Deceived 44

Chapter 44

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Sponsored by LC. Thank you ❤️ (7/7)

***

Blair paused mid-sip of cider to study Edmund's expression. Just days ago, he'd been a man driven by cold logic, making things a bit awkward, but now his noticeably warmer demeanor stood out. That stark contrast softened her lingering disappointment. Was he being considerate of her nervousness at the wedding? Or was this, too, a calculated act for the crowd?

It had become a habit to scrutinize his face as if trying to read his intentions. Yet, despite her efforts, she never found a definitive answer in his flawlessly composed features. She was the only one foolishly spilling her true feelings.

"I feel the same way."

Edmund met Blair's gaze and held a quiet smile. Staring at that flawless face, she continued. As time passed and she gradually came to know this man, one incident suddenly came to mind.

"Edmund. Do you remember where we first met?"

He nodded readily.

"It was at the banquet at Kensington Hall."

"More precisely, it was the second-floor balcony. The balcony connected to the darkened drawing room."

"......"

"You already knew there were people having a secret tryst in there, didn't you?"

Startled by the sight of a naked man and woman entangled, she had rushed onto the balcony only to encounter Edmund. Hoping he hadn't seen that hideous scene, she had impulsively asked him for a cigarette.

Only later did she realize. That a man this sharp couldn't possibly be hard of hearing. That the couple secretly making love in that secluded spot were Isaac and Nicoletta. Had Blair not been there, Edmund would have opened the door without a second thought, regardless of what they were doing, and walked straight across the room to his own destination.

"I knew."

He admitted it without hesitation. Blair finally let out a laugh.

"You must have seen right through my rambling too."

"I saw it all."

"Thank you for playing along. It must have been embarrassing to witness that disgraceful scene with a woman you'd never met before."

Thanks to that, she had met him, and Blair didn't regret her impulse then. At least, not yet.

"Didn't you show consideration for me too, Miss Blair?"

"Me?"

"A young man, passing time alone on the balcony, suddenly faced with witnessing such an unsavory spectacle—didn't you want to protect me?"

Blair burst out laughing. It was loud enough for people standing nearby to turn their heads. Covering her mouth, she leaned toward Edmund.

"A slight exaggeration, but... yes."

"I wanted to protect your considerate heart, Miss Blair."

"You're quite the gentleman."

"Quite."

He echoed her words with a laugh.

"For a man who's trying to get you into bed tonight without any real feelings, that's a pretty generous assessment."

The smile lingering on Blair's lips faded momentarily. She lowered her eyes as if searching for the right reply, then lifted her head to meet his gaze again. Edmund still wore a smile.

"What can I say? It's a matter of mutual interest. I have to understand, literally."

"You've grown quite mature in just a few days."

"I'm trying to understand you. Then maybe I can slowly learn to trust you."

"You've found a new way to earn trust."

"In any case, I'm someone who needs trust, Edmund. If you want to establish a good mutual interest with me, please understand that."

Watching Blair assert herself without faltering, Edmund fell silent. His lack of response halted the conversation, and they simply stared at each other across the noisy banquet hall. It was then that a maid approached quietly and interrupted.

“Your Lordship, the Duchess of Liberte says she has urgent business to discuss.”

“Tell her I’ll see her privately this evening. "

"Um... she insisted on seeing you now."

Blair pricked up her ears. The maid's voice carried palpable tension as she delivered the message. Edmund set his glass down on the table and rose from his seat.

"I'll be back soon. Wait here, Blair."

"I will."

Blair answered obediently and took a sip of apple cider. After a moment, she discreetly shifted her gaze to watch Edmund's retreating figure leave the banquet hall before setting her glass down. Taking several slow breaths, she impulsively pushed her chair back and stood up.

She crossed the room filled with the mingled sounds of guests laughing and music playing. Moving as casually as a bride seeking the lounge, she stepped toward where Edmund had vanished. Then she slipped out of the banquet hall.

Though she lost sight of Edmund's shadow, it didn't take long to find him again. Wondering if the Duchess had summoned him to the drawing room, she approached the vicinity only to hear voices in a nearby corridor.

"How dare you try to harm my only son!"

The fierce outburst made Blair hastily hide behind a stone pillar. The voice belonged to none other than Isabelle. Then came a low voice, like a sigh.

"You're being overly sensitive again. Benjamin merely fulfilled his duty as the attending physician."

"I told you no one, not even your lackeys, would lay a hand on my son!"

"Rufus came to Benjamin complaining of pain. As a doctor, he had no choice but to prescribe medicine, didn't he?"

"You filthy scum, you unclean creatures... If you harm even a single hair on Rufus's head, I won't let you get away with it!"

Blair gasped silently. The Duchess surely had no idea this marriage was a sham. Even if they weren't blood-related, how could she hurl such abuse on her son's wedding day? But Edmund's reply was even more astonishing.

"Filthy creatures. Well, Rufus has contracted a skin disease from illicit liaisons. Mother knows best who brought courtesans into the manor not long ago, doesn't she?"

Smack! A sound like skin tearing echoed through the room. Blair was so shocked she had to cover her mouth. Not only was the Duchess's vicious language unbelievable coming from someone who always seemed so elegant, but the fact she had raised her hand to Edmund was also shocking.

"You... dare... to try to cut off the line...!"

"Enough of your contradictory nonsense."

Edmund retorted coldly.

"Rufus can no longer carry on the line."

"You... you...!"

"If you've finished speaking, I shall take my leave. My wife awaits me."

"Go to hell! You worthless piece of trash! You should have been crushed to death alongside your mother!”

The sound of footsteps thudding closer followed. Covering her mouth with one hand, Blair ignored her wildly pounding heart and sprinted full speed toward the banquet hall.

***

Returning to the banquet hall, Edmund immediately sensed something was amiss.

Blair was seated in the same spot as before, but her complexion was extremely pale, and she was gasping for breath—something was clearly wrong.

"Blair, what happened?"

Instead of answering, the woman, still breathing heavily, looked up at him. Edmund grabbed her face. Faint tears pooled beneath her bright hazel eyes.

"What on earth happened?"

"I... just a little while ago, on my way back from the break room alone..."

"......"

"I fell."

"Fell?"

His brow furrowed involuntarily as he scrutinized her thoroughly. There were no bloodstains soaking through her skirt, so it didn't seem like a severe scrape. He'd thought someone might have bullied her while he was away for a moment, but this?

He gently took hold of her small face and examined it closely. She was breathing heavily and glancing at him nervously, which felt odd. Edmund pulled out his watch to check the time and made a quick decision.

"I'll take you to your bedroom. It's best to rest for the day."

"Eh, already? But the guests..."

"That's not important. You've gone pale. We need to call a doctor."

"A doctor? I'm really fine."

"Even if you feel fine now, we need to have any injuries properly examined."

"Edmund."

Blair shook her head and waved him off, but he paid her no mind. He grabbed her arm to help her up and called out to a maid waiting nearby.

"Send Benjamin straight to my bedroom."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The woman, practically being carried by him, gasped for breath. Though the bride and groom had left their seats, music and laughter still filled the hall beneath the glittering chandelier. Edmund left the banquet behind, taking Blair with him. That commotion had never been his concern to begin with.