Mr. Trench stood up to exit the room, but Rhys was fast on his heels and stopped him.
“Where do you think you are going?” Rhys asked.
“To hunt down that dog and drag him back here.”
Kitty looked up from Louisa’s arms, seemingly dazed at Mr. Trench’s harsh tone.
“He’s no longer welcome here, Trench. There’s no reason to bring him back here.”
“That vile rat needs to pay for dishonoring Miss Babcock.”
“You mean to challenge him?”
“If need be.”
“No,” Kitty cried, but Louisa told her to hush.
“And who is she to you?” Rhys asked loudly, so that Louisa and her sister could hear.
“I…” Mr. Trench paused before shaking his head. “It’s the principle of the matter.”
“Dueling is illegal and having never spent time on a battlefield, Mr. Trench, I can assure you that maiming a man will not lessen the sting Miss Babcock feels. If anything, this is a great stroke of luck.”
“Luck?” Kitty squawked. “How can you say something so unfeeling—”
“Miss Babcock, you will not be returning to London. You will rest and recover from your heartache here and come next spring, your sister and I will provide you a proper season, if any gossip about this little elopement can be kept quiet. In the meantime, let us recognize the blessing that has happened. Lord Dawson was a dishonorable cad and has gone and will not return, coward that he is. You’ve avoided a decidedly bad marriage, and I believe that’s something to be grateful for.”
Though it was evident that Mr. Trench was at odds with Rhys’s reason, he nodded and turned, exiting the house to do heaven knew what.
Louisa hurried Kitty up the stairs and ordered a bath to be brought up. After much crying and soothing, she put her sister to bed and crept out of the room. Though running away wouldhave a terrible impact on Kitty’s reputation, Louisa couldn’t help but focus on her sister’s heartbreak. Her own heart was pierced knowing that Kitty had been tossed aside without so much as an apology.
Louisa had quietly exited the room, only to be met by Rhys.
“How is she?”
“She’ll survive, although I don’t know if her reputation will,” Louisa whispered as she folded her arms across her chest. Rhys pulled her into his arms and held her as she stared blankly down the hallway. “What are we going to do, Rhys? What if Lord Dawson tells everyone?”
“He’ll do no such thing. He’s still on the hunt for a rich bride. I doubt a failed elopement would help his cause.”
“Still, Kitty is so devastated.”
“Aye, and she will be for some time I imagine. But at least she’s here with you. And we’ll be able to watch over her and protect her from any other Lord Dawsons that might show up. It’s better this way, Louisa. At least now she’ll think twice about marriage proposals and peers and the like. Won’t she?”
“I suppose so. It’s just so unfair. To be used like she was. It’s infuriating.”
“Yes, but all we can do is keep her comfortable and hopefully she’ll grow out of this heartbreak one day.” He paused. “People don’t stay heartbroken forever, do they?”
“No,” Louisa said, glancing up at him. “They don’t.”
“There’s a good girl,” he whispered, and Louisa involuntarily shook at his gentle comment.
It was outrageous that a handful of words could turn her insides to warm jelly, but then Rhys smiled, bent down, and kissed her as deeply and as hungrily as possible. It was beyond indecent to be doing so in the hallway, outside of a guest’s room, but Louisa couldn’t find it in herself to stop it. Snugged tightlyagainst her husband’s large, warm body, she knew this was the place she was always meant to be.
Breaking her mouth from his, she spoke slowly.
“I love you, Rhys. So very much.”
“I love you too, Louisa. Come,” he said, pulling her hand down the hallway towards their rooms.
