“You should.” Austin waited for a beat before speaking again. “I have to ask you, old friend, why did you send Deena away following the scandal?”
Dominic froze.
“Did she speak of that?”
Austin began to regret bringing Deena up. “I was only told bits and pieces.”
“She never speaks to us about anything. I’m both grateful and saddened. What has she told you?” he asked with brotherly concern.
“Only that she was exiled to Paris for five years because a Lord refused to leave her alone. Wasn’t that… harsh?”
“It was. I thought about that every day she was gone,” he said quietly. “Every single day.”
Austin waited as Dominic stared out into the gardens, lost in his past. “Austin, some women… they get so ruined by rumors. The whispers become a cage. They stop eating. Stop sleeping. Some fall ill. Some…” He swallowed. “Some hurt themselves. I saw it happen to many in ourton. Gossip hurts men but kills our women.”
Austin felt the words land like stones in his chest. His own guilt ate at him.
How many women have I ruined?
“I’ve never thought of it in quite that way before.” His words were filled with conviction.
“I couldn’t—” Dominic’s voice cracked, just slightly. “I couldn’t watch Deena fade away because of rumors or gossip. Thetonwould have torn her apart. They whispered about her in every ball and in every drawing room. She’d have been the story of the season. The scandalous sister of the Stone Duke. I thought… if I got her out of the noise, gave her time to breathe, to study, to live without eyes on her every move… she would come back whole.”
“You thought you protected her,” Austin added.
He met his friend’s gaze. “Yes. Was it harsh? Yes. Do I regret it? Every day. But would I do it again?” He exhaled. “In a heartbeat. If it kept her alive. If it kept her from breaking.”
Austin stared at the cloudy sky.
How could I have questioned the integrity of my friend?
He remembered the pain in Deena’s eyes as she told him about her misunderstood predicament and how it became the scandal of the year.
“I understand now,” he said quietly.
Dominic gave a small, tired nod. “I knew you would, but…I worry that you may not be able to protect Deena the same way.”
Austin swallowed.
He is right.
“I know that I have a reputation which has been published for the whole world to see. But you have my word that I will protect Deena.”
Dominic sighed. “Despite your rakish behavior, you are my closest friend. I know you more than I know my own sister, and it is because of our friendship that I trust you. But if you hurt Deena, I will destroy you.”
Austin knew from his tone that he was serious, and he did not doubt his friends’ words.
A comfortable silence stretched between them as they nodded and silently agreed. The muffled conversations around them felt suddenly too far away.
Austin cleared his throat. “So…about the duck…”
Dominic glared at him then and grunted.
Austin smirked and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I apologize with all my heart.”
His friend’s mouth curved into a tight smile. “That’s all right. But just keep in mind that I’m going to murder you for that.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Austin and Dominic laughed together as the crowds began to gather and prepare for the next game.
