conversations make it all the more enjoyable."

"Likewise. Your humor is incomparable." Juliet giggled.

William almost chided her for being so easily impressed. He held his tongue though, questioning why he was suddenly feeling the need to discourage her. Perhaps it was the sudden concern he felt for his sisters' well-being after what Harriet had said.

Richard excused himself and disappeared into the lively throng of guests. William watched him go before turning his attention back to Juliet

"Juliet, I must ask a favor of you," he whispered.

"Sure, but why are we whispering?"

He gave her a stern look as she muffled her giggle with her hand and apologized.

He sighed and continued. "Please refrain from accepting any further dance invitations for the remainder of the evening. It's imperative."

"All right, Brother," she replied somberly. "There must be good reason for you to want this, but can I know of it?"

"If I figure it out, then I'll tell you."

"Ooh." She clasped her hands conspiratorially. "Are we embroiled in a mystery?"

"Honestly, Juliet," he groaned in annoyance. "Off with you now. Go find our sisters."

William watched as she chuckled and melted back into the crowd. Turning his attention elsewhere, he scanned the room in search of Harriet, hoping to glean some more insight into Esther's sudden departure. His mind was not clear, and he could not hold any conversations… he just had to know if Esther was all right.

It wasn't long before Harriet returned, her expression guarded as she approached him. William wasted no time in addressing her.

"I know I'm overstepping, but is she all right?" he pressed. "I won't bother her. I just have to know."

Harriet's lips pressed into a thin line, her gaze flickering with a mix of emotions he couldn't place. "She didn't offer any explanation, and I don't think I should assume anything either."

"Thank you," he said, his voice tinged with urgency as he turned to leave. "I must find her."

"Your Grace, no!"

William ignored her and strode purposefully through the crowd, but a firm hand suddenly gripped his shoulder, halting his progress. His initial reaction was one of irritation, and he turned to confront whoever had dared to stop him. However, he calmed down upon recognizing Duncan's familiar face.

"Duncan," he said while catching his breath. "What is it? Can it wait? I'm in the midst of something urgent."

"I'm afraid not," Duncan replied in a low and urgent voice. "We need to talk."

Despite his preoccupation with finding Esther, William recognized the gravity in his friend's demeanor and nodded.

"Very well," he conceded, his tone serious as he gestured for him to lead the way.

Together they found a quieter corner in the ballroom where they could converse without being interrupted. Away from prying eyes and ears, Duncan wasted no time in broaching the subject of concern.

"I've heard troubling rumors circulating about Lady Esther once more," he began, his tone laced with concern. "It's ridiculous how fast and sudden they have spread tonight. I also have to update you on my findings."

"Go one, then."

"It appears that the rumors originated from a rather dubious source—a disgruntled former acquaintance of Lady Esther's."

A surge of indignation washed over William at the notion of someone deliberately spreading falsehoods to tarnish Esther's reputation.

"Who?" he demanded, his voice edged with frustration.

Duncan hesitated for a moment, as if deliberating whether to divulge the culprit's identity. However, recognizing the gravity of the situation, he relented.

"Richard Dowding," he said heavily with disappointment. "One of my close friends. I… I'm quite shaken."

"The Baron Paddington?" William clenched his fists.

Duncan nodded gravely. "He was one of her enthusiastic suitors. I mean, I knew this, of course. We both had tried our hand at courting her, and he claimed to have been making some progress before his interest in her suddenly stopped about a month into his attempts. I didn't think much of it back then."

This angered William. Richard Dowding, a man he had once considered a suitable match and a fine gentleman, turned out to be the orchestrator of a malicious campaign against Esther.

"I can't believe he would stoop so low. But why?"

"I'm not sure," Duncan said as he rubbed his chin. "This isn't the Richard I know, William. Then again, I'm beginning to wonder if I ever really knew him at all. He was gone for so long, and we only communicated through monthly letters."

William nodded, his mind racing with thoughts of how to address the betrayal. "I can't allow Lord Paddington's lies to tarnish Esther's reputation any further."

