The Duke's Divorce (The Reluctant Grooms Series Volume IV) (31 page)

“Yes, it certainly has – much too long.” Her
hand caressed the lapels of his jacket.

“What are you doing here?” To his addle-pated
mind, it was as if she were resurrected from the dead.

“When my last husband passed, I found I could
no longer stand living in Italy. I wanted to come home, to England
where I belonged. I have been in Town these three weeks together,
meeting old acquaintance, and when I found you were giving a ball,
I took the opportunity to insinuate myself on a friend’s
invitation. I hope you do not mind.” She placed her hand on his
cheek. “I realize I was absolutely horrible to you in the past,
Robby, but I should like to make it up to you. I have missed you so
much these last years. I should never have run away with
Binghamton, but he swayed my reason. Have you forgiven me yet?” She
laid a small kiss on his cheek.

Robert shook his head. He could not seem to
get his mind to register Mary Elizabeth was in his ballroom. He
needed to get away from her. This was too much for him to
comprehend in his alcoholic state. He searched again for Fiona.

“Robby, please.” She gazed up at him. “Say
you have forgiven me, or I shan’t bear it.”

“I’ve forgiven you,” he admitted. “It took
several years, but I’m over the hurt and humiliation you caused.
‘Twas a long time ago, Beth. I do not think about it anymore.”
Looking into her face, the truth came off quickly. He had Fiona
now.

“Good.” She smiled. “I must tell you I
suffered cruelly at Binghamton’s hand. He was not the man I thought
he was. And my second husband was another foolish mistake.” She
took his hand in hers. “You are the only man I’ve ever loved,
Robby. It has always been you.”

Her words slammed into his brain and he
didn’t care. He loved Fiona.

“Is that not a waltz? Dance with me, Robby. I
long to feel your arms around me.” She looped her hand through his
arm.

She led him onto the floor, and he couldn’t
escape without causing a scene. Oh dear God, where was Fiona? She
would never forgive him for this. Never.

*****

Fiona stood with her mother-in-law and Lady
Olivia and watched her husband touch his former lover’s back with a
tender hand. She watched as they moved closer to each other, their
bodies losing themselves in the twirl of her skirts. She watched as
the woman bestowed a kiss on his cheek. And finally she could watch
no more.

“If you would excuse me,” Fiona said. “I
think I need a few minutes to gather my thoughts.” She fled the
ballroom.

She gained her bedchamber and stood with her
back to the closed door. The elusive Mary Elizabeth had come back
and captured her husband once again. After all Fiona and Robert had
been through these last months, after all the anguish and misery,
and then love and hope for the future, it had been swept away with
all the ferocity of a tidal wave by the sudden appearance of one
woman. Fiona knew deep in her heart Robert had never stopped loving
Mary Elizabeth, but she had hoped he would somehow put that behind
him and find his happiness with her. But now, with Mary Elizabeth’s
arrival, Fiona knew all hope was lost. She had seen the way he held
her as they danced. A single tear slipped down her cheek.

Last night’s lovemaking had brought them
together in a way Fiona was sure would bind them forever. Now that
Mary Elizabeth was back, Robert would never look at Fiona the same
way. He would always be thinking of what he had lost, and how Fiona
could never compare.

Mary Elizabeth was an angelic creation,
blonde and willowy, with perfect style, and exquisite refinement.
Fiona was the exact opposite, possessing little in the way of
elegance, or sophistication. And hadn’t she overheard Robert once
describe her as the perfect image of Boadicea.

Fiona could never live in Mary Elizabeth’s
shadow, would never be able to stand her husband’s touch all the
while knowing he wished Fiona were someone else. Whatever they had
worked their way toward was completely undone now. It was only a
matter of time before Robert divorced her.

Fiona imagined he would be kind to her for
the next weeks, but secretly he would meet Mary Elizabeth and
discuss their future together. People would see them and try and
keep it from her, but Fiona would know from the pitiable looks on
their faces. She would become the laughingstock of Society again,
just as she had when she first arrived in Town.

For a brief moment, Fiona thought about
fighting for him, and then dismissed it. She would never compete
for Robert’s affections no matter how badly she wanted them. She
would lose and that would be the biggest humiliation of all. No,
she would give him up, body and soul, to the woman he would never
stop loving. It was the easiest way.

