Oh.Right. Business. She had spent the evening telling herself that he would come. That she was being foolish for watching the clock, for glancing at the doors each time she heard the faintest sound in the manor. And this was all that her husband had to say to her in response.
“Why are you still awake?”
“I was waiting for you.” Rachel inhaled sharply, lifting her chin.
Something flickered across his face, but he did not answer.
“I thought the days of waiting for you in the long hours of the night were over,” Rachel sighed, finally allowing herself a moment of vulnerability. “But you’ve put me in that position again.”
“Rachel, you should not wait up for me,” he sighed.
“But I did,” came the reply. “You missed dinner.”
“It could not be helped.” His reply was so cold that it almost made her shiver.
It could have been helped, she thought bitterly. He could have sent word. Could have told her not to wait, could have?—
”I prepared something special,” she continued foolishly in some vague hopes that he would redeem himself any moment.
“There was no need to,” Simon replied tautly.
Rachel stared at him, confusion knitting her brows.There was no need to?
“No need to?” she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief. “Simon, I wanted to have dinner with you. Surely you can understand?—”
“We have had dinner many times together before,” Simon interrupted her halfway. “I do not see how this time would have been any different or special. You should not waste the staff resources and time in preparing elaborate feasts when you do not even know if the guests are going to be in attendance.”
Rachel felt a sting at that.Thatwas a bit too harsh.
”What has gotten into you?” she asked, searching his face. “Yesterday?—”
She could not bring herself to complete the sentence. Heknewvery well how he behaved yesterday and how it was miles away from the man in front of her now.
“Rachel,” he said warningly, as if he already knew what she was about to ask next.
“Were you really out for business?”
“Do not start with this…”
”Because I cannot help but wonder, Simon,” she murmured, “what kind of business keeps a man away the morning after?—”
“That is enough.” His voice was sharp, and his expression had hardened. “We have gone over this before, and I have already assured you that I do not have a mistress.”
“Thenwhydo you stay out late like this?” Rachel felt desperation clutch at her sides. She knew that these accusations from her side were crazy, but what was she to do? She only wished to know more about her husband and the places that he kept company. “I thought that we had progressed and that you were going to give me more answers now.”
“Rachel,” he said so calmly that it only irked her, “you are exhausted. Go to bed.”
Rachel stared at him, her breath unsteady. “You always do this.”
“So perhaps it is time that you start listening.” He shot her a pointed look. “Good night, Duchess.”
And with that, he simply walked away as if it was nothing at all while Rachel was left staring in confusion.
Maybe I should have considered his schedule more,Rachel found herself thinking at the breakfast table the next morning. Simon’s late arrival had spoiled her dinner plans, but a part of her wondered if she should have blamed him when he did not even know that such a dinner was happening.
You are being oddly optimistic,a voice in her head rang out, but she ignored it. So what if she was? It was better than presuming the worst and making herself miserable well in advance.
“Very well then.” She folded her napkin out in front of her. She was waiting for him at the breakfast table now. A nervous-looking butler hovered close to her. “Is His Grace planning to make an appearance?”
