The Duke's Divorce (The Reluctant Grooms Series Volume IV) (34 page)

Fiona had disappeared.

Robert couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep. He
walked through his life as if he were a ghost. He’d given up all
his daily pursuits to look for Fiona. He couldn’t blame her really.
After what he’d done to her, in front of their friends and family,
she probably had taken off for the Continent, or God help him,
America, just so she would never have to see him again.

If it took until his last day on earth, he
would never stop looking for her. He would never stop hoping that
he would find her. He would never stop praying she would give him
one more chance. Pitiably, he realized he had done the very same
thing with Mary Elizabeth ten years before.

A week after moving in to the Bainbridge,
Fiona greeted Greenleigh with a smile. “How can I ever repay your
kindness, my lord? This really is beyond the pale.”

“It is my pleasure. Besides, surely you do
not wish to live in a hotel forever. Now, I have set up three
appointments to view some very fine homes, which are quite near one
another, and we may depart at any time. My carriage waits ready in
the mews.”

“Greenleigh you are a dear. It will be so
lovely to go out into the wide world again.”

Fiona and Merry followed Greenleigh down the
servants’ staircase and walked out into the stable yard for the
hotel. Greenleigh’s magnificent barouche awaited them. They climbed
aboard, and Fiona wished they could ride with the top open, but
knew she couldn’t. She did not dare to be recognized.

The scandal sheets had taken to her story
like flies to a carcass. Everyone now knew Fiona had left Robert
over his episode with Mary Elizabeth at their ball. The consensus
agreed she was the aggrieved party. However, everyone wanted to
know where she was. It seemed Robert had searched London
thoroughly, even offering a reward for her whereabouts, but no
takers had turned up. She thanked God Greenleigh and Mr. Bolton
kept her secret.

Fiona only needed to remain in hiding for
five more weeks. After speaking with Mr. Murray, her own solicitor,
she had found, as ‘Robert’ had been the one to bring about the
annulment, she would need to be questioned by the magistrate for
her side of the story. If however, she could not be found, then the
annulment would be granted
in absentia
.

The first house Greenleigh took her to, on
Queen Street, proved to be laden with traffic. She declined the
invitation to view the interior and Greenleigh told his driver to
go to the Church Street address. On Church Street, Fiona was not
quite as disappointed with the location, but again declined the
invitation to go inside. The house had a rather inhospitable air,
with a crumbling façade and overgrown shrubbery.

“Well, we have one more stop today,”
Greenleigh said. “It is a little more expensive, but well worth it
in my opinion and I do think this last will be to your liking.”

As soon as they pulled around the corner from
St. Ann’s Church, Fiona fell in love with the cul-de-sac. Lined
with trees and wrought iron fences, the houses were elegant, yet
unpretentious. The carriage stopped in front of number ten, and the
tiger opened the carriage door and set the steps.

Greenleigh emerged first and handed Fiona
down, then Merry. “Well, my dear, what do you think of this
one?”

Fiona smiled. “I do like the neighborhood.
Shall we go in?” Fiona adjusted her black mourning shroud just in
case any neighbors had prying eyes.

“By all means.” Greenleigh led the way up the
cobbled walk and opened the door.

A small, formal parlour off the front door
welcomed them. The furniture was lovely, older and worn, but still
serviceable, like something found in a well loved home. The library
was across the hall. A mahogany staircase led up to a bright
landing.

“Shall we view the rest of the first floor?”
Greenleigh asked and led the two women down the short hall.

They wandered into the dining room, with
large windows that overlooked a tidy garden, and then into the
kitchen through a small serviceable butler’s pantry. The kitchen
was over sized with a delightful sunroom off the back door. A small
breakfast room lay behind the door on the other side of the
kitchen.

“I think this will do nicely for us, will it
not, Merry?” Fiona asked the little maid.

“Yes, very well indeed,” she agreed.

Upstairs there was a large bedchamber at the
front of the house, with two smaller rooms in the back. In the
attic were two large rooms for servants.

Back in the library, Greenleigh turned to
Fiona. “Does it meet with your approval?”

