“We’re done here.” Addison rose, tossing his napkin on his chair. He’d allowed this to go too far. “Lord Huntly, Lady Huntly. My apologies, Chaswick, my lady.”
He didn’t bother with any other niceties as he bolted from the room, anxious to catch up to Collette who’d already managed to flee.
He needed to get to her. He’d purchase that special license and they could be married by this time tomorrow.
Damn his mother to hell.
He’d grown rather fond of the idea of marrying Collette. More than fond, actually. His heart squeezed at the possibility that Collette might change her mind.
“Miss Jones wished to relay to her family that she will meet them at home.” Addison’s butler was all disapproval as he imparted Collette’s message. Sensing excitement, Zeus and Hera appeared in the entry as well.
“Tell Lord Chaswick I’ll ensure her safe return.” And without bothering to wait for an answer, Addison flew out the door.
He was so intent on catching up with her, he didn’t bother rebuking the dogs when they raced along the walk beside him.
Too High of Expectations
Collette’s hand trembled as she brushed a tear away. She’d known she would not be welcomed by his mother. She’d known joining his family was going to be an uphill climb. But not in a thousand years would she have believed the duchess could be so impossibly rude.
The Duchess of Bedwell hated her. The woman had made assumptions as to Collette’s character knowing only the circumstances of her birth. Collette had suspected this would be the case. She’d not for a second believed his mother would accept her, let alone welcome her.
She was all the more annoyed with herself for hoping for anything different.
Head down, Collette marched along the walk, hating that she’d lost control to the extent that she’d stormed out of Addison’s home in a fit of temper—hating that the duchess had been able to hurt her.
Breaking down like this was most unbecoming of a lady. Sometime during dinner, it seemed, she’d missed the turn that would keep her on the high road.
A sound came out of her, part sob, part laugh, part horror.
Her manners had never been the problem. There was no level of proper behavior that could ever overcome the way his mother viewed her.
Such animosity was only so great, Collette knew, because the woman wanted the best for her son.
It was Collette, not his mother, who had placed him in this predicament. All because she wanted him! Of course, she wanted him. She might possibly even love him.
No “might possibly” about it.
She loved him.
And she was hurting him in the process.
If she and Addison were to marry, a deep chasm would grow between him and his mother. And what of his sister?
He’d never told Collette he loved her. He liked kissing her. He enjoyed her company. But even if he did love her, how long before he resented her for tearing apart his family?
And then there was her own family to consider. Chase and Bethany had gone out of their way, risked their place in society in order to open up opportunities for her and Diana and Sarah.
The duchess would not take a marriage between Collette and Addison laying down. No doubt, she would use every chance she could to disparage her new daughter-in-law. And in doing so, cause trouble for everyone Collette loved.
Ah, yes, she’d learned more from Miss Robin than she’d thought.
And she’d been fooling herself, playing along with this charade of an engagement.
“Collette!” Addison called from behind her.
She wanted nothing more than to run into his arms, but new doubts… old one’s really, revived by his mother, held her back.
“You shouldn’t follow me,” she shouted over her shoulder. But neither should she be walking alone, with darkness setting in quickly. A couple strolling along the opposite side of the street stared at her curiously.