"I saw him walk upstairs, William. If you want?—"

"No." William felt anger surge inside him, yet his words came out cold as ice. "Stay here."

He rounded the hall to avoid any more obstacles and marched past the doors, leaving behind the frivolous party. As he ascended the staircase, his steps quickened with purpose.

The grandeur of the mansion's upper floors seemed to close in on him, casting long shadows that whispered more and more false accusations. A small, uncertain part of him was giving in to the belief that perhaps the rumors held some truth. As he reached the top of the staircase, his gaze swept over the dimly lit hallway, searching for any sign of Esther.

A sudden sound caught his attention, a faint rustling coming from a nearby room. Instinctively, William moved towards the sound, his senses on high alert.

Through the narrow slit between the door and its frame, William's keen eyes caught a glimpse of the scene unfolding within the dimly lit room. His heart skipped a beat as he recognized Richard Dowding standing close to Esther, their figures outlined by the soft glow of a dimly lit sconce.

Esther's expression was grim and static, but he could see her lip quivering ever so slightly. William could see the tension in her posture and the subtle rigidity that belied her outward calm. Yet, there was a tremor in her hands that revealed the fear she was suppressing.

Richard's presence loomed over her like a shadow, his demeanor inscrutable as he spoke in hushed tones. Though William strained to hear their conversation, the words eluded him, lost in the distance between them.

Taking a silent step back from the door, William weighed his options. He knew that he couldn't stand idly by while Esther faced possible danger alone—not when his heart urged him to shield her from harm at any cost.

As he listened intently outside the closed door, his heart sank at the sound of Richard's menacing voice.

"You're ruining my chances with the Duke's sister," he heard Richard hiss. "This time, I'll make sure everyone knows I ruined you."

"I've done nothing to you," she protested, her words barely audible over his threats. "And there was nothing you did to me that night that could amount to the threat you speak of. You're simply upset you couldn't have your way with me at all!"

Richard immediately closed in on her maliciously. "Don't provoke me because, this time, I just might do it. And I'll pin it on you, Esther, because who'll ever take your side? Especially with all those rumors that I've spread about you."

Protective fury surged through William's veins, and he pushed open the door, his eyes ablaze. The door slammed into the wall and made Richard jump away from Esther, panic in his eyes as his head swiveled to William.

"What's the meaning of this?" William demanded in a low growl. "How dare you threaten my betrothed in such a manner?"

Richard's eyes widened at William's sudden appearance, and his jaw fell open and shut in an incoherent stammer in the face of the Duke's vicious gaze.

William marched over to them with such force that the ground beneath him shook. His approach made Richard step backwards, sending him stumbling over his own feet as he grabbed a dresser to steady himself.

William planted himself before Esther, shielding her behind him as he glared at Richard.

"But, Your Grace! It was her. She followed me here to seduce me!" Richard pointed at Esther, with panic in his voice.

"You will not dare speak of her in such a despicable manner," William said gruffly as he closed in on him and grabbed his collar. "And there will be no more lies."

Richard's eyes widened in shock and fear as he found himself ensnared in the Duke's powerful grasp, and he began to tremble in the face of William's unbridled fury.

"I will not spare you," William snarled, his words dripping with righteous indignation. "Not after what you've done."

"Y-Your Grace, please," Richard muttered hoarsely, "I only meant to?—"

William's fist was already in the air, ready to land a blow, when Esther's voice pierced through his ear.

"No!"

He stopped, turning to find her small hands gripping his bicep hard, her eyes pleading with him to stand down.

"William, please," she implored softly, on the verge of tears. "Not like this. Not on my account."

For a moment, William's gaze flickered with uncertainty. His need for retribution clashed with his desire to protect her.

"You deserve justice," he insisted.

"But the punishment doesn't fit the crime," she pleaded back, and he had no argument against that logic.

