I’m Sorry I Couldn’t Keep My Promise

“Your Grace.”

Julian stepped forward, looking stricken, and inclined his head.

“I’m afraid Stella can’t come to welcome you herself.”

The duchess narrowed her eyes slightly as she examined him.

She recognized him quickly.

“You’re Julian. The man Stella loves?”

Back then, Julian had been my whole world.

He was my phone’s lock screen. I even carried a photograph of us.

Before the shipwreck, the duchess had found that photograph. I had gone back looking for it, and that was how we first met.

Naturally, she remembered him.

“What do you mean? Why can’t she come?”

Julian had a handsome face that seemed incapable of malice.

Now he looked worn down, almost overflowing with grief.

He pressed his dry lips together.

Devoted.

Fragile.

“A serial killer kidnapped her. They only found her yesterday. She’s in the hospital. Unconscious.”

“What?”

The duchess swayed.

She nearly collapsed.

“Your Grace!”

Instinctively, I reached to catch her.

Pearl darted forward too, eager for the chance to help.

The attendant firmly pushed her aside.

“Take me to the hospital, Mr. Whitmore. Now.”

The duchess looked straight at him.

“I want to see Stella.”

Tears glittered in her eyes.

My throat tightened.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I couldn’t keep my promise. I couldn’t wait for you.”

I had received so little genuine affection in this life.

Every bit of it was something I wanted to treasure. To repay twice over.

Now I couldn’t.

Julian had arranged a stretch Lincoln limousine for her visit.

She had asked only him to accompany her, but Pearl had the nerve to follow anyway.

The attendant opened the door to the second row.

The duchess had just bent to sit when Pearl tried to squeeze in after her.

The attendant pulled her back out.

Standing in the doorway, she spoke without expression.

“I’m sorry, Miss Whitmore. Her Grace doesn’t like strangers sitting beside her.”

She got in and closed the door, leaving Pearl with a gust of displaced air.

Pearl had no choice but to take the third row.

During the drive, she repeatedly tried to strike up a conversation.

Every attempt was stopped by the attendant.

“Please keep your voice down. Her Grace would like to rest.”

Pearl was angry, but she didn’t dare show it.

She took out her phone and began typing furiously.

Curious, I leaned over.

She was complaining to Vivian.

“Mom, hasn’t the duchess only met that little bastard once? Why does she care so much? Has Stella been sucking up to her behind our backs?”

Vivian replied quickly.

“Unlikely. Your brother kept an eye on her. We’d know if she tried anything. And Stella’s never been good at pleasing people.”

Pearl pouted and muttered under her breath.

“Did she put a spell on her or something?”

The duchess really was kind to me.

So kind that even I didn’t entirely understand it.