Page 78 of Duke of Silver
A decision settled within her then, firm and unyielding. She would leave. She would return to her family and take the space Percy suggested—not that it would change anything. It wouldn’t make her see things as Percy hoped. Her mind was clear. She had lost whatever chance she had with Alexander, and there was no recovering from it.
Without another word, Elizabeth rose from the terrace, her heart heavy. She made her way to her room, not bothering to take any of the belongings Alexander had given her. They were gifts meant to maintain appearances, nothing more. There was no sentiment behind them, and she had no desire to bring anything that would remind her of the hollow life she had built with him.
She slipped out of the house quietly, telling none of the staff where she was going. But Percy knew. He didn’t try to stop her, didn’t try to convince her otherwise. His silence was his understanding.
When Elizabeth arrived at her family’s home, she plastered a smile on her face, though her heart was breaking inside.
“Oh, after our hasty departure from the ball last night, I simply couldn’t wait to spend more time with you all,” she said lightly when her family welcomed her with pleasant surprise.
Her aunt and sisters beamed at her, none of them suspecting the truth behind her visit. But as they sat for tea in the drawingroom, Elizabeth caught Anna watching her with a curious expression. Her cousin’s eyes seemed to linger, as though she could sense that something wasn’t quite right.
Elizabeth tried to ignore it, focusing instead on keeping the conversation flowing, on pretending that nothing was amiss. But when dinner approached and she asked to stay for the meal, the table grew awkward.
“You’re abandoning your husband to dine alone?” Petunia asked.
Elizabeth hesitated for a moment before offering a dismissive smile. “Oh, he knows. And he will be fine.”
Her answer seemed to ease their curiosity for the time being, but the weight of her lie pressed heavily on her chest. She pushed it aside and sat with them for dinner, but the knot of anxiety tightened with each passing moment.
It wasn’t until later, when her uncle called her into his study after dinner, that Elizabeth’s facade finally cracked.
“Elizabeth, my dear,” Sebastian began, his voice soft as he led her to a chair. “You’re welcome here, always, but something tells me this isn’t just a casual visit. What is it, child?”
The concern in his voice, the kindness in his eyes, broke through the dam Elizabeth had been holding back all evening. The tears she had tried so hard to hide spilled over, and she found herselfconfessing everything. Well, almost everything. She couldn’t bear to share the part about Alexander’s accusations of an affair with Percy—it was too humiliating.
“We had a misunderstanding,” she whispered through her tears. “I needed time to think.”
Sebastian’s arms wrapped around her in a warm, fatherly hug. “Oh, my dear. No marriage is without its misunderstandings. It will be all right. You just need time.”
Elizabeth clung to him, her heart aching. “Can I stay here for a while? Just to... cool off?”
Sebastian pulled back and cupped her face gently. “You needn’t ask. Our doors are always open to you.” He turned to call Petunia, who entered the study with a concerned frown. When Sebastian explained, Petunia’s face softened, and she joined in comforting Elizabeth, holding her close as they offered their reassurances.
Later, Elizabeth settled into her old room, a place that held the warmth and familiarity of her past. She had just gotten into bed when there was a knock at the door, followed by the soft sound of it opening.
Titan bounded in first, his tail wagging eagerly as he jumped onto her bed, followed closely by Plato, who padded over and licked her face with fervor.
“Oh, you boys ought to be asleep by now!” Anna’s voice came from the doorway. “Why do you follow me about as though I have no privacy?”
“They just miss me,” Elizabeth chuckled through her tears as she hugged the dogs close, their warm bodies providing a small measure of comfort. For a brief moment, she allowed herself to get lost in their affection, missing the simpler days before her life had become so complicated. Before her heart had become entangled with a man who would never love her.
Anna entered the room and perched herself on the edge of the bed, her eyes sweeping over Elizabeth with a scrutinizing gaze. “I knew something was off the moment you walked through the door. I wonder how the others didn’t notice immediately.”
“I’m glad they didn’t,” Elizabeth murmured with a self-conscious little laugh.
Anna tilted her head, studying her closely. “So, what’s truly going on?”
Elizabeth hesitated, but the weight of her pain was too heavy to carry alone. And if she could trust anyone, it was Anna. She told her cousin everything—every detail, every hurt, every doubt. The words spilled out before she could stop them, and when she was finished, she felt raw, exposed.
Anna, however, shocked her with laughter.
Elizabeth blinked, startled. “Anna?”
“Oh, Lizzy,” Anna said through her laughter. “It sounds to me like your husband has fallen in love with you, and his jealousy has gotten the better of him.”
“Not you too,” Elizabeth groaned, dropping her head into her hands. “Please, don’t give me hope. Percy said something similar.”
Anna chuckled. “Well, I daresay Percy is correct. And I do believe you two need some space to think—and perhaps return to your senses.”
