Page 48 of A Lady's Beastly Duke
“Your Grace?” A footman addressed him. “May I help you?”
“My coat,” he muttered.
“At once, Your Grace.”
The man hurried to fetch Sidney’s greatcoat, and he tugged it on. He had walked across town to Lady Anastasia’s parents’ townhouse. It was a long walk back home and the night was cold. He buttoned his coat without having to think about it and walked briskly down the stairs. He could not bear to stay there.
The walk across town was cold and it took over an hour. By the time he arrived home it was almost midnight. He hurried up the stairs to the drawing room and stopped. There was a lamp burning there. He approached cautiously.
“Mama?” he murmured.
His mother was there, sitting at the table. Candles burned to light the book she read. She saw him and turned, a radiant smile on her lips.
“What is it, Sidney?” she asked gently.
“Nothing,” he said firmly.
His mother frowned. “I will choose to believe you,” she said gently. “Come and sit down, son. Should I send for some tea? You look chilled through.”
Sidney shook his head. He had removed his greatcoat at the door, but he did, indeed, feel chilled, as though the cold London springtime had seeped inside him, and he could not get warm.
“No, thank you, Mama. I should retire to bed.”
“Son, are you certain there is nothing troubling you?” Her green eyes—the image of his own—scanned his face.
Sidney tensed. He had become used to flinching at such direct stares. But it was his mother—one of the only people who never judged. He relaxed and drew a breath.
“Mama...there is something.” He drew a breath. He could almost not find the words to talk about it. The pain seared through him like a knife wound.
“What is it?” she asked gently. “If I can be of any help...” she began. He shook his head.
“Nobody can.” He could not speak for a moment. “Mama...there is a woman. She means—she means the world to me.”
“Lady Anastasia.”
“You know?” Sidney gazed at her in utter astonishment. She smiled softly.
“I have seen the way you look at her, and she at you. It is rare to see two people look like that.”
Sidney drew a breath. His mother’s words both delighted and wounded him. “Truly?”
“Yes.” His mother nodded. Her green eyes searched his face. She frowned. “What is it, son?”
“She...she is engaged to be married.”
“What?” Mama looked shocked.
“Yes. I only just found out this evening. To that...that man she danced with.” He did not know the fellow and even speaking of him filled him with a spasm of rage. The fellow barely looked at her and he had arranged to court Lady Anastasia purely for the money that would be bestowed on her at her wedding. He sought to locate the gentleman and deliver him a most vigorous blow.
***
“But...” His mother looked confused, but then her face tensed, confusion clearing. “I do not believe it. Her mother did not tell me. She seemed not to know either.”
“Maybe it is recent,” Sidney suggested.
“No.” His mother shook her head. “No. Such things cannot happen overnight. You know that. I do not believe she would not have known.”
“But then...” Sidney gaped. The whole thing must have been arranged over months. And yet, he could not believe that. Lady Anastasia would not have looked at him like that if she had known about it.
