The Duke's Divorce (The Reluctant Grooms Series Volume IV) (25 page)

“Have you any idea where I might find my
wife?” At half-two in the afternoon, it was anybody’s guess.

“She is lunching at Caymore House with your
mother.”

Well, he supposed he couldn’t have expected
her to wait at home and greet him on his return, especially as he
hadn’t sent word when that would be. “Do you know her plans after
luncheon? I should like to see her.”

“I’m afraid she has a great schedule, Your
Grace. Luncheon, a poetry reading this afternoon, dinner at Lady
Berringbourne’s and then Lord and Lady Barrymore’s ball.”

“I see,” he said. He had no desire to gad
about Town looking for her. He had no wish for poetry, couldn’t
upset Lady Berringbourne’s table so he may as well wait until the
Barrymore’s. “Very well. Could you enquire if Cook has anything
decent to feed me. And then I should like to bathe and will work in
my study.”

“Very good, Your Grace.” Edwards left Robert
standing in the front hall.

God how he missed his wife.

*****

Fiona stood next to Amanda and Penny at the
Barrymore’s, their husbands markedly absent. Robert’s dinner party
invitations had set the members of Parliament ablaze and the men
were all congregated in the Barrymore library discussing the
benefits and pitfalls of Robert’s legislation. A surprisingly hot
topic, the MP’s could see the merits of the bill, but could not
decide whether to place taxpayer monies into the fund or use
private donations. The tax base was burdened enough with the
Regent’s grandiosity and his far-fetched ideas of how to spend the
Monarchy’s money, not to mention Boney’s wars still raging all
across the continent.

Fiona had waited for some kind of word from
Robert and it annoyed her exceedingly at luncheon when she found
Brunswick and Robert were to return that very day. Phyllis had been
at Penny’s and told Fiona she had had a letter from Brunswick
informing her.

“You had a letter from Brunswick?” Fiona had
asked.

“Oh, yes, nearly every day,” Phyllis said.
“John gives the impression he is all bluster and bluff, but
underneath he is a very romantic soul.”

Fiona nearly choked on her aspic. Robert
hadn’t penned once, even to let her know he’d arrived at Cantin
Park. Why would she think he would tell her of his return?

No matter, she had come to a new resolve in
her relationship. She would play the part of Robert’s duchess, and
after their ball, she would leave him. The money from her dowry
would be in the bank waiting for her, and she could quietly escape
London and all Robert’s restrictions. Abandonment would look much
better on the annulment papers rather than fraud.

“Oh, look now,” Penny said. “Here they all
come. I wonder if they have arrived at any sort of conclusion.”

“Fiona, is that not Cantin?” Amanda
asked.

Fiona whirled around and found Robert walking
with Ellis, William, Captain Gaines, and Viscount Winsbarren. He
was laughing at something one of the gentlemen said, and then his
eyes found hers. He smiled across the room and Fiona wanted to
hide. Her feelings without him around were steadfast and resolute,
she would not fall for his charm and fake sincerity another
second.

However, seeing him, here, now, that resolve
fled. The bottom had fallen from her stomach, butterflies fluttered
around her heart, and her wits deserted her. She stood numb as he
approached.

“Fiona,” he said, took up her hands, and
brought each to his lips. “I have missed you.” He leaned over and
kissed her cheek, lingering as if he wanted to hold her.

“My lord,” she managed to whisper and pulled
back.

He gazed into her eyes. “Are you feeling
unwell? You look dashed.”

Fiona removed her fingers from his and took a
deep breath. “No, my lord. I am very well indeed. I trust you had a
safe journey.”

“Yes, very well, thank you.” He stared at her
curiously.

“And you have accomplished all you intended
at the Park?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“That is a relief. Have you seen your mother?
Your sister informed us at luncheon you were due to arrive and has
been waiting your return. I believe she is sitting with Lady Olivia
and the dowagers.” Fiona needed to have him elsewhere. His close
proximity made her uneasy. No matter how much she denied what she
felt for him, and how hurt she was by his actions, she wanted to
throw her arms about his neck and kiss him soundly.