Fiona rang the bell and prayed she had not
taken Merry from sleep. She glanced at the clock. Half-eleven. She
paced her room and waited.

Merry arrived a few minutes later, still
dressed. “What is it, my lady? Is something amiss? I thought you
would still be enjoying the festivities.”

“Yes, I must return downstairs in a few
moments, but I need you to do something for me first.”

“Of course, my lady, what is it?”

“Tell me, can you get word to Eammon? We
shall need him for what I am about to do.”

Merry’s eyes grew round.

As Fiona explained her request, tears came to
Merry’s eyes.

“Oh, Lady Fiona, I am so sorry.”

“Robert and I have been walking on a very
thin ribbon. ‘Twas only a matter of time before something unraveled
it. I think this is the best way to move forward.” Fiona looked at
her bed with regret.

“I shall leave you to do my bidding. I’m sure
you will have plenty of time, as we have not even gone to supper
yet. Once you have finished, await me in your room and take some
rest. I will come to you in the wee hours.” Fiona walked to the
door.

“Are you sure, my lady, this is how you wish
to go on?” Merry asked.

Fiona turned. “Yes, dearest, ‘tis the only
way.” Fiona closed the door behind her and walked back down to the
ballroom. She needed to find Greenleigh.

With Edwards help, Fiona located Greenleigh
in the library. When she made her request of him, he did not seem
surprised.

“I am sorry, Lady Fiona. I had hoped Cantin
would think this through with his head, as he has such proclivity
for analytics in his business dealings.”

Fiona touched his arm. “One cannot lay fault
with one’s heart, Greenleigh. We must follow where it will lead, or
we shall only live half a life.”

“You are wise beyond your years, Lady Fiona.
I will do as you request and return as soon as I have made the
arrangements.”

“Thank you, Greenleigh. You are a
blessing.”

Dispatching Greenleigh, Fiona then made her
way back upstairs to the ballroom where she immediately went to
Lady Joanna.

“Are you well, dearest?” her mother-in-law
asked and placed her hand on Fiona’s cheek.

“Yes, I’m fine. I only needed a few minutes
to compose myself.” Fiona smiled at Lady Olivia who sat looking at
her with concern.

“Do not do anything foolish, child,” the
dowager said. “It will all work itself out.”

“I know, Lady Olivia. I know. I have given
the matter great thought and have adjusted my expectations. All
will be as it should, is that not what you say?”

“Fiona!”

Fiona turned at the sound of Robert’s
voice.

“Where have you been? I have been looking for
you everywhere.” Robert brought her hand to his mouth and kissed
her palm.

“I’ve been attending to matters in the
kitchen,” she lied and extricated herself from his grasp.

“Would you care to dance?”

She smiled. “I’m afraid Penny needs some
assistance in the ladies retiring room. Her gown has come undone,”
she lied again. “If you would excuse me.” And she left him standing
there with his mother and Lady Olivia.

*****

Robert watched her walk away. Did she know
yet? Had she seen him with Mary Elizabeth? His head swirled through
the fog of brandy.

“How could you, Robert,” his mother
cried.

He wanted to vomit. “Mary Elizabeth took me
by surprise, Mother.”

Lady Olivia thumped her cane. “Fiona saw you
dancing with her, Mr. Impudence. Have you completely lost all your
senses? Fiona is beside herself, but putting up a brave face.
Whatever your past history with Mary Elizabeth, you have no reason
to humiliate Fiona in her own home.”

“I am not humiliating anyone, Lady Olivia. I
was overtaken with Beth’s presence, something I’m sure you could
not understand. Would you rather I caused a scene? When I realized
what I had done, I came to find Fiona straight away.”

“And now what, Robert?” his mother asked.
“Now what shall you do? Break Fiona’s heart all over again? I
thought after last night you had finally come to an understanding.
I thought you had finally found the love you have been searching
for all these years. I thought you had finally found your
happiness.”

“Mother….”

