“Robert?” she asked again when he did not answer.
“I think I need some air.” He loosened his cravat. Perhaps a physical outlet would help him sort out his thoughts and feelings. As of now, they were stuck in his head, buzzing about as bees in a hive—irritated and ready to sting whatever came near.
“A walk, perhaps?” she suggested.
“No. I think I need to leave for a few hours.” He allowed himself to meet her eyes again. To her credit, she looked sympathetic—perhaps shewouldcry if he died, even if for themere loss of life instead of who he was as a person. “Will you be fine here by yourself?”
“Of course. Though,” she looked beyond him to the front door, “I might visit my family if you do not need me. I only wish I could be of more help, but I do not want to intrude on your sister, and Arabella will likely not be back for some time.”
“You might be surprised.” He could not stanch his sarcastic tone. If his mother found Jessica in the same state that Robert had, she might decide her visit superfluous and opt to spend her time in a more productive manner.
“Perhaps I should stay.” Her eyes roamed his face, her fair brow creasing as she placed a gentle hand on his arm.
“I shall be fine. Please, go and spend time with your family.” With people she loved and cared for. Who, if they passed, she would weep freely over.
Giving him a small nod, she went to fetch her things. “Louisa,” he began, taking her elbow before she passed him by. He needed some thread of connection to life. Something to ground him to reality. Her eyes brightened at his touch. “Why did you marry me?”
Seeming to notice his fragile state, her face softened into a smile. “Because you were thoughtful enough to ask.” She gave his arm a squeeze as she pulled away from his grasp. The soft, feminine scent that always followed her lingered in the air as she walked up the first few steps, looking back at him one final time before disappearing upstairs.
Well, if he was to be alone, then he knew precisely where he planned to go and work out all these feelings.
Chapter twelve
Louisa came down thefront steps of Stonemoore, planning to head to Henry and Violet’s for a visit, when she saw the duke swing himself atop a horse and gallop down the drive. So, when the coachman asked her where she wished to go, she could not help her curiosity. “Do you know where his grace is headed?”
The man looked at the duke’s retreating form, bringing cautious eyes back to her. “I believe he is going for a ride.”
“Yes, I can see that. But where?”
“He did not inform me.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You seem to know where hemightbe going.”
“Where can I take you, Your Grace?” Gulliver carefully changed the line of conversation.
“You may take me where his grace sneaks off to periodically.”
He did not even flinch. “I cannot do that.”
Gritting her teeth, she fisted her hands, keeping a close eye on her husband. “Very well. I shall have a horse saddled andgo myself.” Tugging her gloves for effect, she strode toward the back of the house where the stables resided.
“No, Your Grace—”
Louisa heard shuffling as Gulliver rushed after her. “I cannot take you. He does not wish anyone to follow.”
“I am going whether you take me or not.” She kept walking, chin raised in the air.
“You are putting me in a difficult situation. I cannot take you, but his grace would be very upset if I let you go to that part of town unaccompanied.”
Louisa spun about, meeting his startled eyes. “If his grace is upset with you, I shall place the blame upon myself. As you said, I am putting you in an impossible situation. He cannot be upset with you for choosing the lesser of two troubles.”
Gulliver looked back down the drive, a mischievous smile flicking over his lips before returning to his business-like indifference. “Unfortunately, his grace seems to be gone. I could not follow him if I tried.”
Unbeknownst to him, Louisa had seen the duke turn at the end of the drive. “But you know where he is going,” she ground out.
“I do not believe I claimed that knowledge. Now, shall I take you somewhere else?”
“No.” She spun on her heel, marching toward the stables. If Gulliver would not be of help to her, she would find another way.
