Page 115 of Stolen and Seduced By the Duke

"Mrs. Norris, where is His Grace?" she asked, clasping her hands before her so the housekeeper would not see how tightly her fingers had curled together.

Mrs. Norris frowned slightly. "He left early this morning, Your Grace," she replied, watching Margaret carefully. "I was not about at the time, but His Grace's valet told me that he had a small travel bag with him when he departed and said he would be gone for several days."

Margaret felt the familiar hollow sensation settle in her stomach. "I see," she said quietly, forcing a smile that fooled neither of them. "I shall not be having breakfast. I believe I shall remain in my room for a while." Before Mrs. Norris could offer anything else, Margaret turned and walked upstairs with as much dignity as she could summon.

The moment her bedroom door closed, the dignity vanished. Margaret sat upon the edge of the bed, feeling tears burn behind her eyes. She had promised herself she would not become one of those wives who waited anxiously for a husband to return, yet here she was, wondering where he had gone, why he had left, and whether he had even thought of her before walking out the door.

I need a good cry, then I will get on with it and not think of him.

She allowed herself exactly that, burying her face in her handkerchief and shedding the tears she had stubbornly held back downstairs. For an hour she remained there, until a knock finally sounded upon the door.

"Your Grace?" Mrs Norris called from the other side.

Margaret quickly wiped her face before answering, "Yes?"

The housekeeper entered and offered her a small smile. "The nanny wished me to tell you that Master Hugh is awake."

Margaret's expression transformed at once. "Thank you," she said, rising from the bed.

The thought of Hugh was enough to push Pierce from the center of her thoughts, at least temporarily. She washed her face, tidied her hair, and looked at her reflection with renewed determination.

I will not wallow over a husband all day. I have a child to care for, and if Pierce wishes to disappear upon mysterious journeys, I can certainly find ways to occupy myself.

When Margaret entered the nursery, Hugh spotted her immediately and raised both arms towards her with an enthusiastic squeal.

Her heart melted. "Oh, there you are," she exclaimed, crossing the room and scooping him into her arms.

Hugh immediately wrapped his little hands around her, and Margaret kissed his cheek repeatedly while he laughed. The sound filled her with such happiness that she nearly forgot her earlier tears. She carried him towards the window and smiled at the sunlight spilling across the nursery.

"Come along, my darling," she murmured, settling him against her shoulder. "Let's go to the gardens and be in the sunshine."

Hugh squealed again, and Margaret laughed, grateful that one small boy could make the world feel right again.

* * *

Over the next few days, there was no sign of Pierce. Margaret tried not to count the hours, then caught herself counting the days instead, and each morning she woke with the same small disappointment when his side of the bed remained empty. She refused to let the uncertainty consume her, however, and decided that a visit to Camelia would be precisely the distraction she needed.

She dressed Hugh carefully for the outing, made certain the nanny accompanied them, and soon found herself travelling towards her sister's home with a baby happily occupying her attention. By the time she arrived, Margaret had almost convinced herself that she was perfectly content without Pierce's presence.

Camelia greeted her with obvious delight, immediately reaching for Hugh.

"Let me see that handsome little man," she exclaimed, laughing as Hugh stretched towards her.

Margaret smiled as her sister kissed his cheek. "I thought we might sit in the nursery," Camelia suggested, leading them towards the stairs. "Bethany is there, and I should like the children to see one another."

Margaret brightened. "I love that idea."

Within minutes they were settled in the nursery, where one-year-old Bethany spotted Hugh and immediately crawled towards him. The two children regarded one another for several curious seconds before reaching out and beginning to play, their laughter filling the room.

Camelia called for tea, and soon a small table had been arranged beside the nursery hearth. Margaret watched Hugh and Bethany play while she accepted her cup, though her thoughts inevitably returned to the empty side of her own bed.

"I am distressed," she admitted at last, lowering her cup. "Pierce has gone off on one of his business trips, and I cannot help wondering how he could simply leave us. And for what?" She shook her head, frustration tightening her voice. "I know he has responsibilities, but surely he might have told me. After everything that happened between us, how could he leave without even saying goodbye?"

Camelia reached across the table and touched her sister's hand. "Men can be remarkably difficult creatures," she said with sympathetic amusement.

Margaret gave a weary laugh. "That is a very polite way of describing my husband."

Camelia smiled and glanced towards her own child. "Sometimes gentlemen must do things on their own terms. My husband is much the same, though I have learned that allowing him the space to handle matters his way does not necessarily mean he loves me any less."