“Fiona? Are you sure you are well?”

She ignored his question and asked, “What
kind of son would you be if you did not greet your mother?”

He grabbed her hand. “I will see my mother in
a minute. I should like to dance with my wife.” He pulled her
through the room and onto the dance floor, where a waltz was
already in progress.

Fiona wanted to keep a distance between them,
but the more she fought it, the more he pulled her closer.

“You are overset with me,” he said, breathing
into her ear.

“No, my lord.” She kept her eyes closed so
she wouldn’t see his handsome face.

“Yes. You are. I can feel it.”

She opened her eyes. “Nonsense. How can you
feel if I am overset?”

“You are my wife.”

Fiona snorted. Robert had never cared before
if she had been troubled. Why should he start now? This was just
another ploy to break down her defenses.

“Fiona, damn it, what is wrong with you? I
thought you would be at least
pleased
to see me.”

“There is nothing
wrong
with me, my
lord. I am pleased you are back. I have finally finished with the
seating arrangements for the party and would like your
approval.”

“Damn the seating arrangements, Fiona. Why
are you distressed? I have been gone these ten days together. There
is nothing I could have done to give you such anguish. Or are you
aggrieved for something I did,” he paused, “or did not do before I
left?”

Fiona stumbled.

“Ah, so there it is,” he said. “You are upset
with me about our last night together. Fiona, your request was of a
delicate nature and I did not….”

“No,” Fiona interrupted, her cheeks ablaze he
could guess one of her secrets so quickly. “You did not. And my
eyes were finally opened. I have been ill-used by your phony
affections and I am not as naïve as you would believe, my lord. I
will behave accordingly in front of your friends, but do not think
I will ever again be so gullible at home.”

She broke away from him and ran off the dance
floor, through the crowded ballroom and out into the hall. Down the
stairs, she left her shawl, and ran out into the night. She found
their carriage on the street, startling Eammon with her appearance.
She didn’t even wait for him to put down the steps, but leapt into
the coach.

“Home, Eammon, as fast as you can take me,”
she shouted.

She let the angry tears fall, fast and
furious. She hadn’t ever meant to tell Robert what she had deduced,
but the hurt of their last night together overwhelmed her. How
could he think she would greet him warmly when she knew he was only
play acting with her affection? Well, now he knew she knew and
their relationship would be on even footing. They could remain
polite strangers until the annulment took place.

Eammon pulled up in front of Cantin House,
and before he could scramble from his seat, Fiona jumped down.
Edwards opened the door, clearly astonished at the sight of her
alone.

“Please send the carriage back for Lady
Joanna,” she said and fled up to her room.

“My lady,” Merry said when Fiona slammed her
bedchamber door. “What is it? Has something happened?”

“Oh, yes, Merry, something has happened. My
husband
has returned.” She turned her back to her maid.
“Help me out of this wretched thing, if you please. ‘Tis
stifling.”

“Of course, my lady.” Merry undid the buttons
as quickly as she could while Fiona tapped her foot. She couldn’t
decide if she were more angry at Robert and his duplicity, or
herself for telling him she knew about it.

Fiona heard the downstairs door slam, and
felt the reverberation in the floor. That could only be Robert.
Well, if it was fight he wanted, it was a fight she would give.

“I think it would be best for you to depart,”
Fiona said turning around to face Merry. “You should not bear
witness to what is about to happen.”

“But I am not finished with the gown. And I
should not like to leave you alone.” Merry’s eyes were round with
fright.

“Do not worry, dearest. His lordship’s wrath
is nothing I cannot handle.”

The door flew open and banged upon the wall.
Merry fled. Robert stood there, rage emanating from every pore.

“Have you completely lost
all
your
senses?” He pushed the door with his foot and the casing rattled as
the door crashed against it.

“I am in complete control of my senses,”
Fiona stated. She took a step back as he walked toward her.

“How
dare
you leave me on the dance
floor looking like the veriest fool? Have you any idea of the
ribbing I took from my friends?”

