Without a word, he crossed the room in three determined strides and lowered himself beside her on the settee. His posture remained rigid, his shoulders still tense from hours spent in the saddle, yet his eyes softened as they searched her face with painstaking care. His gaze traveled from the faint redness around her eyes to her hands, then to the sleeve of her gown as though expecting to discover injuries everyone else had somehow overlooked.
"Are you quite certain you are unhurt?" he asked quietly. "The physician assured me you suffered nothing more than a few bruises, but I would hear it from you, not from someone else."
Seraphine studied him for a moment before offering a small, reassuring smile. Although tears still shimmered faintly in her eyes, there was warmth there too.
"I am quite well," she answered softly.
Damien was not satisfied. He reached for one of her hands, turning it carefully in his own as though inspecting the delicate fingers for hidden injuries. His thumb brushed gently across her knuckles before he looked back into her eyes. "No bruises upon your arms?"
She gave a tiny shake of her head. "No."
"Nothing struck your head when you fell?" he asked gently.
"No." She let out the faintest laugh before placing her free hand over his, stilling his relentless inspection.
Damien looked at her again, and the weight of the day returned to his face.
Without warning, he leaned forward and drew her into his arms. His embrace was firm, almost desperate, as though letting go might somehow allow her to vanish again. One hand cradled the back of her head while the other held her tightly against his chest. Seraphine heard the rapid thud of his heartbeat beneath his waistcoat. It was racing almost as wildly as her own.
"I am sorry," he whispered hoarsely. "God forgive me, Seraphine..." His voice broke under the strain. "I am so terribly sorry."
She slowly wrapped both arms around him in return. "You have nothing to…"
"I failed you." The words emerged with quiet conviction.
She pulled back just enough to see his face. "No."
He shut his eyes briefly before continuing. "You were my responsibility, and I abandoned you to a man who wished us both harm." His voice had become rough with self-reproach.
"Had I stopped to think for one moment instead of allowing my temper to rule me..."
Seraphine gently lifted one hand to his face. Her fingertips rested lightly against his cheek until he reluctantly met her eyes.
"These past few days," she said, "when I was angry with you... when I could not understand why you had changed..." She gave a tiny shake of her head. "Part of me still knew something was wrong. You were not yourself. You carried something alone." She sighed softly. "But you should have trusted me enough to tell me about Lord Pemberley."
For several moments he simply stared into the fire. Finally, he nodded once. "You are right."
The admission seemed to cost him dearly. He rose from the settee and slowly crossed towards the hearth, clasping his hands behind his back as he stared into the dancing flames. His shoulders seemed heavier than she had ever seen them. "There is something more you deserve to know," he said quietly.
Seraphine remained seated, watching him patiently.
He drew a long breath. "Augustus cornered me at our wedding, he threatened to expose certain... dealings of mine."
Her brow furrowed. "What dealings?"
Damien hesitated. His fingers curled tightly together behind his back. Finally he turned to face her. "I have been trading in French silk."
Seraphine blinked in surprise. "French silk?"
He inclined his head. "It has been smuggled into England through discreet channels."
Her eyes widened. "The scarf..."
"Lord Pemberley recognized the silk immediately. He realized where it must have come from." His jaw tightened. "He threatened to expose me and, when I refused to be intimidated, he vowed to exact his revenge through you."
Seraphine watched him quietly.
"I believed," he continued, "that if I kept you inside Wexford Manor, I could protect you until I dealt with him." He stopped pacing. "Instead, I drove you away." Pain crossed his face. "And by leaving the house today..." He closed his eyes briefly. "I gave Augustus precisely the opportunity he wanted." His shoulders sagged with the weight of the admission. "I was wrong." He looked back at her. "But I make this promise to you now, my trade is finished."
