Page 31 of The Seductive Love of a Lady
They stopped talking as two women walked past them.
‘You will not be able to take much with you, though?—’
‘I cannot leave.’
He stopped and faced her. ‘If you do not then I will challenge Kilbride to a duel and either I will be shot dead or go to prison for shooting him. Then where will we be?’
She lowered her head.
She was a tiny, slender woman, fragile but not weak. He had always admired her bravery. She never complained, merely coped. But they had learned stamina and endurance as children.
His palm rested on her shoulder. ‘Will you give me a date?’
She lifted her head. ‘I shall send word when I can.’
He took her hand and squeezed it gently.
‘And you? I have not even asked how you are. How is your wife?’
‘Miserable.’ A roguish grin caught at his lips, though it was not amusing.
‘You are not amusing, Lord Framlington.’No. I am human wreckage and I must either laugh or… kill myself.
He shrugged. ‘The poor girl married me, and I am a bitter, twisted bastard. As you know.’
Her arms lifted and she hugged him briefly. ‘You are not. Do not spoil what you have.’
‘Too late, I am afraid. You were at the Caldecotts’ so you saw.’
‘She is nice, Drew, and kind?—’
‘Which is exactly why I will never fit with her.’
‘If you do not intend to try, you should not have married her.’
‘I know that now.But the deed is done, she has paid my debts and she will find happiness in some other way.’
‘You will leave her?’ She sounded horrified.
He sighed. He had thought about it, but he could not do it, not yet. He needed more time. More time to set her in his memory and keep her there. He forced a smile, giving Caro no answer.
‘Do not leave her. She is good for you.’
‘No. Mary is bad for me, and I am very bad for her. She makes me lose control.’She makes me face who I am, and I hate myself because I care what she thinks.
‘Have you apologised to Peter?’
‘I have not seen Peter.’
‘Drew, do not destroy your life.’ Her fingers touched the fading bruises around his cheek and eye. ‘Bruises heal. Even the inner ones.’
‘You had better go, Caro. You are wasting time worrying over me, save your concern for yourself. Contact me when you know you will have time to get away, and promise me you will not renege.’
‘I promise,’ she said quietly, committing herself. He had waited years to hear her agree to flee that monster.
She pressed a kiss on his cheek, through the layer of gauze, then left him.
Drew turned in the opposite direction and saw the two women in a far aisle. One was touching the fabrics, the other had been looking their way.
