Muttering an oath, he turned around and went back down the corridor, trying to remember what exactly she’d said when she’d left the drawing room. Definitely something about going to her bedroom. So where was she?
He ran down the staircase, charging through each reception room in turn. Damn it, why did he have so many rooms? And why hadn’t he gone to check on her sooner? If she’d sneaked out of the house again, in a distressed frame of mind… It wasn’tstormy today, but what if she’d had another accident? His heart stalled at the thought. He had to go after her…
Except apparently he didn’t have to. He came to an abrupt halt as he strode back into the hall. There she was, coming through the front door at this very moment, looking utterly calm and composed, as though she’d simply stepped out for a breath of fresh air.
‘Florence.’ He hurried to greet her. ‘Are you all right?’
‘Yes.’ She didn’t look at him.
‘I thought you were in your bedroom?’
‘I changed my mind. Where’s Amabel?’
‘She and Major Vaughan left, but they’re staying at the inn in the village for a couple of nights. I offered them a room, but they thought it best to give you some time.’ He put his hands on her shoulders. ‘How are you feeling?’
She blinked, as if the question puzzled her, before taking a step backwards, so that his hands fell away again. ‘About as good as you might expect. We need to talk.’
He frowned, taken aback by the coolness of her tone, following as she led the way into his study. ‘Where did you go? I was worried.’
‘Were you?’ She walked straight past the chaise longue, going to stand beside his desk.
‘Of course.’
‘It’s not such a strange question. A month ago when I was really in trouble it took two hours for anyone to even notice I was gone. You weren’t so worried then.’
‘I wasn’t here. I told you that.’
‘But were you worried when you heard what had happened? Or did some part of you feel disappointed that I was found at all?’
‘No!’ He staggered as though she’d just struck him. ‘I’ve never wanted anything bad to happen to you, Florence.’
She narrowed her eyes, studying him intently for a few seconds. ‘Maybe not, but I doubt you were too bothered either way.’
‘You’re upset. It’s understandable, given what Amabel just told us, but, Florence, we’re in the same boat. We were both tricked into this marriage.’
‘The sameboat?’ She gave a disparaging laugh. ‘Oh, no. We may be on the same ocean, but our boats are completely different!Youwere tricked.Iwas tricked and then blamed for it.’ She pointed a finger at him. ‘And you never even gave me the benefit of the doubt!’
‘You’re right.’ He bowed his head as he walked towards her. ‘I completely misjudged you, but only because all of the evidence pointed in your direction. There was no other explanation.’
‘What aboutmyevidence? I told you at the time I was innocent, but you wouldn’t listen. It never even occurred to you that I was telling the truth. You believed Amabel because she was one of you, one of theton!’ She seemed to hurl as much contempt as she could muster into the word. ‘Whereas I was just a nobody.’
‘I never said that.’ He clenched his jaw. ‘You were never a nobody.’
‘But you assumed I was a fortune hunter! Because what womanwouldn’thave seized a chance to marry the great and dignified Marquess of Rainton?’
‘Florence—’
‘That’s what you thought, wasn’t it? That any woman would be honoured to marry you.’ She pushed her face closer to his. ‘How does it feel to know that Amabel went to such extreme lengths just to escape your proposal?’
‘She was in love with somebody else.’
‘Because obviously therehadto be a reason. It couldn’t simply have been that she didn’t like you.’
He stiffened. ‘You’re upset.’
‘Yes, I’m upset.’ Her eyes flashed. ‘Because I remember.’
‘Your memory…?’ He felt very cold suddenly.
