‘They would have acted like it was an accidental encounter,’ she continued, ‘but I know them better than that, and I’m tired of it. Not going to put up with it any longer.’
‘Have there been any more introductions over this past week?’ he asked.
‘Remarkably, no, but prior to the theatre tonight, there haven’t been any events for them to set up convenient encounters.’ She let out a sigh. ‘And I most definitely did not accept any invitations.’
‘What invitations?’ he asked.
She smoothed her hair over one shoulder and held it there, to keep it from whipping about as she looked up at him. ‘Those that continue to arrive every day, from men I met in the past who think that marrying me will make them wealthy.’
Those eyes. That adorable face. He’d missed seeing them. Shouldn’t have, but had. He shouldn’t be torn about her finding a husband, either. He had no right. While she had every right to obtain the life she wanted.
He tried to find solace in the fact that she was being particular about it. The truth was, he hated thinking about her marrying someone who would disappoint her.
If that was an option, he’d marry her himself.
That silent confession shocked him. It had come out of nowhere. Quickly, he changed the subject. ‘Besides going to the zoo, what else have you done this week?’
She scanned the area around them as she answered, ‘Nothing really. I helped Mr Ratnam provide rides the other day, and today was my regular visit to enter the donations into the ledger books.’
‘I didn’t know you helped with their accounting,’ he said while glancing about. They were travelling through a grove of trees, which made it darker, but broken branches, high above the ground, indicated they were still following Hugo’s trail.
‘I have for over a year now. Mr Andrews doesn’t have the best penmanship, and the board has appreciated how much easier the ledgers are to read since I volunteered to enter the income and expenditures. What have you been doing this past week?’
‘Much the same as you, as it happens. Going over the shipping company ledgers.’
‘Has Peter determined if he’s interested in a partnership yet?’
‘He told you about that?’ There was no reason for the duke not to have mentioned it, but for some reason, Drake had assumed that Meridith hadn’t known about it.
‘No, but it wasn’t hard to decipher. You’re a ship captain. He owns a shipping company. It would only make sense that you were interested in doing business together.’
‘True, and no he hasn’t made a determination yet.’
‘He will soon.’
‘How do you know that?’
‘Webster mentioned that he’d talked to you at the docks and was wondering when he’d make a decision. Peter said soon.’
Drake withheld any comment, because they’d exited the grove of trees, and nothing but a large section of manicured lawn lay before them. The grass was cut so short it was impossible to see signs of elephant tracks. He momentarily drew the horse to a stop to scan the area.
‘Where to now?’ she asked.
‘Straight ahead is my guess,’ he replied upon not seeing anything to indicate they had veered off the elephant’s trail. ‘After so much running, Hugo is going to be thirsty.’
‘The lake is in the other direction,’ she said. ‘Towards my house.’
‘I know, but the canal is up ahead and he probably smelled the water.’ He pulled her closer against him before he urged the horse into a fast pace due to the wide open space ahead of them.
They arrived at the canal, where there were no signs of Hugo.
‘Do you think he crossed the bridge?’ Meridith asked.
‘I have no idea.’ Drake removed his arm from around her waist. ‘Here, hold the reins, I’m going to get down and have alook around.’ He’d really expected Hugo to stop for a drink and hoped to find sign of that.
She laid a hand on his thigh. ‘Wait. Look over there. Across the bridge. It’s a crowd of people. Perhaps they know something.’
Wrapping his arm back around her waist, Drake nudged the horse forward. ‘Let’s hope so.’
