And then Louisa’s walls broke. Tears brimmed over her lower eyelid, and she pressed her brow against her mother’s shoulder, weeping like a small child who needed comfort.
“Shhhh,” the dowager consoled, gently rocking and rubbing her back. “It will be all right. It is not too late.” She kissed the top of her head, holding her tightly until Louisa’s tears finally dried up.
Louisa straightened, wiping her cheek. “I suppose I have some groveling to do, don’t I?” She sniffled.
“I do not think it will take too much groveling. Men are quicker to forget offenses than we are.” Her mother smiled, wiping a tear-soaked strand of hair back from Louisa’s cheek. “Especially once you learn the art of using our feminine wiles.”
Louisa laughed into her handkerchief as she mopped her face. Staring down at it, she was reminded of her boxing lesson with Robert, and the way he was hesitant to touch her. How far they had come in a few short months. He let her into his walls and only wanted her to do the same for him. And now, she finally had hope that she could. It wouldn’t be easy or comfortable, but with time, she could let him in.
Louisa was broken from her thoughts as rushed footsteps sounded in the hall.
“Whatever is that?” the dowager asked, leaning back to see the door.
After a moment, Violet appeared, her chest heaving as she rushed toward them with a paper in hand. “Louisa, you need to see this.” She shoved the paper toward her.
“Violet, what is the matter?”
“Look at the front page.”
Louisa did as she was told, and immediately she saw it.Peers turned Pugilists. She put a hand to her mouth. “Robert.”
“What?” her mother asked, leaning over to see. “I do not understand. What is this about?”
“How did they find out?” Louisa asked aloud.
“Violet,” her mother said, turning to her for answers as Louisa scoured the paper for more details.
“It appears the duke was involved in some sort of secret boxing ring,” Violet said.
“Boxing ring?” The dowager sounded more perplexed than anything. “I can hardly believe it. Why would a duke be involved in such a thing?”
“It is something he enjoys,” Louisa said distractedly as her eyes flew over the words. It appeared that some sloppily placed bets made people suspicious, causing tongues to wag and resulting in the boxing ring being discovered. “Oh, Robert.” She closed her eyes. He was all alone. The man who hated to be the center of attention, yet was forced into it because of his station in life, was now on the front page of likely every newspaper around. The one thing that had been his passion was now to be ripped from him.
And she wasn’t there to help.
“When was this?” Louisa asked aloud, looking at Violet.
“The paper was printed today, but as we are outside of London, the article seems to be several days after the fact.”
“Several days?” Louisa stood, throwing the paper back onto the chair.
Violet wrung her hands together. “What are you going to do?”
Louisa stopped midway to the door, hand to the frame. “I’m going home to be with my husband.”
Louisa put her hand on the door handle as Henry’s carriage came rolling to a stop in front of Stonemoore. Before the coachman could even get down from his seat, she had the door flung open and was rushing toward the front steps. As she feared, reporters were swarming about, waiting for a chance tosee Robert and pelt him with questions. Louisa pushed her way through, ignoring the voices as she made her way to the door.
Brooks opened the door after she knocked again and again. His eyes widened, and he immediately ushered her inside.
“Your Grace,” he said with a bow. “I had not expected you.”
“Yes, I know. My trunk is still in the carriage outside if you could have someone fetch it.”
“Of course.”
“And where is his grace?”
“I believe he is upstairs in his room.”
