The reins on his temper slipped a bit more. He took a steadying breath before replying. “You seem to forget, Mother, that I already have a wife.”
“Oh, pish.” She made a dismissive hand gesture. “Not for long. Thank goodness you have finally taken steps to rectify that youthful mistake. I’m sure if you reach an understanding with one of these ladies, they’ll be happy to wait a few months until you are free.”
“Have you taken leave of your senses? What makes you think I will be free, or that I would be amenable to courting any lady when I am a married man?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, Nathaniel. You are not the only one with a talent for spying. Very little happens around me that I don’t know about. I was informed that you petitioned for a divorce. Of course, a divorce is not ideal—quite the scandal. But much preferable to the alternative: you staying married to that disgraceful chit.”
Mere irritation transformed into fury. His fists clenched instinctively, and he forced them to open. To breathe in and out, to keep his words even.
“That is my wife you are talking about. I demand that you accord her the due respect.”
“Respect must be earned. You need a proper wife, one who lives with you and gives you an heir. Not one that forgoes her duties to you and the title to go gallivanting around London, doing God knows what. You must agree with me, or you wouldn’t have initiated the divorce proceedings.”
“That is none of your business, Mother. But just so that you don’t keep harboring outlandish hopes, the divorce may not proceed.”
“What? Whyever not? I’m sure there’s plenty of evidence against her, what with her shameful behavior, and her abandonment of her home.”
“Because I no longer want to pursue it. Alice is my wife, and I want her to continue to be. So it’s better if you get used to the idea. Alice is Lady Greystone, and if I’m to have heirs, it will be by her.”
His mother’s eyes narrowed to angry slits. “I knew it! You have gone back to that Jezebel. That is why you are in such a hurry to return to London. Have you no dignity? Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been up to these past few weeks. When I learned she’s been staying at the London house—”
“How do you know Alice’s been in the London house?” he interrupted. “Or that I’ve been seeing her? Have you set the servants to spying on me, Mother? Are they reporting to you on my every move? Was that the reason for the urgent summons and for this ridiculous house party?”
“Everything I’ve done is for your own good!”
“My own good? All this time I’ve been guarding against external threats, and I have spies in my own home!”
“I had hoped you were just having a bit of fun with her. But you are still under her spell, aren’t you?”
“Enough! You have no clue what our relationship is really like. Alice and I love each other, and if we decide to give our marriage a second chance, that is our business and nobody else’s.”
“You are a fool, Nathaniel. A cuckold and a fool.”
The dart was carefully thrown to strike at the center of his most tender spot. A cuckold, indeed. He turned away to hide his reaction behind authority.
“By the way, things are going to change around here. I won’t have Alice disrespected or looked down upon. If and when Alice comes back, she will assume her rightful place as Lady Greystone. In society as well as in this household. Anyone who doesn’t accept her, whether you, Louisa, or any servants whofeel they owe their loyalty to you alone, are welcome to find a different home.”
His mother sputtered. “Are you threatening to remove Louisa and me from Greystone Manor? What about your niece? Will you also toss the child from the only home she’s ever known?”
“Don’t be so dramatic, Mother. Both you and Louisa have more than adequate widows’ portions. Certainly enough to keep your own households. You’ll be far from destitute, and I think you might be happier that way.”
“That woman doesn’t know the first thing about being a lady, about running a household such as this one.” Fear, passion, or a combination of the two made his mother’s voice tremble. “She will run Greystone Manor to the ground. She will embarrass you. You are making a grave mistake.”
He regretted the necessity of putting his mother in her place, but she was a strong-willed and stubborn woman, used to commanding all around her. She would only understand—and respect—a firm hand.
“Regardless, it’s my mistake to make. And one more thing, I’m returning to London in the morning.”
“You can’t just leave in the middle of my house party!”
“Like you said, it’s your house party. I want no part of it.”
“What about the crops?”
“The issues are mostly resolved. The steward can take care of the rest.”
He had made the decision in the moment, but as he said it, his resolve firmed. Yes, this was the right thing to do. It was past time he returned to Alice. He had not heard one word from her in the week he had been gone. No reply to his telegram, nothing. He didn’t like it one bit. Pray God his absence had not undone the progress they had made in their relationship.
Turning on his heel, he walked toward the door.
