But his attempts would be wasted if the story Caroline had repeated from her seamstress were to get around. How would that look—everyone talking about the fact that the Duke of Mowbray hadn’t been able to keep his wife happy for even a few months? That he was such a scoundrel that one lady had run away rather than wed him, and now another was thinking of doing the same thing?
No. It had to be made clear that Prudence was an outlier, a wayward type. He wanted her back safely, of course, but he also wanted to distance himself from what she had done. He needed it to be clear to anyone who wondered that things between himself and Caroline were going well. She wasn’t dissatisfied or on the run from a rakish husband. She was perfectly happy in this marriage.
Even if that wasn’t exactly true, that was the image he had to project.
She melted into him, obviously trying to work with him to present an image of a couple newly enamored with each other. If they could sell it to her parents, who fully understood the circumstances of their marriage and how dispassionate he had been about it at the start, they ought to be able to sell it toanyone. This would be the true test that would prove whether or not they were ready to face the rest of society at balls.
“We told you,” Caroline’s mother said. “We don’t know where Prudence is, Caroline.”
“I didn’t ask you where she was. I asked what you’re doing to try to find her. You aren’t going to tell me you’re not doing anything at all,” she added severely. “You’re not going to stand there and tell me that you’re not eventryingto find her. Levi is trying, and he has so much less reason to than either of you.” She leaned in closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder. “Levicares, even though Prudence ran from him and risked humiliating him.”
Levi was acutely aware of her body against his, her warmth and softness. They had never been this close to one another before, and never for such a prolonged period. He had neverheldher like this.
It will be like this if we dance together.
Suddenly, he was very much looking forward to the season’s events.
“Wearegoing to send out search parties,” Caroline’s mother said.
“We’re not going to do that,” her father countered. “We spoke about this already, Constance. If we send people out searchingfor her, it will only serve to drive her deeper underground. If she wants to hide from us, we’re going to allow her to do so. She’ll come home when she’s good and ready—when she’s learned a lesson about surviving away from the comforts of home. That daughter of yours is spoiled to her core, and I’m not going to put up with it. Especially after that second letter.”
“Letter?” Caroline asked swiftly, perking up and leaning ever so slightly away from Levi. “What letter are you talking about?”
“We got a letter from her a few weeks ago.”
Levi could practically feel the surge of adrenaline through Caroline’s body. All her muscles tensed. “And you didn’t tell me that?”
“This was before we discovered she wasn’t at Beatrice’s,” the baron defended himself. “It didn’t seem so important then.”
“But when you learned she wasn’t there, you couldn’t have told me? I thought no one had heard from her in weeks!” Caroline looked as if she might spit. “I thought—I didn’t know what could have happened to her! I want to see that letter!”
“I haven’t got it with me,” her father said, exasperated. “For pity’s sake. She told us not to worry over her and that she’d be home when she was ready. Like I said—spoiled.” He shook his head and went into the dining room.
“I can’t believe that,” Caroline breathed. “I can’t believe the two of them.Howcould they not have told me that?”
Levi wanted to say something to calm her down, to reassure her. But words failed him. Because he felt she was entirely in the right, and he was just as appalled as she was.
CHAPTER 16
When dinner had come to an end, the group split up. Caroline and her parents returned to the sitting room for a conversation Levi hoped would involve the state of their marriage and how happy Caroline truly was. Arabella went out to check on her children. Bridget found her way to the pianoforte and began to pick out a soft melody. Her notes were hesitant at first, but before long, she flowed into an easy tune that seemed to fill the whole house. Levi had to admit that he found it very pleasant.
“May I speak to you in private?” William asked him.
Levi looked at the other man. The Duke of Redmayne was a formidable figure, but he didn’t look particularly intimidating now. His expression was neutral, and though he asked for a private conversation, Levi didn’t perceive any discomfort. “Certainly,” he said. “Shall we go to my study?”
They made their way through the hall. The music faded as they walked away from the others. “She really is quite good,” Levi said as they entered the study.
He had only been making conversation, but William nodded as he took a seat. “That’s a part of what I wanted to speak to you about, in point of fact.”
“You brought me in here to speak to me about Lady Bridget’s skill on the pianoforte?”
“No, no, not that specifically,” William clarified. “I wanted to talk to you about the family as a whole. About Lord and Lady Highgate, and about the way they relate to their daughters and their niece. I know this dinner has been a bit…”
“Chaotic?”
“To say the least.” William cracked a smile. “I did see you defending Caroline.”
“I don’t like the way they speak to her.”