With a heavy exhale, William slowly released Richard's collar, his features contorted with a mix of anger and frustration. Though his fists remained clenched at his sides, his desire to punch the man had waned in the face of Esther's gentle intervention.

"Get out of London." His low voice seeped through the room harshly. "And don't you dare show your face here again."

Richard's pale face went slack as he stumbled backward, his eyes darting nervously between William and Esther.

"I-I understand," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper as he backed away from the imposing figure of the Duke. "I'll leave, I swear."

William's steely gaze bored into Richard, the weight of his silent fury pressing down upon him like a leaden cloak. "You should be grateful to Lady Esther," he growled.

With one final warning glare, William watched as Richard hastily made his exit, his footsteps echoing down the corridor as he fled from the scene of his own making.

The tension remained in the air even with Richard out of sight, and William turned to Esther without any thought of what to say to her after the ordeal she'd experienced.

"Esther," he murmured breathlessly with more concern than he'd ever harbored for anyone. "I've been so blind. I'm sorry."

"It's all right."

"It's not," he said, his heart clenching. "I can't believe I let him near Juliet. Esther, why didn't you tell me?"

She remained silent with a downcast gaze that implied shame. He took her hands and held them tightly, wanting to pull her into an embrace and comfort her. It was hard to refrain from it, but he worried that she wouldn't want anyone in close proximity after almost being violated.

With a gentle squeeze of her hand, he led her out of the room, the weight of their shared ordeal binding them together in a silent pact of solidarity.

"Why did you look for me?" Esther whispered, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Why wouldn't I, My Lady?"

Esther took a shaky breath and started moving away from him. "There's something you need to know, Your Grace."

"Do not pull away from me right now, Esther," he pleaded as he held onto her hand. "There is nothing I cannot manage. You can trust me."

"You don't understand… he was not lying." Esther turned her back to him in shame. "It was during my first debut. Lord Paddington… he was relentless in his pursuit."

William's heart clenched at the pain in her voice, but he remained silent in hopes that she'd continue.

"I… I turned him down, but he wouldn't take no for an answer," she continued. "He… he cornered me."

"Esther, that wasn't your fault."

"I-I was trapped, with nowhere to go. He… he almost…"

Unable to take it anymore, he walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her. He didn't dare make her face him, giving her the privacy she needed as she relayed the truth.

"I ran," she whispered while shaking in his embrace. "I ran as fast as I could but barely escaped him."

"You did what you could," he said gently and held her tighter. "No woman should've ever been treated the way you were."

"I-I'm sorry," she hiccuped, on the verge of sobbing. "I didn't think this would ever have to come out. I wasn't expecting Richard to return to London at all."

"You don't have to apologize," he said softly, his voice a soothing balm to her troubled soul. "You were brave to confide in me, Esther. You are always so brave. None of this your fault."

She nodded and allowed herself to lean back into his comforting embrace, finding solace in the warmth of his presence and the strength of his unwavering support.

"Is… is this why you've been so adamant about not wanting to marry?" he asked curiously.

Esther nodded silently.

"It… it changed me," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I-I couldn't bear the thought of… of being in a situation like that again. Of feeling so… helpless. What could I have done if he'd had his way with me?"

William felt shameful about his ignorance on the matter. The vulnerability of women wasn't something he thought deeply about, even though he had three sisters and a mother. He couldn't even comprehend the risks that came with simply existing amidst men.

"I didn't want to risk my safety again," Esther added as her voice became more stable. She sniffled softly and straightened up, pulling out of his embrace. "I didn't want to put myself in a position where I might be hurt again. I thought that if I could ruin my own reputation, if I could push everyone away, then maybe I wouldn't have to face that kind of fear again."

He touched her elbow and tried to offer more solace, but she pulled away again.

"No, William," she murmured sadly, yet strangely determined. "You shouldn't comfort me. I need to be alone right now. This is all my fault. My apologies…"

Her words hung heavy in the air between them, a stark reminder of the walls she had erected around her heart, walls that even William's steadfast presence could not fully breach.