“Oh aye, very much,” Fiona replied. “’Tis
very handsome and well appointed. I like it very much indeed.”
Fiona walked over to the shelves encasing the hundreds of books and
ran her fingers lightly over their spines. “How much is the owner
asking for rent?”

Greenleigh named the sum and Fiona
smiled.

“That is well within my budget. How long is
the lease?”

“’Tis indefinite at this point. However, he
does wish for at least a year’s signing.”

“Well then,” Fiona said. “Shall we adjourn to
the rental office and I will sign the agreement?”

“Lady Fiona,” Greenleigh said. “May I be
frank?”

Fiona turned to Merry. “Why do not you go
outside, dearest, and take a view of the gardens. I shall only be
another moment.”

Merry bobbed a short curtsy. “Of course, my
lady.”

When the girl had departed, Greenleigh asked,
“Are you sure you wish to take such a drastic measure? Cantin is a
good man, albeit a little pompous in his dealings with others, as
I’m sure you will agree. That being said, I truly believe you two
can sort out your disagreements and work to find a mutual
understanding.”

Fiona smiled sadly. “Greenleigh, I do thank
you for your concern, but there is nothing for it any longer. I
have tried to be what he wants, twisted myself into knots to gain
his approval, and it is all for naught. As you and everyone else in
Society saw last week, the woman he loves has come back. I am not
so dim-witted to think he would give up his chance at happiness
with her, over an uncertain future with me. As I have told you
before, the annulment was always imminent. Only now, I have given
it to him sooner rather than later. The scandal will pass and I
will not deny him what he has always wanted.”

“Lady Fiona, I’m sure you misinterpreted
Cantin’s actions at the ball. It cannot be denied he and the
Countess have a past, but his future is with you. Surely, you can
see that. The newspapers are full of reports how despondent he is.
Why, some accounts are telling of his gaunt looks and frail air. It
seems he is more distraught over your leaving than you think.”

“Greenleigh, I am sure he is searching for
me, but for reasons I have no wish to hear. I will not live a
half-life, which is what I will do if I return. You saw them
dancing together. You saw the way he held her. He always demanded I
should not cuckold him during our marriage. Well, I should not like
my husband to laud his mistress over me.” Fiona pushed the curtains
aside and looked out the window. Merry walked under the trees.

“So you see, we have no hope. I only wish to
live a quiet life away from him until I decide what I am to do with
my own future. Perhaps I will travel after a fashion. But right
now, this is for the best.”

Greenleigh sighed. “If that is what you wish,
then I have no cause to deny you. Come, let us away to the rental
agency where you may take possession of your new home.”

*****

Robert sat in his study staring morosely out
the window. It had been ten days since Fiona left. He had searched
everywhere he could think, even sending a letter to her father. The
response from the Laird Stewart lambasted him for losing his wife
over a strumpet, and if Fiona ever did come back to Scotland, it
would be over the Laird Stewart’s dead body when he would tell
him.

Edwards knocked on the door. “I hate to
interrupt, Your Grace, but your solicitor Mr. Goss is here to see
you.”

Goss? What could he want? “Send him in,
Edwards.” Robert rose from his chair and pulled at his cuffs.

Albert Goss, a diminutive man who took snuff
more than was good for him, entered Robert’s study. He held out his
hand, and then bowed subserviently.

“Thank you for seeing me, Your Grace. I know
you did not wish to be disturbed over this matter, however, Berkely
and I could not help think, being in your best interests of course,
in light of everything that is happening, that you might wish to
take another look at the paperwork, and perhaps reevaluate the
structure of the decree. We both feel that abandonment would be the
wiser of the two choices now, especially as it is widely reported
Lady Fiona has left your domicile.”

“Mr. Goss,” Robert said. “I appreciate your
concern over my best interests, but what, pray tell, are you
talking about?”

“The annulment, Your Grace.” Mr. Goss dug
around in his satchel and brought out the papers.

Robert took the paperwork and read through it
quickly. It was the original annulment decree they had written up
those many months ago. He slapped the papers on his desk and opened
the drawer where he kept them. They weren’t there. He looked again
at the annulment decree and found his signature. It wasn’t his. It
came very close, but it wasn’t his. It also explained why Davidson
had complained about his overzealous use of wax on his signet
ring.

