“There. Now you can go,” Vivian said.
Caroline jumped up and made it halfway across the room before she paused. She hurried back to Vivi and gave her friend a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you. You are the best of friends.” Then she hurried down the stairs and out into the main house.
When she reached the entrance hall, she spotted Jones speaking with two of the footmen. “Jones, pardon me, but did you see Lord Wrotham come through here?”
“Yes, miss. I believe he was heading for the stables.”
“Thank you, Jones.”
Once outside, Caroline raced across the lawns to the stables. She didn’t have to go far to find Cage and Sullivan. The horse was already saddled. “Morgan,” she called out.
When Cage turned, he did not look pleased to see her. Her bottom lip trembled at his stony countenance. But then his expression softened. “Caroline, I have to make haste. I don’t want to lose her trail if she is not at Taitlands.”
Caroline moved closer. She reached out to stroke Sullivan’s neck, finding it easier than reaching for the man in front of her and risking his rejection.
“The stable master said William is missing too. They took a pair of horses but left a note that they would return them.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what she was thinking. If she wanted to go home, I would have taken her.”
“Cage, when you return, we need to finish our conversation.”
“There is nothing more to say. I won’t be back.”
Caroline gasped at the finality of his tone. Cage reached for her and took her mouth in a scorching kiss. His lips slid against hers, desperate, punishing. Then he pulled away, mounted his horse, and rode out into the bright morning sunshine.
His words echoed in her head. She pressed a fist to her mouth. No. He was not allowed to tell her that he loved her and then run away. She strode out of the shadows of the stable and headed for the house. Stupid, foolish, misguided. She tried to recall the curse words Vivian had taught her long ago; he deserved to be called all of them. He would be back.
Would he? Caroline turned the corner, thinking to go into the house through the back, and found the terrace filled with guests sitting at round tables having luncheon. She pulled up short.Blast,was it already time for luncheon? Pasting on a smile, she edged her way around the tables, sticking close to the house. But she could never escape her mother’s eagle eye.
“Caroline.” Her mother waved from several tables down.
The best course of action was to pretend she hadn’t heard her. Keeping her head down, Caroline rushed across the flagstones. She sighed in relief when she hit the cool interior of the house. The last thing she wanted to do now with her feelings bubbling so close to the surface was make polite small talk with her mother’s friends.
Unfortunately, her relief was short-lived. Emerging from the painting gallery were three of Caroline’s friends from town.
“I tell you, Danville promised me he would not socialize with that man anymore.”
“But you’ve left him alone in town. How do you know what trouble he is getting into? You should have insisted that he come with you this week.”
“I heard that Devonshire was quite obsessed with Caroline and that they forcefully ejected him from Gilchrest House at last week’s ball.”
Caroline quickly sprinted down the corridor before she was spotted. She turned the knob to slip inside Andrew’s study. No guests would dare encroach on his sanctuary. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the door.
“What’s wrong, little sister? You look positively ashen.” The deep gravel of Jack’s voice called out.
She popped open her eyes. Andrew and Jack sat in the middle of the rug with Jack’s two children, an army of tin soldiers spread between them. On his hands and knees, Robert pushed a red cannon along the edge of the fireplace’s unlit hearth. Baby Elizabeth sat next to Jack and seemed to relish taking her hand and plowing through the troops.
All of her resolve to be angry at Cage, to follow him to Taitlands, and make him listen to reason, drained from her. She stumbled forward. To steady herself, she gripped the back of a nearby chair. “He’s gone.”
“Who’s gone?” Andrew asked. “Wrotham?”
She nodded. “He had to go to Taitlands.”
“What? Will he be back for your birthday ball?” Andrew asked.
She shook her head. “I don’t think he’s coming back.” Her chin trembled, and her eyes filled despite her best effort to swallow the tears.
“What do you mean?” Jack scrambled to his feet.
“I think it’s over between us.” Fat tears leaked from the corners of her eyes as the truth sliced through her heart.
