“Shall I…”she bit down on her lip, “It would be good if I tell Odette before I go.”
“There will be no need,” Alexander stopped her. “I think she has had enough disruptions in her life for now. I will tell her later, if needed.”
If needed?That was her value in this house? At his words, Penelope straightened, her pride struggling to stitch itself back together. But she was not going to let him see her weak.
“I’ll have Nancy pack my things.”
“Very well.”
“Goodbye, Alexander.”
He didn’t answer. Penelope turned and left the room, walking away from the only man she had ever loved. How her life had changed so drastically in the span of only a few days, she did not know. But now she only knew that she would have to prepare for her future, which looked more uncertain than ever now.
CHAPTER 24
“Good God, Alexander, you lookawful. Someone should have issued a fright warning at the door before I walked in here.”
Alexander barely glanced up from his desk, his pen frozen mid-line over a document that he was looking over.
“What do you want, Oliver?” he said hoarsely. “I do not remember inviting you over.”
“Do you really need to invite me?” Oliver strode into the study, surveying the room. “If anything, I would be shocked if you invite me. Especially considering what kind of circumstances you are surviving under.”
Alexander had forgotten to tell the staff that all company should be turned away. But then again, such a request would have been useless with Oliver to begin with. He would have dismissed it without a second thought.
“I do not need you to comment on my circumstances,” Alexander replied in a dry voice. He knew that Oliver loved making all sorts of comments on people’s lives, but he should know that Alexander did not like to be the topic of discussion.
“Really?” Oliver challenged. He waved a hand toward the cluttered desk, the untouched food growing cold on a tray, and the opened bottles of wine that had collected in the corner of the room. “Because I have not once seen you living like this before. You are the sensible one, whereas I like to indulge. Has that not always been the case between the two of us? I did not know we switched places.”
Alexander set down his pen with a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“I’m busy,” he said in dismissal, hoping it was enough to turn his friend away. “Why don’t you find something else to occupy yourself with?”
“Busy?” Oliver snorted. “Busy trying to destroy yourself? Because surely, I am certain we can find better things to do.”
“I am not destroying myself,” Alexander rolled his eyes. “There is no need for you to be this dramatic, especially when I am trying to work.”
“You say that you are working,” Oliver paced the room in front of him. “But I have it on good authority that you have not left the estate in the last three days. And judging by your looks now, it is clear to me that you have not bothered with grooming orshaving, either. So please, do not be shocked if I do not believe that it isworktaking up your attention.”
“Two days,” Alexander corrected him. He let go of the pen , and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Ah.” Oliver grinned as he perched on the edge of the desk . “My mistake. Only two days of brooding like some widower. Forgive me.”
“Oliver…” Alexander warned. The last thing he wished to discuss was Penelope.
“Even your servants are gossiping.” Oliver leaned closer conspiratorially. “That is where I got my information , actually. Honestly, it would be a little romantic if you weren’t terrifying everyone.”
“If you came to mock me, you’ve done it. Now, leave,” Alexander exhaled, making sure to not mince his words.
“I didn’t come to mock you.” Oliver’s grin faded, “I came because you’re a blasted wreck and someone has to slap sense into you.”
“There’s no sense to be had,” Alexander muttered. “I’ve made my decision.”
“Ah yes. The great noble sacrifice of sending away your wife,” Oliver’s brow arched. “Tell me again, why was that necessary?”
Alexander’s mouth tightened.
“She was not safe here,” he said finally. “Odette was attacked the other day. While I can control Odette, I cannot control the Duchess. She would have been in harm’s way if she stayed.”
