“Your Graces, this is—” He broke off and looked at her as he realized he didn’t know how to introduce her formally under these circumstances. “Esme.”
She pursed her lips and some of the color drained from her cheeks. “I-I go by my middle name,” she explained. “It’s?—”
“There’s no need to explain,” the Duchess of Willowby said gently as she extended an elegant hand. “Esme is a beautiful name.”
“I knew your father,” the duke said with just as much gentleness. “He was the best of men.”
“He was,” Esme said.
“Why don’t we sit?” Finn suggested.
“There’s tea,” Esme said, and moved to the sideboard. “Finn’s—Lord Delacourt’sservants have been too kind in taking care of me.”
“We’re fine,” the duchess said as she took one chair and the duke the other next to her, which left the settee for Finn and Esme. He thought they’d done that as a kindness, so he could be close to her and support her if she needed it.
She sat and he gently placed a hand on her knee. She seemed surprised he would do so in such company, but she didn’t pull away, so he took that as a win.
“I say we dispense with any small talk, as this is a serious issue,” Willowby said. “I believe Ramsbury may have informed you that I once worked for the War Department. Is that correct?”
Finn nodded. “He did.”
“I worked in internal investigation,” he continued. “Traitor spies, smuggling, the like.”
Finn glanced at Esme and saw her eyes were wide. This man would truly be the best person to help them since that was exactly what they suspected Francis was involved in, at least partially.
“My father worked alongside Lucas,” the duchess supplied. “And I’ve also helped him with his work.”
He smiled at her and in that moment their connection was powerfully clear. Finn squeezed Esme’s knee gently and she covered his hand with hers.
“Obviously, Ramsbury discussed some of the information about your cousin, the new marquess,” Willowby continued. “But I’d like to hear it from you directly. If it’s not too painful, will you tell me everything you know. First you, Esme. And then you, Delacourt. Leave out no detail. We need to hear it all.”
By the time Esme and Finn had told the duke and duchess everything about the situation with Francis, an hour had passed. It was a strange thing. She didn’t know these people, had no connection to them, and yet she didn’t feel wary around them. They asked good questions, they listened carefully, and it was plain they wanted to help her.
At last, she leaned back against the settee back, exhaustion overwhelming her and sighed. “And that is all.”
The duke got to his feet and paced to the window, his serious expression unchanging. While he stood there, the duchess got up. “Let me get you tea, Esme.”
Esme blinked. “Oh no, Your Grace, I couldn’t ask?—”
“You didn’t ask,” she said with a little smile as she waved Esme off and went to the sideboard. “And you must call me Diana. We’ll be friends, so I insist.”
She blinked at the idea the duchess would want to be friends with someone like her, even after hearing what had happened and all she’d done to save herself. But she liked the woman, shelikedthe idea of being her friend.
Finn leaned in and put his arm around her, gathering her to his side. “I am forever in awe of you, Esme,” he said softly, so only they could hear the conversation. “I only hope I can live up to the bravery and grit that is at the heart of you.”
“It’s easy to feel brave with your hand on my knee, giving me all your support without even saying a word.”
“I’d love to do that for the rest of your life, the rest of mine,” he said.
She jerked her face toward his. “What?”
“You know what I’m saying,” he said, perfectly calm and certain. “I’m not going to ask you here, in this most unromantic setting. But I want a future, Esme. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure it’s possible.Everything.”
Diana returned with the tea and handed over the cup before she smiled gently at the two of them and then moved to stand with her husband. They talked for a few moments. It was all very serious and Esme shivered.
“What do you think they’ll say?”
“I’ve no idea. The duke especially is hard to read,” Finn admitted.
