Page 48 of The Ambiguous Enigma of the Hunted Lady
“No, he said he was off on business, but to expect him for dinner. I'll leave you now, so you can get ready for the doctor.”
Mrs. Redford clicked the door behind her. Leah sat, feeling hot in her face, and stupid for saying anything about the Duke and herself. Her attraction to him had been more of an imaginary blur before that moment; it was something that she could rationalize but not accept. It was a tool, not a weight.
Yet hearing someone as simple and bright as Mrs. Redford mention the Duke's attention to her had gotten Leah in an uproar. Suddenly their mellow mutual attraction seemed not like an escape route to France, nor an ongoing to joke and poke fun at, but something that could be seen for what it was. Something that, if allowed, could grow the way it seemed to want to, and that was what had Leah in such a state.
“Oh my.” she uttered allowed, feeling all sorts of strange. She turned her head again to look out the window, soaking in the fluttering birds and butterflies.
“It could never work.” she shook her head to herself.I don't belong here.
She lingered on these thoughts while she watched the birds flap by the great house. All the natural beauty outside was just out of her reach, like a painting hung on the wall that she stood so very close to until she saw, once and for all, that she could go no further, ever forced to watch from the outside.
It was the same when she thought of a life with Kenneth; she was removed from that possibility and could only watch all of what could be unfolded around her, unable to immerse herself in a different state of being.
How badly she wished to be gone from this bed and this room, to run free in the world and go where she pleased. Yet as she lay there day after day, thinking about what worlds she might want to visit, one terrible, grounding reality continued to circle around.I have to get out.
Riphook was after her. There were no lengths that he would not go to. Her life was defined by his iron grasp on the underbelly of London, as were hundreds of others.
Leah knew she could not stay here forever, not while Riphook was hunting her. It was this crashing wave of horrid reality that confronted her pleasure cruise every time she took a turn towards a happy ending.
That was her world, not the overtly gorgeous one outside the windows, or the finely-set table of china in the house beneath her. Her world was panic, fear, crime, and danger. Her world was Riphook, with his unforgiving eyes and cruel jawline; if he wanted her, he was going to get her.
Her thought was broken by some commotion below, and she could hear by Juliet's voice that Dr. Fowler had arrived.
Chapter 14
The summer was giving the city one last go. The sun was shining out brilliantly, reflecting across the river so that for once it did not reveal its gray, turbulent nature upon first glance.
A fine breeze blew through the streets behind Kenneth's coach as it rattled on its way towards his office. He watched curiously out the window to see the cities inhabitants enjoying the summer air. They were walking up and down the streets, all soaking up the sun's rays and smiling at one another.
Their course from the country took them through various neighborhoods, all varying greatly in wealth, and quality of life. Kenneth took note of all the faces he passed from his window, marveling at how such a thing as a beautiful day could seemingly dissolve all ill wishes in the whole of the city.
They crossed over the river and wound eastward into the richest part of town. Suddenly, Kenneth noticed, everything was rather dull.
Rolling along St. James’s street, Kenneth watched all the finely-dressed ladies in their expensive gowns and umbrellas making their way into the botanical gardens. He could see their husbands as well, trailing off behind in some large gaggle of wafting cigar smoke.
What bothered him the most from this display was the fact that out of the whole of the two groups, both the wives and husbands didn't look to have a single smile about them.
“What could they ever have to be glum about?” he said out loud to the empty coach. It baffled him that out of everyone is this entire city – one of the largest in the world – these few people seemed unaffected by the natural joy the day provided. “They must have their minds elsewhere.” he decided, sitting back disgruntled.
The coach came to his office and he made his way into the building with a cheerful step, refusing to allow the shallow faces of the garden goers to sour his morning.
While Kenneth enjoyed the scenery from a coach, he liked less the inability to fully stretch his legs for continuous hours. He bound up the steps with a stretching glide, drawing a look or two from those on the walk around him.
Once inside he removed his hat and vigorously stretched his back while he waited for Thompson to come for his coat.
“Good morning, Your Grace.” Thompson nodded curtly as he approached, his polished heels clicking on the tile floor.
“Morning, Thompson.” Kenneth accounted, sliding his jacket off with Thompson's help. “How are you keeping?”
“Fine enough, Your Grace, fine enough indeed. And yourself?” Thompson took Kenneth's hat, coat, and cane.
“It's absolutely marvelous out there, Thompson, just simply beautiful! Don't you agree?”
“Of course, Your Grace, a stunning day.”
“Stunning. The perfect word for it.” Kenneth clapped his hands. “Is he in there?”
Thompson gave him a nod in the direction of Cornelius's office, and a look that saidhe's never not in there.
