The doorto Aubrey’s townhouse wasn’t opened for him right away. After what felt like a lifetime, however, an unfamiliar servant peeked outside. “The Mistress is away from home.” When the man went to close the door again, however, Chance reached out one foot to prevent it from closing.
“Do you know where she went?”
“She left early this morning, but I do not have the liberty of sharing her whereabouts with strangers.” The man glanced pointedly down to Chance’s foot. “Now, if you’ll be so kind—“
“Did she take her dog with her? Surely you can answer me this.”
“Her dog, sir?”
“Lancelot. Red haired, short legged creature.”
The servant frowned.
“Sleeps with his tongue out and his eyes open.”
“Ah… the dog. Yes, sir, the dog is gone as well.”
This line of questioning wasn’t going anywhere. “Where is Carrington? Is he available?”
“Oh, no sir, he’s been given time off, until the mistress returns, sir.”
Chance’s shoulders slumped.
Dandy Dick may have been optimistic in hoping she’d not take the dog with her to his mother’s house, but it would seem he hadn’t realized the stubbornness of Aubrey Bloomington.
“If you’ll excuse me, Sir,”
Chance removed his foot and the door slammed shut.
How many times had he told himself this was over? How many times had he convinced himself that his efforts were useless? And then found hope in some meaningless clue or gesture…
At last, it seemed, he would believe it was over. Irritated with himself for grasping at hope again, he returned to Chauncey house and collected the pack Edwards had prepared for him. Just as he was about to exit through one of the back doors to the mews, his housekeeper rushed outside to catch him.
“Your Grace, Your Grace! I thought you’d already departed forSecours!”
Chance halted but didn’t have the energy to turn around. “I am leaving now, Mrs. Nichols.”
“A lady came by for you. I told her you’d gone.”
A lady?
He turned. Was it possible? Upon her announcement, the housekeeper had his complete attention. “Did she give you her name?”
“Mrs. Bloomington, Your Grace.”
But what did it mean? Did it change anything? “What did she say?”
The woman furrowed her brows. “She asked where you’d gone, and I told her you’d departed forSecours.” She winced. “I thought you’d already left town, Your Grace. Mr. Edwards left nearly two days ago, and you were gone… along with your horse. Beg your pardon, Your Grace.”
Chance inhaled with a shudder.
Perhaps she had come, after all, to deliver her answer in person. At least she esteemed him enough to do that, he thought cynically.
She’d come to say Goodbye.
Because goodbye’s mattered. What must she have thought to learn that he’d already departed? Chance shook his head.
It didn’t matter.