“No, I will be heard. Fiona is the kindest
and gentlest of girls. She has loved you since you first brought
her home. She has loved you even when you treated her with such
contempt I did not know my own son. Fiona has loved you through it
all, and now just one dance with that horrendous little tart, you
forget everything you have found with Fiona.”

“Mother!”

“Do not say another word, Robert. I am
exceedingly displeased over your reprehensible behaviour.” His
mother walked away with tears in her eyes.

Lady Olivia stood. “I fear this will cost
you, Cantin. I very much fear you will lose everything, including
your good name.” Lady Olivia thumped her cane on the floor and also
walked away.

Oh God, how could he ever explain?

For the rest of the evening Fiona avoided
him. Always within sight, when she saw him coming, she slipped away
like a ghost. Searching for her for the waltz before supper, he
found her already on the floor with Greenleigh, which ate at him
like an ulcer.

Mary Elizabeth stood in the corner by the
open windows and watched him, constantly smiling. He wanted to have
Edwards evict her from the party, but that would only lead to
another scandal.

Oh God, what had he done? He found a footman
and bade him bring him a brandy.

In the ballroom, Penny gave Robert a direct
cut, and William wouldn’t look him in the eye. Robert wished his
father were there to advise him.

As soon as the damnable ball was over he
would go to Fiona and explain everything and hopefully, that would
ease her mind. As for Mary Elizabeth, he needed to speak with her,
to inform her, whatever game she played it wouldn’t work. Mary
Elizabeth had broken his heart once. He would be damned if he let
her do it to Fiona.

No one expected Fiona to remain until the
last of the guests departed, and Edwards urged her to go upstairs
and find her bed, but Fiona told him she was still too full of
nerves, which was true. However, she hoped to accomplish what she
intended before Robert found her. She had no doubt he would try to
explain his conduct this evening, no doubt he would give her some
clever excuse for his behavior with Mary Elizabeth. Fiona had no
wish to hear it. Whatever feelings Robert wished to impart,
whatever insecurity he hoped to discuss, Fiona didn’t care anymore.
His dancing with Mary Elizabeth was the ultimate insult. She had
put up with his uncertainty for too long, had lived in fear of his
rejection, and Fiona didn’t have to put up with it for one more
second.

Yes, she loved Robert, with all her soul, and
yes, it drove a knife straight through her heart to see him in the
arms of another woman, but Fiona wouldn’t give him the satisfaction
of voicing her hurt or anger. She would muster every last ounce of
dignity she could, mourn his loss, and then move on. There was
nothing else for it.

At half-three, Fiona found herself walking
through an empty house. The servants had finally finished cleaning
up, Edwards had taken himself away to bed, and the overnight
footman sat drowsily in his chair by the front door. Fiona crept
into Robert’s study. Standing over his desk, she lit a candle, and
looked through the set of keys she had taken off his dresser.
Finding the right one, she sat down and opened the lock to the
bottom drawer.

“What are you doing?”

Fiona nearly jumped to the ceiling. Robert
sat in darkness in his old chair in the corner.

“I asked, what are you doing?” Robert rose
unsteadily to his feet, and swayed as he walked toward her.

“Looking for you,” she lied. “I wondered if
you had gone to bed, and when I checked your room and found you not
there, I came down here.”

“Fee, we have to talk.” Robert spilled
whatever was in his glass as he set it down on the desk. “I’m sorry
about tonight. So very sorry.”

Fiona walked around the desk. “Yes, I know.
‘Twas all a big misunderstanding. Come now, let me help you
upstairs.” And once he was abed, she would come back down and
finish what she started.

“No, Fee, you do not understand. ‘Twas not my
fault. She accosted me. Please, Fee, tell me you understand. I did
not mean any of it.”

He looked so pathetic, Fiona almost felt
sorry for him. “I know, dearest, I know. But come now, I’m sure you
shall feel much better about all this in the morning. We can talk
then.” She slipped her arm around his back and led him out of the
room.

“You’re a good woman, Fee. I do not deserve
you,” he said as they walked into the hall.

“You are right, you do not,” she said. The
footman stirred and Fiona whispered for him to take Robert’s side
and help him to his room.

Attached to the footman, Robert looked at her
with baleful bloodshot eyes. “Where are you going? I thought you
said we were to bed.”