There could only be one explanation. Fiona
had forged, or had someone forge, his signature and then sent the
paperwork to his law firm.

“Tell me, Mr. Goss, when did you receive
this?”

“Your servant brought them to us nine days
ago.”

“And my
servant
told you I did not
wish to be disturbed over this matter?”

“Yes, Your Grace. Adamant in fact we not
bother you at all. He said, and I quote, you were trying to put the
foolish marriage behind you and wanted to forget it ever happened.
However, as I said, Berkely and I thought it might make things
easier if you were to proclaim abandonment rather than fraud. Make
the proceedings run smoother, what.”

Thankfully, Berkely and Goss
had
decided to keep his best interests at heart. Fiona would certainly
have been found out in court she had forged his signature and that
would have led to all kinds of trouble, possibly even gaol.

“Mr. Goss, I thank you for your singular
attention in this matter, but I believe there has been a grave
misunderstanding. I inadvertently signed those papers in a moment
of great distress and had them sent to you without thinking
clearly. I have no wish at present to proceed with the annulment
from my wife, and I relieve you of the duties therein.”

Mr. Goss looked at him with a wary eye. “Are
you sure, Your Grace?”

“Yes, Mr. Goss. I am very sure.”

“Very well, then. Thank you for your time.”
He bowed and left Robert standing there shaking his head. He had to
hand it to Fiona. She was clever.

After Goss left, Robert sat down at his desk
and studied the paperwork. Oh yes, the little minx was very clever
indeed. His memory of the ball had returned slowly, and over the
course of the last sennight, Robert had managed to put it all
together. But this was a new twist.

He had questioned all the servants after
Fiona’s departure and the night footman, who had been the last
person to see Fiona, had said she had returned to the study to blow
out the candle. Robert now figured, she hadn’t been looking for him
as she said. Fiona had been looking for the annulment papers.

Robert raked his hands through his hair. Oh,
bloody hell, she hated him enough to forge his signature and risk
prison, because she couldn’t bear the thought of being married to
him. What kind of man had he become to drive a woman to that?

Edwards appeared in the doorway. “Lord
Davingdale is here, Your Grace. He says it is of the utmost
importance he speak with you directly.”

Robert stood and Davingdale practically
knocked Edwards over coming into the room.

“I know where Fiona is,” he said.

“Where?” Robert’s heart jumped to his
throat.

“With Greenleigh.”

“Greenleigh? Are you sure?” Robert tried to
contain his temper. Greenleigh and Fiona were only good friends he
told himself.

“Positive. I just saw them entering the
Bainbridge.”

“The Bainbridge? Thomas, are you positive it
was Fiona?” He knew Greenleigh to be an upstanding man, but he also
knew men in love did foolish things. Would Greenleigh take the
chance of being with Fiona knowing Robert would kill him?

“Robert, I swear to you on my life it was
Fiona. I recognized your old groomsman, what was his name, and
Fiona had a young maid with her. I know it was them because I
remember seeing them together when I would ride in the mornings in
the Park.”

“Edwards,” Robert yelled.

Edwards stepped out from behind the
half-closed door.

“Have Zeus saddled now.”

With Davingdale beside him, Robert rode to
the Bainbridge. Davingdale held the horses while Robert went
in.

“I am looking for my wife, the Duchess of
Cantin,” he snarled at the concierge. If he found out they had lied
to him when he had asked for her last week….

“I am sorry, Your Grace, your wife has not
checked in.”

“She was seen entering your establishment
with the Earl of Greenleigh, her maid and a male servant not more
than a half hour ago.”

“I’m sorry, Your Grace, the Earl of
Greenleigh left with his cousin, Lady Stewart.”

“Lady Stewart?”

“Yes, Your Grace, the Earl of Stewart’s
daughter, lately of Peebles in Scotland.”

Robert could have kicked himself. Of course,
she would not be so foolish as to use her own name. His wife was
exceedingly
clever.