Page 64 of Her Daring Earl
Henrietta took a quick sniff as well before looking up. “Well. I should probably come with you. You cannot go alone.”
“I must, although I do appreciate the offer, Hen. It will be bad enough, however, when Fitz realizes that I have left Appleton. If I bring you into it as well, it will only be made all the worse, and I would feel awful if anything were to happen to you. No. This is my choice, and I will suffer any consequences alone. And Henrietta?”
Her friend appeared troubled, but she was no longer arguing.
“Yes?”
“Please do not tell anyone I am going until after I leave. I know it probably seems stupid of me to go, but I cannot allow Fitz to be alone. The thought fills me with so much apprehension that I know I would be worse off to stay here without him.”
Henrietta was staring at her, aghast.
“You love him.”
“What?” Eliza started. “We are married. Why would you say that?”
“The way you are talking about him. That fear. A woman only talks like that about someone she loves. I know you both well enough to be aware of why you truly married. It wasn’t love then. But it is now.”
“No,” Eliza said, shaking her head. “I don’t—that is I cannot?—”
“I know,” Henrietta said, placing a hand on her arm. “I can see how Fitz would be both the hardest and easiest man to love. Easy for a sister to love him. Much harder for a woman who is trying to protect her heart.”
“That’s just the thing,” Eliza said, teary-eyed once more. “I am scared. Scared that he might be too reckless, and I would lose him in that way. Scared that he might become bored of me and find another. It’s just too much.”
Henrietta reached out to her in an embrace.
“You will figure it out. I know you will. Whatever you do, Eliza, though, be safe. Please?”
“Always,” Eliza agreed. “Now. If I am going to make it to Greystone in a day, I must leave now. I will see you very soon.”
“I will hold you to that. Goodbye, Eliza.”
“Goodbye, Hen.”
CHAPTER 22
All eyes turned toward Fitz as he entered the House of Lords. They followed him as he walked to his seat in the small room and shifted the heavy weight of his crimson robe over his shoulders. His gaze flickered over to the empty throne sitting at the front of the room as the warmth of the wood paneling, tapestries, and stained-glass windows depicting heraldic symbols and historical scenes washed over him.
He could admit that he had missed it, had missed this – but at the moment, he missed his wife more.
He couldn’t help but wonder how she had reacted when she had found out that he had left. Would she have assumed that he had lefther? That was so far from the case and yet if that was what she needed to believe to keep her safe, then so be it.
Whoever was after him should make their attempt sooner rather than later so this would all come out into the open. He was sick of hiding, sick of the constant worry about those who cared most for him.
He was going to put an end to this. He could practically hear Eliza telling him to do this smartly.
“Lord Fitzroy.”
Fitz nearly groaned aloud at Lord Mandrake standing next to him, awaiting his attention.
“Mandrake.” He nodded in greeting, not wanting to bother with any further pleasantries.
“I have not heard any response from you regarding my request.”
“Your request?”
“I would like permission to court your sister once she returns to London.”
Fitz ran a hand through his hair. “Mandrake, I said no.”
