As she watched, the gamekeeper moved out of view and exited the building. Now she would see who was the woman the man dallied with. It was but a minute more before a figure moved to stand before the window.
Her heart stopped. She knew that silhouette. “Darius.”
Confusion, concern, and anger twirled inside her like a galaxy. She lifted her head and looked out the window. What was her husband doing on the property when he was supposed to be traveling? Her chest tightened. Was ithethat had a mistress? Tears sprang to her eyes. She knew it was the norm, but it hurt nonetheless, and to have the woman on the estate was too much to bear.
And she wouldn’t.
She strode out of the room and headed down the hall. Quickly, she ducked into her bedroom and exchanged her light robe for a warmer one before continuing to the grand staircase. Descending quickly, she stopped long enough to wrap her cloak about her before striding through the parlor and outside. She stopped after coming to the half-circle at the bottom of thesteps of the parlor terrace. She and the children always took the path to the right, toward the north wood, but only to the baby Neptune fountain. It hadn’t occurred to her to explore further, to discover more.
Now, she would remedy that oversight. She continued through the gardens, past two more fountains, and out across a large field. Though she could see no lights, she knew the building to be in the north wood. Her pace quickened as her fury festered. But deep down, where she dared not look, was an immense hurt that made her belly ache far worse than Peter taking ipecac sherry.
When she reached the wood, she turned back to look at the house. Her glass terrace gave a faint glow from the two lanterns within it. She gauged her position and where she remembered seeing the lights.
She walked along the tree line, peering into the trees. The moonlight didn’t shine where she was, as the bank of clouds remained in place. The one time she wished for moonlight, it hid as if in fear of a black hole.
Continuing on, she kept her gaze sharp, so when a distinct opening in the trees revealed a path, she silently shouted in triumph. It had to be a path to the little house. She didn’t hesitate in starting forward. The ground sloped slightly upward at first before going into a gradual decline, no doubt what kept her from seeing any light in the field. The path also wound its way about as if purposely making it difficult to travel, but she wouldn’t stop.
Finally, light revealed itself between the trees, and she quickened her pace. As the building came into view, she understood now what it was. It looked to be an old bathhouse—there was probably a pond nearby. She didn’t care anymore what it was. All she cared about was confronting her husband and his mistress.
She’d thought Darius was happy with her. She was wrong. She hadn’t been good enough, just as her mother always warned, but she’d let herself believe that she was.
She didn’t slow her pace as she reached the door, turned the knob, and burst in.
—
Darius spun away from the fireplace at the sound of the door banging against the wall. “Ellie!” He stared in horror at his wife. Her finding him was far worse than any nightmare he’d ever had.
She slammed the door behind her and scanned the room as if looking for someone. Then she snapped her angry blue gaze back to him. “Why are you here?”
And there it was, the question he’d dreaded. The question he knew better than to answer. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Ishouldn’t be here?” Her voice rose. “Ishouldn’t be here?” She took a step forward. “Youshouldn’t be here. You had business to attend to. You would be gone for days, or so you said.”
She scanned the room again, this time her gaze stopping on the unmade bed, then continuing to the dirty glasses on the sideboard and his plate with the remnants of his meal still upon it—all of it making it clear he’d been hiding.Damn.
“You’ve been here.” Her shock was clear in her whispered words.
How could he deny it? Why did fate offer him a glimpse of what his life could be like only to take it away like this? But he couldn’t let it go. He’d fight for what he’d seen could be.
“Yes. I will be home soon. I promise. You need to go back to the house.” He snapped his mouth shut over the words that almost came out. Hewantedto tell her she’d been duped into marrying a madman.
She cocked her head and lowered her brows. “I don’t understand. Why are you here?”
He took a step toward her then halted. Her vibrancy and warmth called to him, but it would do no good. He would taint it, turn her cold if he said too much. “I promise, I will tell you when I return. But you must leave now.” He curled his hands into fists, trying to stay in control of his tongue, and not let the doomed monster inside get out.
“Why? Are you expecting someone? A woman, perhaps?” Her tone was harsh.
“A woman?” He snorted. The idea was laughable. He couldn’t even keeponewoman happy. He certainly didn’t need another. “It’s not so simple as that. I can’t explain it to you now. You must leave.” His voice had turned cold, but he wasn’t capable of changing it. He was losing ground.
She crossed her arms. “Why not now? I’m here. Why does where we are make a difference?”
“Damn it, it’s not where, it’s when! Just go.” He pointed toward the door, praying she’d leave.Please.
He’d never raised his voice or cursed in front of her before, and it obviously startled her, but she wasn’t Dinah, a faint miss, who perpetuated her revenge by stealth. Ellie was fire and brimstone personified, wanting him to confess his sins before her…now.
“I’m your wife. I deserve to know why you have lied to me.”
Her only worry was that he’d lied? It was laughable compared to what sheshouldbe worried about. Yet guilt raised its ugly head, showing him the truth—that he didn’t deserve her. But now he wasn’t sure he could live without her. It wasn’t fair! “I did it to protect you. Now leave!”
