Guidebook for the Dark Duke

Chapter 63 - The Strange Lady

Evan looked in the direction of the voice. Two women came out of the crowd. Evan’s expression tightened, Alia?

It turned out that the person who just spoke was Alia and there was another lady standing beside her, a strange woman.

Evan pinched his cuffs, he seemed to have an impression of the woman.

“Oh, it turned out to be Miss Alia.” Ford looked at Alia with a smile, a woman’s jealousy is really the best tool to use. Since Alia suffered a loss at Cornwall Manor last time, she began to get closer to him.

“You just said that you can prove this, is that true?” Ford looked at Alia with great concern.

Alia bit her lower lip and glanced at Evan who was standing beside her. She felt a little nervous in her heart, but she said firmly, “It’s true.”

There was a smile in Ford’s eyes, and his tone suddenly changed and became much softer, “Then do you have any evidence? Reverend Bruce is a decent gentleman and you are also a lady. I don’t want your reputation to suffer because of this.” As he spoke, his eyes glanced at the lady beside Alia from time to time. The lady was wearing a long brown dress, her complexion was very pale and she was not very beautiful. But her eyes were very clear, like a girl who is not familiar with the world, but looking at her appearance, you will also know that this lady is not too young, at least twenty-five years old.

Alia nodded, patted the lady next to her gently on the shoulder and said warmly, “Mr Ford, I understand your kindness, but I have to speak about this matter. Even if my reputation will suffer, no matter what the Reverend Bruce’s status is in Delanlier, he can’t treat a lady like this.”

Evan’s expression suddenly sank as he looked at Alia and the lady, the woman he knew was from the church he was in before in London. A parishioner named Irina, who was also one of his own crazy suitors.

This woman is the first stranger he met when he came to this world. When they met for the first time, Evan was still in a state of ignorance so he was very cautious and gentle with everyone, but he didn’t expect that in the end, it made this woman misunderstand him. And what was even more terrifying was that this woman was a widow, her husband was killed in the war and she became a widow at the age of eighteen. Such a social status is even more of a taboo among taboos in this era.

Not to mention the fact that Evan knew how things would turn out later, so he resolutely rejected the woman’s advances. After that, the woman had done several crazy actions, such as running to his residence in the middle of the night and knocking on the door or she would come to church every day to pester him. Finally when the order for him to be transferred was issued, Evan was extremely relieved.

In the days that followed in Delanlier, this woman had long since faded from his memory, but seeing her again today, Evan’s surprise was stronger than anyone else’s.

Alia’s slightly ambiguous words made the people around them agitated. The Duke frowned slightly and immediately said coldly, “Miss Alia, if you have evidence, show it. What justice is being done here? Don’t you think it’s a little fake?”

Alia blushed at the Duke’s sarcastic words, she almost couldn’t help but want to run away, but thinking about the next plan, she resisted the urge, and regardless of Dr. Hester’s anxious gesture, she gritted her teeth and said, “My evidence is this lady Irina by my side. Irina used to be a parishioner of the parish Reverend Bruce was in before. She is a poor widow whose husband died for the country but Reverend Bruce seduced her and promised to marry her when she was at her saddest moment, but finally abandoned her mercilessly, and according to Irina, even when the two of them were okay, Reverend Bruce had an improper relationship with many ladies and wives!”

Alia’s remarks suddenly caused an uproar among the people around, and no one had thought that those rumors would turn out to be true. It turned out that the well-dressed Reverend Bruce was really such a person. They all pointed at Evan, who was still calm and their eyes were filled with excitement. For quiet town dwellers, this was like Christmas.

However, the face of the lady standing beside Alia turned paler and paler. She seemed to be a little unsteady as she swayed. Fortunately, Alia immediately supported her, which prevented the lady from falling down.

Duke Wilson looked at the two women gloomily, until the surrounding noise finally subsided and Duke Wilson glanced at Ford, who had a sullen face and said, “Oh? Is that so?” Duke Wilson looked at Irina, “Miss Irina, is what Miss Alia said true?”

Irina held Alia’s hand with a pale face, and even then she could barely stand still. Her other hand caressed her chest and she said in a weak tone, “Dear Duke, what Miss Alia said is true. I originally thought that Reverend Bruce was an upright person, but this is not the case. The ending really left me heartbroken. Although I was still alive, I had lost my dignity. The Reverend’s promise gave me hope, but in the end, it drove me into the abyss. I really…”

She endured but couldn’t stop crying, Alia stroked her back with one hand and hugged her in her arms, but looked at Evan with hatred, as if it was a heinous villain standing there.