“Ah, so it is still all about you,” Fiona
ground out. “Leave me. I have no wish to get into a shouting match
because you are behaving like a spoiled child.”

“Me, a spoiled child? Fiona, what is all this
and your damned accusations of false affections. What has given you
this idea? Who have you been talking to? Greenleigh?”

“
Greenleigh
? Greenleigh has naught to
do with any of this.”

“Well, obviously someone has been filling
your head with lies. How can you even begin to say my affections
are false?”

“Because they are. You flattered and fawned
over me before you left so I would behave for your dinner party. No
more scandal, is that not what you said before you left me that
morning? And when I asked you to lay with me, you took it literally
so you would not have to break with our agreement for the
annulment. I am not so addle-pated to think that idea has ever left
your mind for one second. However, I thought you would jump at the
chance to be rid of me when
I
asked
you
for the
annulment. But you did not and that confused me very much. It took
me a little while to figure out your motives for keeping me around,
but I must say, your plan was brilliant. You cannot be rid of me
until your legislation has passed. You need me to be your hostess,
your wife, so you would not look foolish in front of all your
aristocratic friends. I finally figured out the rules of this game
you are playing. Now we are on an even field.”

Robert threw back his head and laughed.

Fiona shrank further into her room. He was
mad! On his way to Bedlam in a basket.

“Oh, Fiona, you are a wonder.” He stepped to
her and she retreated until she could go no further, her back was
to the wall.

“Fiona what you are accusing me of is absurd.
I am not playing any kind of game with you. First of all, I do not
need your help getting the votes. William and Ellis have been
securing them in my absence. Secondly, you are my duchess,
therefore my hostess. And third, the only reason I did not
consummate our marriage on that night was because if I had, I would
never have left you the next day, and I really did need to be at
Cantin Park.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “What I feel
for you is very real, and I did not want to frighten you with my
passion.” He leaned down and kissed her.

Robert wrapped his arms around her and gave
her a kiss that curled her toes. She could feel his heart pounding,
his ardor growing as he pulled her body closer to hers. An ancient
need, a siren’s song, called to her from the depths of her soul.
She wanted this man, in her life, in her bed, in her soul. But she
could never be sure where his heart lay.

She pushed him away. “No. Stop!” Fiona ran to
the other side of the room. “Do not dare touch me again.”

“Fiona.” Robert walked toward her.

She picked up the fireplace poker. “I said,
do not come near me. I swear by all that is Holy, I will use
this.”

“Fiona, what has gotten into to you?”

“You, my lord. You and your damned
inconsistencies. You marry me, then say we are to proceed with an
annulment. You kiss me at your leisure, but when I want the same
from you, you disregard it as an inconvenience. You wish me to be
the quintessential duchess and when I am, you throw it back in my
face. And now, you expect me to believe you, that it was all a
misunderstanding. No, my lord, I refuse to play this game any
longer. As I said, I will be the perfect hostess at your dinner
party, but after that, I. wish to proceed with the annulment. Now
please leave. I should like to get some sleep. I have a busy day
ahead of me tomorrow.”

“Fiona.” Robert held out his hand. “You are
misinterpreting my actions. You….”

“No! I have misinterpreted nothing, Robert.
My eyes are wide open. You said it yourself, our marriage is
nothing but a business arrangement. Now please, just go.”

Robert headed for the door and then turned.
“Fiona, we are not finished with this.”

“Yes, my lord we are.”

He left the room, and Fiona replaced the fire
poker. She went to the door that separated their rooms and locked
it, walked to her bedroom door and locked that. Then she climbed
into bed and sobbed like a child.

*****

In the hall, Robert leaned against her
bedroom door. He heard her moving about, and was about to go back
in when he heard the lock click into place. Anger bit at him until
he heard her cries.

Oh, Sweet Jesus, what had he done?

Fiona woke with the birds. Merry had brought
her chocolate and Fiona lay in bed sipping the dark brown ambrosia.
She gave the fight she’d had with Robert two seconds of her time,
and then dismissed it. She would not allow him to drive her insane
with any more lies. She instead made a list of all she had to do
that day for the dinner party.