Cait was lost to him forever.
She would always possess his heart, but he had no right to go to her now.
If he were selfish, he would ask her to be his lover, to be his, and live with him the rest of his days, but that would be unfair to her when he was not in a position to marry her.
Once Pickmore joined them, Julian explained about his father’s financial manipulation, how he convinced the Home Office to terminate his employment and make it impossible for him to find another position if he did not marry Imogene, and that she carried Grayson’s child. Julian had only written that he’d be marrying Imogene but did not provide a reason. He promised to tell them later, because after writing to Cait, he did not want to keep having to explain to each individuel Devil.
What he didnottell them was that his father was using blackmail that could see them all ruined and possibly put in danger. It was not important that they knew, and it changed nothing.
“Does Cait know why you married?” Claudia asked.
“Yes. She received a full explanation, unlike the rest of you.” Though he hadn’t told her everything either.
“That still does not explain why you are here, now,” Norbright said.
Julian groaned and then told them of the horrific conversation he had with Imogene on their wedding night.
When he was finished, they all refilled their glasses and sat in silence.
What else could they say?
“Do not tell Cait,” he insisted. “I would rather she hate me for marrying another instead of pitying me for the mess I found myself in.”
“I am sorry, Julian,” Norbright finally offered.
“As am I,” Pickmore echoed.
“I would rather what I told you tonight not leave this room, ever. I do not want the truth known, and I certainly do not want Miss Doyle to know.” He turned his focus to Pickmore because he was apparently courting a friend of Cait’s who also taught at the school. “Nor her friends.”
Pickmore nodded his agreement.
“What are you going to do?” Norbright asked.
“Tomorrow, I return to the Home Office to find out what assignments they may have for me. Once the child is born, then I will decide what I will do about my marriage.”
“You were to resign from the Home Office,” Norbright reminded him.
“I see no reason to do so now. As I do not want to return home, I might as well serve my country. However, all my belongings that were at my father's estate will be arriving here in a few days. Would you be so kind as to store them until they can be retrieved?”
“Of course,” Norbright answered.
He would need to find new lodgings for himself. A place where his wife would not come looking for him.
Perhaps the Albany. Women weren’t allowed beyond the doors, so he’d be safe from her inside.
Bloody hell! He worked for the Home Office but was considering places where he could hide from his wife.
“Is this something you are certain that you want to do?” Pickmore asked.
“Yes. Serving King and Country is the only thing that makes sense right now.”
As Cait had been denied him, there was no further purpose in trying to find love and happiness. Those had been stripped from him by a conniving witch of a wife.
Chapter Twelve
Hatley Park, Bath, England, June 1809 ~ Five years later
“Julian Davis Royce Cedric Ashford,it is about time you arrived.”
