Page 78 of Watching the Earl

There was an assuredness about the man that irritated Philip. “As to my wife, I came for her.”

“She’s not here.”

He moved before the fireplace to stand in front of Lord Harewood. “What do you mean, she’s not here? When you came to me, you said this was where she was. Since she isn’t home, then she must be here.”

Lord Harewood put down his glass and shook his head. “She left while Lord Ferncroft and I came to talk to you.”

“Then where did she go?”

For the first time since meeting the lord, Philip witnessed doubt cross the man’s face. “I’m afraid I don’t know.”

Growing concerned, Philip took a step closer. “Then your wife must know. They are good friends.”

“Yes, they are, and that is my conundrum. Your wife left and I’m quite sure every Curious Lady knows exactly where she is, but none of them will reveal it.”

He opened his mouth then closed it, shocked by the information. “Can you not simply ask your wife?”

“Believe me, Lord Durham, I would if she were here. To avoid telling me, she left to spend the night at Lord Ferncroft’s with his wife.”

“This is absurd. What about your sister?”

Lord Harewood stood. “I already tried. Unfortunately, my sister and Lady Arabella are quite adept at refusing to reveal anything. I’m afraid we must hope that Ferncroft can discover where Lady Durham is and put an end to this tomfoolery. I don’t like that I’m inconvenienced by your troubles. But that, I’ve discovered, is part of marrying a Curious Lady. Now, would you like a drink?”

Philip shook his head, completely stymied. “No. What I’d like is my wife.”

Lord Harewood moved to his desk and lifted a sealed note. “Do you have any idea why your wife may not wish to speak to you?”

Philip did, but he didn’t wish to reveal his idiocy. “Possibly.”

“I’m hoping this note she left for you will help put an end to this. For all our sakes.”

“You had this and didn’t give it to me straightaway?”

“You did not ask if your wife left you anything?”

Beyond frustrated, he ripped open the seal and read:

Dear Lord Durham,

I do not wish to punish you any longer. I refuse to be your torture device for wrongs you feel you have committed. I shall remove myself from your life so that you may live freely. I believe an annulment would be best to avoid hurting your family’s reputation.

Lady Durham.

He groaned, sitting in the vacated chair as he stared at the short note.

Lord Harewood handed him a glass. “Here.”

Without thinking, Philip took a sip. The burn of the scotch did little to relieve him.

“I’m guessing it’s not good?”

He looked up at the man and crumpled the note in his hand. “No. It appears in my initial anger that I may have said some things that have hurt her worse than what Ashfield said.”

“Then I suggest you beg her forgiveness. Where is she?”

He shook his head. “I have no idea.”

Harewood leaned against the fireplace and gestured with his glass. “Then I suggest we look at this logically. Can you do that?”