Page 42 of King of Rogues
After an afternoon of shopping earlier in the day, she had called in at Monsale House, bearing a small congratulatory gift for the betrothed couple. In truth her intentions had been to talk to Monsale, to confront him.
To try to change—anything. Everything.
The footman who answered the door had explained that the duke had left for Kent late the previous day. He assured her that he would make certain that the generous gift eventually found its way to the happy couple. Naomi was left with no other option than to leave the present and go.
Crushed, she had promptly returned home. All the years of loving and wanting Monsale’s heart had come to naught.
Chapter Nineteen
The Wedding Eve
Monsale Castle
The Kentish Coast
* * *
The wedding guests all arrived over the course of the afternoon. To Monsale’s relief the Marshalls arrived last. The bride and her parents immediately headed up to the main guest chambers where they remained sequestered and out of sight from everyone.
When supper time came, Lady Marshall sent word that Euphemia was feeling poorly and would be taking her meal in the privacy of her room. Pre-wedding jitters were to be expected.
Another groom might see that as a portent of bad things to come, but Monsale was more than happy to spend his last night as a bachelor in the company of his friends. Tomorrow was going to be hard enough.
He offered the earl and countess the use of one of the castle’s smaller dining rooms and they, along with the Duke and Duchess of Redditch dined separately from the rest of the wedding guests. With Lady Euphemia Marshall slated to be the Duchess of Monsale in a matter of hours, her mother was more than happy to be accorded the respect of her future role of mother-in-law.
The grand hall of the castle was being prepared for the wedding, so Monsale hosted the rest of his guests in another room which overlooked the sea.
As he stepped into the room, he stopped to take in the sight. A roaring fire burned brightly in the fireplace. It made the room toasty and inviting. He was tempted to remove his coat but kept it on. After this meal, he had other matters to attend to in the castle grounds.
The table was set with all manner of supper delights. He had wisely instructed Adan to bring the Monsale House chef with him in the servants coach. From the look of the sliced ham, elegantly stuffed mushrooms, and plates of small chicken pies he deduced he had been forgiven for the disaster of the evening with the Shadbolt family.
Around the table, were seated all his nearest and dearest friends. Gus and Evangeline. George and Jane. Stephen and Bridget. Lady Alice.
He scowled. Where were Harry and Naomi? His inquiring gaze met that of Alice, and she pointed back over his shoulder. He turned as Harry placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
“Sorry I am late. Could I have a word?”
They stepped out of the room and Monsale ushered his friend into a nearby sitting room, closing the door behind him. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Naomi won’t be joining us for supper. She has cried off with a headache. In fact, you should know that she is not at the castle. It took quite some effort to get her into the travel coach, and she only finally agreed to come if she could stay somewhere else,” replied Harry.
“So where is she?”
This wasn’t good news. He needed Naomi at the castle.
“My father spoke to your man Adan, and he put my sister up in one of the estate cottages further along the beach. She has her maid and a castle footman with her, so she is perfectly safe.”
Monsale sighed. Naomi’s current position was completely understandable. She had likely thought that this would be the night before her wedding. Not that she was going to be merely a guest. Her nonappearance, however, was not in Monsale’s plans. It had him worried.
I have to see her.
He had to know whether she was simply hiding away, stewing in anger, or if she was avoiding him in order to hide her tears. Neither answer sat well with him.
I’ve hurt her. I know it.
“Can I ask you to do something for me? A favor that will mean I am forever in your debt,” he said.
Harry blinked slowly. Asking favors of his friends was a given when it came to Monsale but repaying them was unheard of. In fact, it bordered on mythical.
