Page 45 of The Seductive Love of a Lady
Emotions tore at him as they entered the ballroom. He wanted to plead with her, to persuade her to come back. But if he saw her, he had promised himself he would not speak. She was better off without him.
Peter looked over his shoulder. ‘I do not think she is here.’
‘I doubted it anyway; but it does not stop me wishing.’
Peter’s palm rested on Drew’s shoulder. ‘I told you to write to her. I am sure Marlow would pass it on.’
‘More likely he would burn it, and if he did not Mary would.’
Peter’s hand fell away. ‘You were an ass, my friend. But I still do not understand why you gave the money back.’
‘It seemed wrong to keep it. It was her money.’
‘Not legally.’
‘Who cares about legality? I wish I could give it all back, but I had paid my debts and I need money to support Caro.’
‘Still, I bet it shocked them.’
‘I doubt it. I think my name is a swear word in Pembroke’s house. Regardless, I need to do something with my life. If she wants a divorce I will let her have it, but I will not marry again. I am done with women, and very grateful for the offer of employment. I shall happily bury myself in the country with your horses.’
‘You have an eye for horses and a skill for training them. I am doing myself a favour not you. With you managing the stud, I will have the best racers out there,’ Peter finished as they crossed the threshold into the brilliant light of the ballroom.
He stopped still and looked around the room. Neither Mary nor her parents were there, but her aunts and uncles, the Wiltshires, Bradfords and Barringtons, were in attendance. He had seen them all before, but not Pembroke or Marlow.
The Duke of Arundel glared at Drew.
Drew’s guts twisted. What had Mary told them?
They had hated him before; they must despise him now.
Wiltshire turned his back, in a cutting gesture. The gesture was nothing to a man whose own mother refused to acknowledge his existence.
Speaking of that, she was here too, with the Marquis and Drew’s eldest brother and his wife. They had probably notchedhis separation up as one of their achievements; by making Mary see how pathetic he was.
‘Kilbride is here,’ Peter said. ‘And so is my sister. Come along, she will tell us about any rumours.’
Even though Wiltshire had turned away, Drew sensed the man’s gaze following him. He was getting used to the sensation of invisible daggers striking his back.
‘Hayley,’ Peter called.
She walked across to them, as they were a little distant from the crowd.
Peter kissed her cheek. ‘What is going on tonight? Is there anything we should know?’
She held out her hand to Drew, he bowed over it. He had known her since their childhood, when he spent his first summer away from the boarding school with Peter’s family.
She smiled as he straightened. ‘You are the gossip, Drew; since that announcement. I believe your wife has left town. Certainly, both the Duke of Pembroke and Lord Marlow have gone. You men, you do like to make us women suffer.’
‘She left me.’ Belligerence burned in Drew’s voice. He had not expected them to announce the separation. ‘I thought their announcement made that clear.’ He schooled his voice, he did not want the world to know how hurt he was.
Hayley’s fan tapped his upper arm. ‘And you are entirely innocent, I suppose. She left you for no reason at all.’
‘None that I can think of.’ His tone turned dry.
Hayley’s gaze passed over his shoulder and her eyes widened. Her fingers clutched his sleeve. ‘Have you some grievance with the Marquis of Kilbride? He is coming this way with a thunderous look on his face.’
‘The jig is up,’ Peter said.