Evan still didn’t respond, just crossed his arms across his chest and closed his eyes.

There was a sneer at the corner of Duke Wilson’s lips. When he turned to look at Evan, his expression was much gentler than before, “So, Reverend Bruce, do you have anything to say?”

Evan opened his eyes and looked at Duke Wilson, his eyes are clear and bright, without the slightest impurity and his expression is calm, as if everything around him has nothing to do with him. “No, Lord Duke, I have nothing to say.”

Evan’s silent gesture made the surrounding townspeople even more excited, and the surrounding air suddenly became a little turbulent. In their opinion, this was the default gesture of admitting his guilt, and they all started looking at Evan with a critical look, straightforward and naked, if it weren’t for Duke Wilson’s presence, the curses would have gotten out of hand.

But even so, Duke Wilson’s eyes were still calm, as if he knew what would happen. But Evan’s palms were already wet with sweat at this time, this gambling game was related to his life. He has never put his life in the hands of others.

“Lord Duke.” Although Evan’s reaction surprised Ford, he would not miss such a great opportunity, and immediately said, “Since Reverend Bruce has nothing to say, can this matter be resolved?”

Duke Wilson turned to look at Ford with a half-smile, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone, “Mr Ford is being really eager. Just a lady’s words can make you so excited?”

The smile on Ford’s face froze but he felt a little hatred in his heart. He has already reached this point, does Duke Wilson still want to protect Evan?

“Lord Duke, this lady Irina is the witness you want, and Reverend Bruce didn’t refute what she said. Isn’t the matter already clear? What kind of evidence do you need again?” Ford’s tone has become slightly irreverent.

Duke Wilson looked at him coldly and sneered, “Since you said so, can you allow me to say a few words? Although Reverend Bruce has nothing to say about this matter, I still have something to say!”

Duke Wilson’s last sentence was unusually severe and the originally noisy scene suddenly quieted down, and Irina, who was crying in Alia’s arms, started shaking.

Alia hugged Irina’s shoulders tightly, a bit of unwillingness in her eyes, why did Duke Wilson care so much about that person?

“Chris, bring the person here.” Duke Wilson sat down on the chair and waved to Butler Chris beside him.

Butler Chris saluted the Duke gracefully, turned and walked towards the carriage.

The people around were staring closely at Butler Chris, who suddenly wanted to bring people over at this time. To be honest, the curiosity of these people was swayed by the Duke.

Butler Chris walked to the side of the carriage, nodded slightly towards the carriage and said respectfully, “Reverend Robert, Lord Duke has asked you to come over.”

Reverend Robert? Evan’s eyes widened, but he heaved a sigh of relief. This priest was the priest who loved to drink when he was in that church. However, although the priest was lazy, he was a good person.

The door of the carriage was opened, and a simple, honest and gentle looking priest stepped out of the carriage. Behind him was a little girl, dressed very frugally but her dark eyes were exceptionally bright, and she saw Irina at a glance. Irina, who was beside Alia, suddenly had a look of horror on her face.

Irina looked at Reverend Robert and the little girl in horror. Her trembling hands proved that her heart was not at peace at this time. Instead, it was Alia, who didn’t know it was a scam, whose expression was still the same and somewhat resentful.

Reverend Robert led the little girl to the very center of the square, saluted Duke Wilson who was sitting there, and said warmly, “Your Excellency, thank you for your invitation.”

Duke Wilson hooked his lips sarcastically, “You really are very kind, my invitation this time has caused you a lot of trouble, and I would like to ask your forgiveness.”

Reverend Robert waved his hand very respectfully, with a humble attitude but not flattering.

Seeing this scene, Ford knew in his heart that it was over, but at this time he was already sitting on the fire and he couldn’t put it out. The Duke’s indifference to Evan these days had bolstered his confidence and weakened his alertness, he really did not expect that the Duke was really prepared.

“Reverend, do you know these people who are standing behind you now?” Duke Wilson pointed in the direction of Evan and Irina.

Reverend Robert’s eyes were not very good. He squinted his eyes for a while and finally smiled and said, “Oh, isn’t this Evan? My reliable assistant, I heard that you went to a small town to be a priest, so it turned out to be here. Is there such a place?”

Evan smiled at Reverend Robert, “Yes, Reverend Robert, it’s really a pleasure to see you.” Evan’s words were really a sigh of relief from his heart.

Just as the two were chatting, the little girl finally couldn’t help it and she rushed directly to the front of Alia, pointed at Irina, who was already panicking in Alia’s arms and said loudly, “Reverend Robert, look! Irina actually came here!”