The Duke’s Guests Laughed as the Maid Fell Into the Lake — She Said, “I’ll Remember Every Face”
Chapter 29
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Cordelia looked around the church: at the guests whispering behind their fans, at the same ladies who had laughed with her at the lake, now staring at her with cold, curious eyes. She gathered up her white satin skirts and ran out of the church, weeping. Nobody followed her.When the doors had closed behind her, the Dowager Duchess came slowly down from the front pew. She walked with her silver stick across the stone floor until she stood in front of Clara. The old woman looked at the muddy girl for a long time."I knew your father," she said at last. "I knew John Doyle for 20 years. He taught my son to ride. In my heart, I never truly believed he did it. But I was a grieving widow, and Edmund was so kind and so certain, and I let him take care of everything." Her voice cracked. "God forgive me. I let them take an innocent man away in chains, and I let his little girl be thrown into the workhouse. And then, when she came back to this house, I threw her out into a storm."To the astonishment of every person in that church, the proud old Dowager Duchess of Ravensworth bowed her head to a housemaid."I am sorry, Miss Doyle," she said. "I am so very sorry."Clara could not answer. She took the old woman's thin hand and held it.Then the Duke came down the steps from the altar. He stopped in front of Clara. He looked at her muddy dress, her wet, tangled hair, her bleeding wrists, and then, in front of the whole county, in his wedding coat on the stone floor of the church, the Duke of Ravensworth went down on one knee.The church gasped."Clara Doyle," he said, "twice I turned my back on you: once out of anger, and once to save your life. I swear to you, on my father's memory, that I will never turn my back on you again as long as I live.""Your Grace," Clara whispered, "get up, please. Everyone is watching.""Let them watch." He took her bleeding hands gently in his. "You came into my house with nothing. They pushed you into the water. They called you a thief. They called you a murderer's daughter. And they laughed at you. And you never once gave up. You found the truth that I was too blind to see for 15 years." His eyes were shining. "My father would have loved you. I think I have loved you since the morning you touched Bramble's nose in the stable."Clara was crying now; she could not stop. "Your Grace, I'm a housemaid. My father's name is still—""Your father's name," the Duke said firmly, "will be cleared before the end of this month. I give you my word. Every newspaper in England will print the truth. And then, when you are ready, and only if you want to, I am going to ask you a question. A very important question." He stood up, still holding her hands. "But not today," he said softly. "Today, you need a hot bath, a doctor for those wrists, and a long sleep in a warm bed in the best room in Ravensworth Hall."