Page 59 of The Ones Left Behind
“I love you too much to be merely a duty.”
If she did but know the depths of his feelings, she would be afraid. “Duty is not a bad thing, Kitty. You make it sound like a tedious chore.”
She let a small laugh escape her. “If the truth be known, that is probably how I think of it.”
“There are times when we do things we must out of a sense of duty, I suppose, but often it is interwoven with honour, which is everything to a gentleman.”
A man without honour is worse than dead,she quoted. Many evenings had been spent reading Don Quixote aloud in camp.“But can you comprehend that I want—need—to be more to my husband this time? I was duty and honour to Peter, and at the time I was grateful. I am still grateful that he saved me, since I had time to grow and mature before his death. Without that, I would not have survived afterwards.”
Matthias clenched his jaw. “I still will never, ever, understand why you did not come to me. Or to one of the others.”
“I had lost everything. My pride was all that was left to me and I daresay it is, to me, like duty is to you.”
“I think those two words and sentiments might need to be banned from further discourse between us,” he remarked as they moved slowly forward.
“Thackeray!” he heard Waverley’s voice calling for him.
Matthias cursed under his breath. “We are not finished with this conversation,” he said to Kitty. “Over here,” he answered his friend.
Waverley appeared through the maze of trees, looking sheepish. “Forgive my intrusion, but my man just delivered this from London. I think you should see it.”
He handed over a letter and Matthias read the words he had dreaded.
Worth’s son died yesterday.The Earl is seeking vengeance. He is convinced Mr. Landry did not leave England. He has set the Runners to finding him and has put a large price on his head.
Matthias groanedand then let out an oath.
“You will need to find him before Worth does,” Waverley advised.
“Part of me thinks Henry should receive his just deserts,” Matthias retorted.
“But he is your heir—not to mention what will happen if Worth drags this through the courts. The stain on the family name will last for generations.”
Matthias closed his eyes. This could not be happening; not now when he had just made progress with Kitty. His brother could hang.
“I had hoped Henry was wise enough to flee to the Continent, but he must have decided to gamble on the man living. Besides, he has no funds to sustain him.”
“You have had no word from him?” Waverley asked.
“No. He receives an allowance, but Dunford arranges everything with the bankers in London.”
“Where could he go, then?”
“I doubt he would be in the London town house without my knowledge, and my other properties are leased.”
“What about here on the estate? Have you any empty cottages he would know about?”
“The hunting lodge. I spent a few days there myself not long ago,” Matthias replied.
“We should have a look. Shall I send for a carriage?”
“I suppose it is worth having a look. Why the devil did he not send word that he needed funds to escape?” Matthias questioned aloud. He had heard naught of Henry himself, only of his peccadilloes from the school.
“Perhaps because you have a house full of guests?” Kitty suggested.
“The longer he delays, the harder it will be to escape. Worth will have this estate surrounded by nightfall, if I know him at all,” the Duke said as he hurried away, presumably to order a carriage. By this time they had reached the lake. Matthias sank into one of the chairs to rest his leg while they waited.
“What will you do if you find him?” Kitty asked, sitting with him.
