Page 28 of The Hidden Heart

“I talked to the duke’s housekeeper the other morning, soon after we arrived. I was upset because the duke does not wish to be Gabriela’s guardian.”

“You mean he refused?”

“He said that he would find someone else to do it. In fact, he mentioned your name.”

“Mine?” Lady Westhampton looked surprised, then thoughtful. “Well, I suppose I could…but it would be much better for him if he did it.”

“That was Miss Brown’s thinking. She explained what had happened to him four years ago and why he might not want a child around.”

The other woman nodded sadly. “Yes. Richard has never recovered from my sister’s and niece’s deaths. He loved them dearly.”

“He would not even meet Gabriela. He said he thought it would be better for her, given that she would be going to another home.”

“Oh, no!” Rachel looked stricken. “I’m not sure who to feel sorrier for, Richard or that poor young girl.”

“Miss Brown said you had told Baxter that the duke was…well, she seemed to think that you feared he would do himself harm.”

“Yes, I did,” Rachel said candidly. “I love Richard very much. He is like a brother to me. The past four years have been hard for him. And recently, he seemed to get even worse, as though he had finally given up hope of his life improving. Then, when my servants forwarded that note from him, I was terribly worried. He hasn’t lived here in so long, I didn’t know why he had decided to come here—and at this time of year, the anniversary of Caro’s death. It gave me chills. That is why I came. I was visiting my brother Dev and his new bride, and I had planned to travel on to Westhampton House for the holiday. But I was so worried…”

“May I speak to you candidly, Lady Westhampton?”

“Yes, I wish you would.”

“I think that your fears were not unjustified.”

A spasm of pain crossed the other woman’s lovely features. “He plans to kill himself?”

“I went to the library the other evening to get a book to read, and I passed his study. He was sitting at his desk, drinking, with a case of dueling pistols on the desk before him. He said that he was merely cleaning them. But the way he looked at the gun in his hand, and with what Miss Brown had told me…”

“Oh, no! I was afraid of this. There was something about that note—I felt as if he were saying goodbye, and not just for the holiday.”

“I think that may be why he is refusing the guardianship. Perhaps even why he would not meet her. It would indeed be kinder to her not to know him at all if he will be dead within a few weeks.”

“Or days.” Rachel looked infinitely sad. “Oh, dear, poor Richard. I don’t know what to do. I thought to invite him to Christmas with us, but I am certain he won’t come. And if he has his mind set on self-destruction…”

“I don’t think he will do anything like that with Gabriela in the house.”

“Yes, he is a very responsible man.”

“I think he will put it off at least until she and I have gone on. When he finds another guardian.”

“I can influence that. If he asks me, I shall just say no, and then he will have to find someone else. Or perhaps…” Her face brightened. “I shall tell him that it is a rather large thing, and of course it would involve my husband, so I must ask Lord Westhampton’s opinion. I can put him off until after Christmas that way. Then, if I refuse, he will have to look for another, and that will take another bit of time.” She sighed. “I only wish we could stop him instead of just delaying it.”

“I would not give up hope, my lady. The other evening, when I thought he might be about to do himself in, I was able to distract him.”

“Distract him?” The other woman looked slightly puzzled.

Jessica nodded. “The duke and I—well, I tend to annoy him somewhat.”

“Richard?” Rachel looked amazed. “But he is an affable man. Not very sociable anymore, I will admit, but he has never been one to be cross.”

“No doubt he is not with other people, but he dislikes my manner. My outspokenness. We wind up arguing every time we talk.”

“Oh. Well.”

“That is how I distracted him. I criticized him for trying to do away with himself, and he grew quite angry, and we had a somewhat heated discussion. He wound up slamming the door.”

“My goodness.”