Page 29 of An Earl's Scandalous Return
That thought made an old hope flare inside him, a hope that terrified him to no end.
Chapter 31
It took a while for Arabella to fall asleep. After Edward left and the food came, she ate only a little before she retired. She lay on her side, her hands under her pillow, staring at the dying embers in the hearth across the room. Why had he not yet returned?
Was he so hurt that I pushed him away in the kiss that he had to run off and leave me on my own?
For a moment, she worried that he’d actually left, taking the carriage and returning to London, but then she knew he would not do that. His instinct, above his anger, seemed to be to make her feel better and to keep her safe.
He wouldn’t just abandon her without transportation or someone to accompany her. Besides, they had been friends that day, if not lovers, and there had been an ease to it that she’d missed after so long apart.
Then, where is he?
That kiss had been so lovely, exactly what she wanted, but she wanted so much more from him that she knew he was not ready to give. Until then, she would have to do her best to keep from touching him. It only mixed up her thoughts and made her heart ache for him. Eventually, sleep came, but it was fitful, and in the morning, she still felt groggy as she reached over to the other side of the bed and felt the cold, empty sheet.
Blinking her eyes open, she sighed when she saw that he still had not returned. She sat up a bit and leaned back against the headboard, looking around the room. No, he wasn’t in the armchair either. She rubbed a hand over her face and pulled the sheet from her body.
Perhaps he has already come and gone, and I was lost to sleep.
She washed and dressed, planning a bath for the next day when the maid entered, carrying a tray of tea and breakfast.
“Good morning, Mrs Sheffield.” She grinned, her cheeks rosy, and when she put down the tray, she wiped her hands on her apron. “Your husband left a note with the innkeeper this morning. He has gone to the local market with the coachman in the village. He’ll be back later.”
“Oh, thank you.” Arabella tried her best to smile and not show her confusion as the maid curtsied and left, leaving Arabella to breakfast alone again.
This time, she ate a bit more, knowing she had to fortify herself for the day, and then when Edward had still not returned, she collected her spencer, gloves, and bonnet, and went downstairs to sit on her own in the main room for a little while with her book.
She knew that she could go and continue the search for the Gregorys, but they had not yet discussed their plans of how to convince one of them they were the true Gregory, and she didn’t want to have him racing after her angrily.
Although I should be the one who is angry. Leaving me here and leaving us in the midst of our plan to go to the market? It doesn’t make any sense.
The innkeeper served her tea while she read, and every so often, she asked the man for the time. The morning passed, and she began to sigh, annoyed that she could do nothing. That she had to sit and wait for the man when he hadn’t even considered asking her if she perhaps would like to go. She had got herself into a right stew about it all, and when her tea was finished, she eventually slammed her book shut and rose.
“I will just go for a little walk around the village,” she told the innkeeper, “if mydear husbandreturns.”
Her last words were dripping in sarcasm, but he didn’t seem to notice, smiling at her as she took her leave, tying on her bonnet. Edward might think she deserved low treatment, but she would not accept him sulking to this extent.
They had work to do and were meant to do it together! She would not sit idly by while he gallivanted around town. She, too, could do that. And so she left, taking a deep breath of country air as she stepped outside.
Chapter 32
An hour before
When Edward finally awoke, it was because the door to the carriage had squeaked open, and the driver had exclaimed loudly, “My Lord! What are you doing in here?”
Edward sat up, his neck stiff, and he put a hand there, rubbing out the crick in it. “Calm down, Sampson, or you will give yourself a heart attack. All is well. I just needed a bit of time on my own last evening.”
When Sampson’s eyes widened, he chuckled. “No need to ask about it.” He leaned down to grab his wine bottle, realising that his whole body was sore after sleeping in such a cramped position.
He jumped out of the carriage, Sampson still silent, and stretched with a big yawn. “What are you doing in here, Sampson? Is your accommodation not suitable?”
“All is well, My—” Edward gave him a look when they saw a young stable hand had walked in. “Mr Sheffield. I was coming to look in on the horses and make sure the carriage was well for today’s journeys.”
“Good, good. You are doing a fine job.”
Edward rubbed a hand through his hair and over his face, scratching the stubble on his chin. He needed a shave, and without a valet for days, he had been unable to do as clean a job.
“I am also going to the market to pick up some supplies for the day, as you requested. Fresh fruit and vegetables,” Sampson added.
