What was Dalton on about with all these cryptic statements? Nathaniel gnashed his teeth. “Just tell me what you know,” he gritted out.
But, to his eternal annoyance, Dalton just shook his head. “It’s not my place to reveal it. If she hasn’t told you herself, she might have her reasons. Or maybe it’s just pure idiocy on both of your parts. Either way. Talk. To. Your. Wife.”
“Oh, I intend to. As soon as she returns. Do you happen to know when that would be, since you appear better informed of my wife’s plans than I am?”
“Interesting. She said something similar about you just the other day when I told her I had received a telegram from you.”
“I sent her a telegram as well.”
Dalton shrugged. “I don’t think she received it. In any case, she said she would only be gone for two days, three maximum. So I expect she should be back tomorrow or the day after.”
Great. Another day or two of cooling his heels waiting for Alice. But at least he now had something to cling to. The conversation with Dalton, although frustratingly uninformative regarding Alice’s mysterious relationship with Ardmore, had provided a measure of calm. There was something going on. Dalton knew what it was. And he seemed to think it could be solved by talking to Alice.
He intended to do just that.
CHAPTER 21
ComingtoWiltonTowerswith John had been a mistake. Whatever she had hoped to find here, she certainly hadn’t found it.
The old marquess had looked at her without an ounce of recognition or affection. Upon being introduced by John, his sunken eyes had turned sharp, examined her more thoroughly, but the only thing he said to her was.
“Ah! You look like your mother.”
Then dismissed her completely, turning to John.
“Ardmore, you should be more discerning about the type of company you keep.”
“Father!” John had protested, but the marquess lifted a hand.
Even weak and wasting away, lying in a stuffy bed in a darkened and malodorous bedchamber, the man still managed to look commanding.
“Off with you. I need to rest. I’ll see you later, Ardmore.”
The implication that he only wished to see Ardmore later was so clear that he might as well have added the word ‘alone’ at the end of his sentence.
No matter. Alice told herself. She was used to the slights. To not belonging anywhere. It was exactly what she had expected. Then why did it still hurt?
She hurried from the room before tears could humiliate her further. John was close on her heels.
“I’m sorry, Alice. I shouldn’t have put you through that.”
“Don’t worry about it. It was not your fault.”
“I don’t know what I had expected from him. Maybe more acceptance. Some self-reflection as he approaches his end. Foolish of me, I know. If it’s any consolation, he’s equally despotic with everyone. Abigail didn’t fare any better. It’s no coincidence that she’s not here. I only received more of his attention because I’m the heir.”
“I can’t imagine that being the focus of his attention was any better.”
“It wasn’t.” A shadow passed through John’s eyes, but then he came to her and grabbed both her hands in his, squeezed them earnestly. “I regret inflicting him upon you like that, but I don’t regret introducing you to him. I want Father to know that I met you, that I care about you, and intend to do right by you.”
Alice shook her head, moved, but not wanting to cause a rift between John and his father. “That’s not necessary, John. Truly, I appreciate the gesture, but I’m a grown woman. I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can. You are the most capable, independent, and resourceful woman I know. But you have been alone for too long. It’s about time you had someone to rely upon. Someone to take care of you. Everybody needs somebody, Alice.”
And well she knew that. John was a good, honorable, and caring man. She didn’t know how he had come by thosequalities, having grown up with a father like Lord Langford. It must be in his nature, for he had always accepted her wholeheartedly.
Only with Nathaniel had she ever found that kind of acceptance. More than that, he had loved her for all that she was. She had never felt like she belonged so much as when she was with him. Once, she had believed to have found her home, her place in the world, in his arms. But it hadn’t lasted, had it? Soon her flaws and deficiencies had surfaced, and she had proven unequal to the challenge.
Maybe that was her destiny. Always straddling two worlds, not belonging anywhere. Not wanted in either one. Those who tried to get her accepted were bound to be disappointed.
