Page 56 of Unchaining the Heart of the Marquess
“Probably not, but irrelevant as I am not going anywhere.”
“I did not notice anyone guarding the house as I approached.”
“I ordered them to return to their duties. With your mother gone there was no need for them to continue to stand guard.”
“There is now. For your own sake, Father, the guard should be reinstituted.”
“As you wish,” the Duke waved him away and went back to staring out of the window.
“I will return to London to continue the search for Mother.”
“No. It has been made quite clear that your mother does not wish to return, and no amount of persuasion is going to alter the outcome. Leave it to your Lt. Buckworth. A man of your station is not meant to be running around the streets of London like a lowly Bow Street Runner. I have involved you too much as it is. You have chased your mother for long enough. It is time that you return to the life you were born to lead. I am sure you have matters at Pentford that need tended to.”
“Father, the letter said…”
“I do not care what the letter said, Frederick. I have made my decision, and that is final. I will hear no more on the matter.” He waved him away again, and this time Frederick obeyed, leaving the library, but he had no intentions of leaving for Pentford.
Frederick ascended the stairs to find the room Josephine had occupied to be empty. He passed the head housekeeper, Mrs. Sands, in the hall. “Mrs. Sands?”
“Yes, My Lord.”
“Where is Josephine?”
“She has gone, My Lord.”
“Gone? Gone where?”
“She and Mrs. Merton have gone with Mr. Greeves to meet his family. It is my understanding that we will be expecting a wedding soon, My Lord.”
“A wedding?”
“Oh, yes. Mr. Greeves has asked for Josephine’s hand in marriage.”
Chapter 26
“Marriage?”
“Yes, My Lord.”
“Did she accept his proposal?”
“I do not know, My Lord, but as she has gone with him to meet his family, I would say that it is likely.”
“It cannot be. It simply cannot be.” Frederick stood in a state of shocked grief. “I cannot have truly lost her.”
“My Lord?” Mrs. Sands asked confused by his behavior. “She is not dead, My Lord. She survived the pneumonia due in great part to Mr. Greeves. She is fortunate that he came to work upon the estate when he did.”
“Yes, of course. Forgive me, Mrs. Sands. Carry on.” Frederick attempted to recover himself but found that he could not. His heart felt as though it had been wrenched from his chest. Hardly able to breathe for the pain of it, he swiftly left the house walking down to the pond’s edge. He paced back and forth along the bank, his mind and heart in turmoil.
She cannot marry him. This is all my doing. I told her to move on, to find a husband, and now she has done just that. I was a fool to wait so long to tell her how I feel. Now I have lost her and all for the sake of social propriety.
He picked up a stone and threw it across the water in frustration.
“I take it you have heard about our dear Miss Merton,” Mr. Tatham’s voice interrupted his thoughts. Frederick turned to find the stableman standing behind him. Mr. Tatham moved to stand beside him laying an empathetic hand upon his shoulder. “I am sorry, lad.” The stableman had not spoken to him so informally in quite some time, but he didn’t mind. In fact, he found it oddly reassuring.
“Yes, Mrs. Sands just informed me.”
“They are not married yet, My Lord. There is still time to tell her how you feel, but I would do it now before it is too late. Before she left, Josephine said farewell to me as though she would not be returning.”
