“Of course, you have. You are a Claremore after all. But I see such forgiveness in your husband.”
She smiled through her tears and squeezed Diana’s hands. A knock on the door interrupted them and Diana moved back to her chair. The butler announced Addie. Clara’s eyes widened in shock.
“Excuse me for the intrusion,” Addie said.
Diana smiled at her. “Not at all. Have you come to see my baby boy?”
Addie shook her head but smiled softly at Robert resting in the cradle. “I was unaware you had him. I just arrived back in town and discovered what the papers were insinuating.”
Clara felt herself stiffen. Her eyes connected with Addie’s. Addie frowned at her. “You can’t possibly think your husband or I would ever do that to you.”
What could Clara say? She stayed quiet, playing with her skirts. Addie sat down next to her on the sofa. “Look at me, Clara. You are my dearest friend. I wouldn’t trade you for your husband for all of the world.”
Clara’s chin trembled. She had been so foolish. She could see that now. “Of course not. I think I was simply confused and the two of you are so similar, always so happy. I am so different from that.”
Addie placed her hand on hers. “You are perfect and more importantly the woman your husband loves.”
Clara frowned. “I have been awful to him.”
“That can be fixed. I know what it is to truly lose love, and this isn’t it,” Addie insisted.
Clara smiled, hoping so. Addie reached for her bag and said, “Have you seen the paper today?”
She shook her head. Clara had tried to stay away from them, and Diana had been too busy. Addie unfolded the paper and pointed to a section.
Shockingly, the Marquess of Dolan’s previous lovers have come forward to say his treatment is revolting and all ladies should be warned. The marquess does his best to silence these ladies and is assisted in this by none other than the Duke of Claremore. Now his most recent mistress is missing. One can only hope she turns up soon.
Clara gasped. “Is this true?”
Addie nodded. “The rumor is that your husband sent Dolan’s last mistress to Liverpool to protect her from him. Did you know that? This likely means that the insinuation of a mistress was never true.”
Clara smiled sadly. “He told me when he returned there was no truth to them. I had tried to believe him but part of me remained skeptical. Still, why didn’t he tell me about her?”
Anger bubbled in her that Sam kept so much from her, but she pushed it away. Such feelings had gotten her nowhere and caused more hurt. She and Sam had been so foolish. He with his secrets and she with her doubts. She needed to see him. Clara stood and Addie smiled at her knowingly.
“I need to return home,” Clara stated.
Diana beamed at her. Addie nodded and said, “You do that while I meet this young gentleman.”
Clara strode from the room. She needed to find her husband and speak with him. She had been foolish but no more. She stepped out into the foyer and asked the butler, “Please tell my coachman and guard I wish to leave.”
He nodded and said, “Yes, Mrs. Kincaide. Shall I have them take you home?”
She shook her head. “No, first I wish to visit my father’s townhouse.”
The butler nodded.
Chapter 29
Clara stepped out of the carriage in front of her parents’ townhouse, taking a deep breath. Everything in her wanted to rush home to Sam, but she needed to see them first. She needed to protect Henry. She took another deep breath and her parents' butler, always on the watch, opened the door before she had even made it to the top of the stairs.
“Are my parents in residence?”
The solemn butler nodded and escorted Clara to the drawing room. Her parents sat there along with Henry. His eyes widened in surprise, and he rushed over to her. Her mother pursed her lips. “Henry, do not behave that way.”
Henry stepped back and a brief flicker of embarrassment passed over his face before he hid it away.
“Henry, leave us,” their father said without bothering to look up from his book.
