He had seen her expression shift when he moved closer during their argument, a maelstrom of emotions flashing in her eyes. But before he could call her back, she had disappeared.
He didn’t necessarily want to push her away, yet she was so aggravating at times with her incessant questions and lack of answers that he didn’t know how to respond other than challenge her.
Besides, he enjoyed seeing her sharper side come out. Sibyl was so guarded that it was pleasant to see her wield her weapons.
Gabriel thought about taking breakfast in his study but ended up sitting at the head of the table anyway, promising himself that he wouldn’t keep watching the door, hoping to see her.
Why am I hoping for her company?It should not matter to me.
When a footman brought forward the butter dish, Gabriel raised a quelling hand. “The Duchess,” he began. “She has not come down for breakfast this morning?”
“No, Your Grace.”
“Has she sent for anybody to bring a tray to her chambers?”
“No, Your Grace. She is busy with Lady Rose, I believe.”
Gabriel nodded, dismissing the footman and finishing his breakfast in silence. He told himself that it was more peaceful that way, especially after spending the last week bickering with his new wife. But now that he knew she should be there, he felt her absence keenly.
After breakfast, he tried to work off his annoyance in his study, shutting himself away. His work had piled up, and he had contracts to review and payments to make to businesses he had promised to invest in. He also had several tenant requests toreview, but as the day drew on, his thoughts kept drifting back to Sibyl and her absence.
Had he truly offended her so terribly last night?
You shouldn’t care.Besides, she cannot skip every meal to avoid you.
Yet, when he was called for lunch, his wife did not appear either. She had barely eaten dinner the night before, and they had not had a wedding breakfast, so he wondered when the last time she had eaten was.
After lunch, he busied himself with a short ride around the grounds, telling himself that he avoided the lake because he had seen Sibyl staring out at it with curiosity. If there were a place she might explore first, it would be the lake. Aside from that, maybe the library.
“Is she truly going to hole up in the nursery all day?” Gabriel muttered to himself as he returned to the manor some time later.
Sibyl had confessed to being concerned about her daughter’s well-being, and it was clear that she rarely let Rosie out of her sight, but did she really distrust him so deeply to go to such lengths?
He walked past the library, finding it empty. He half expected to find her seated in an armchair, holding her daughter in one armwhile handling a book. He imagined how her hair might fall over her face, unable to tuck it back with her hands full.
Gabriel clenched his fingers into a fist, forcing her out of his mind. Those thoughts were entirely useless.
His frustration grew as he got ready for dinner several hours later, hearing nothing from Sibyl’s chamber to suggest that she was doing the same.
He paused in the dining hall, unsurprised but annoyed to find the table empty.
He glanced at the footman by the door. “Still no word from the Duchess?”
“No, Your Grace,” the footman answered.
Gabriel’s jaw tightened as he sat at the table and stared at the empty chair across from him. He really didn’t want to care that Sibyl was skipping meals. Mrs. Pentwood had indeed confirmed that she had not requested food to be brought up to her, so what was she doing?
Unable to fight his irritation any longer, he ate quickly and then went up to the nursery. He found Sibyl there, sitting in a rocking chair, holding her daughter. Her face was pale and drawn, but he could see the stubborn set of her jaw.
As he entered, the nursemaid looked up, straightening immediately at his presence.
“Duchess,” he said, startling his wife, as though she truly hadn’t even noticed he was there. “We must speak.”
Slowly, Sibyl nodded and glanced up at the nursemaid. “Hannah, please give us a moment.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” Hannah answered, slipping past Gabriel to leave them alone.
Gabriel moved further into the room.
