And here he’d been falling in love with her. Oh, what a fool he’d been to believe love was in his grasp. Gemma had left the moment she had a chance. And she hadn’t just left. Oh, no. She’d ruined his reputation first. The story in the paper had seen to that. In addition to making him a laughingstock, the scandal of a divorce would ruin his family’s name.
He’d first seen the story in theTimeswhen he’d got home this afternoon, and his first inclination was to rip the bloody thing to shreds. Then he’d considered going to the paper’s offices and burning them down, or at least threatening the editors until he was given the name of the chap who’d printed the blasted story.
But it didn’t matter, Lucian had finally determined. Gemma would just find another way to humiliate him. She must have believed that giving the story to the papers would help her cause and convince him to allow her the divorce. Only she was sorely mistaken. She’d just started a war. A war that he fully intended to win. Now he would never grant her the divorce. Never.
When he first realized she’d gone, he’d considered tearing apart the town to look for her. But that wouldn’t do. That would just cause more of a scandal. Besides, no doubt she was at her brother’s house. Where else would she be? If Lucian had anything to say to her, he could find here there. And he would. He would find her and inform her that he intended to make her attempts at securing a divorce nearly impossible.
But first, he’d make her wait.
He stalked to the window and glared out onto the street below. He’d never been more aware of his struggle to quell his emotions. He wanted to shatter the bloody window with his fist. He wanted to howl at the top of his lungs. He wanted to —
A knock on the door startled him.
He blew out a deep breath. “Come in,” he called.
Mrs. Howard stepped into the room. “Your Grace, Anna came home quite upset.”
“Who is Anna?” Lucian barked.
“Her Grace’s maid. She was with her on her shopping expedition today. Anna said Her Grace made a stop at the milliner’s and went in alone. The coach was delayed in traffic, and when they came back around, Her Grace wasn’t there. They couldn’t find her. Anna’s quite worried.”
Lucian looked down at the crumpled note in his hand, stalked over to the fireplace, and tossed it inside. Bloody hell. It missed the flames and fell to the side untouched.
But what did he care? To hell with his wife and her deceptions. “Tell Anna not to worry,” he replied in a deceptively calm voice, carefully readjusting his mask of indifference. “Her Grace has gone to visit her brother.”
When Lucian heard the door close behind him, he assumed Mrs. Howard had left. But a slight noise caused him to turn, only to see the housekeeper still quietly standing there.
“I have something to tell you, Your Grace,” Mrs. Howard began.
Lucian scrubbed a hand through his hair again and bowed his head. “I don’t think I want to hear it.”
“You must,” the housekeeper insisted.
At Lucian’s nod, she took a deep breath. “I found Her Grace in the nursery yesterday.”
Lucian closed his eyes. Now heknewhe didn’t want to hear this. He gave only a curt nod.
“Her Grace was worried about your future children.”
Lucian made a noise halfway between a growl and a pained groan.
“I know I shouldn’t have done it,” Mrs. Howard continued, “but she asked me questions about your childhood. And I answered them.”
Lucian kept his eyes closed. Damn. Damn. Damn. If it had been any other servant.Anyof them but Mrs. Howard, they would be out on their ear right now. He opened his eyes. “What did you tell her?” he asked, his jaw clenched.
“I told her the truth, Your Grace.” There were tears in the older woman’s eyes. “I told her that your father wouldn’t allow you to be touched, and your Mother had to sneak in to hold you. I told her that you were alone until you went to school, and you were punished for showing emotion. I told her that His Grace was the type of man who only cared about appearances and who punished your mother by refusing to speak to her for days, sometimes weeks, at a time.”
Lucian’s teeth were clenched so tight his jaw ached. “You had no right.”
Mrs. Howard hung her head. “I know that, Your Grace. And if you wish to send me away without a reference, I will understand. But I must tell you that there was something I didn’t tell Her Grace. Something I’ve known since you were a baby. Something that makes all the difference.”
Damn it, if those weren’t tears stinging the backs of his eyes. But he’ddiebefore he allowed them to fall. “What is it, Mrs. Howard?”
“That you arenothinglike your father, Your Grace. He was a cold man who never showed love a day in his life. You are a man who is filled with love but was forced to hide it. And at the risk of saying even more than I should, I believe your wife is the woman who can finally allow you to share that love.”
Lucian’s throat worked. This was excruciating. What could he possibly say? “Mrs. Howard?—”
“Wait,” Mrs. Howard continued, holding up a hand. “I’m not finished. I told you a bit before, but I’ve had an entire year to get to know Her Grace and what I’ve learned, whatallthe servants here have learned, is that a more gracious, kind-hearted woman does not exist. She knows every servant by name. She asks after their children. She asks after their health. She knows when they are having a bad day and sends Cook with treats to make them feel better. The entire staff adores her, Your Grace. And it was clear to me soon after you left that you could love her too. You may not have meant to, but you chose the perfect bride. And at the continued risk of being sacked, with all due respect, I must say, I do not want to see you ruin your chance at true happiness. She will give you the love you’ve always longed for if you let her.”
