Page 87 of The Duke and the Runaway Bride

Edwin did not need to block out that emotion—he had to embrace it. There would be mistakes, but he needed to be like his father and carry on regardless. There was some strength in how he had been, even if he had been too loving and caring. He had been taken advantage of, but would that really hurt on occasion?

When he had looked into Beatrice’s eyes the previous night and saw the love there, he had been afraid that by loving her, he would have more to lose. His mind wanted to weigh both sides, but his heart would not let him. It did not matter how much he stood to lose; what he gained in return would always be worth it.

As he rode to Hayward Castle, he knew he loved Beatrice, and she had to know that too.

The Duke dismounted his horse as soon as he got to the entrance, not tethering it to anything. He pounded on the front door, and it was answered soon after by the butler.

“Welcome, Your Grace,” the butler greeted, recognizing him.

“I’m here to see my wife,” the Duke said

“I am afraid she is not here,” the butler replied.

“I know she is here. Please go fetch your master for me.”

The butler kept his composure. “I am afraid His Grace is away on business, Your Grace.”

“Then the Duchess!” Edwin exclaimed.

“Yes, please come in.”

The butler stood aside to allow him entry. He led him to the waiting room while he went to fetch Charlotte.

Edwin considered calling out for Beatrice, but he wanted to make a good impression, and doing so would only come across as needy.

Not long after being shown into the waiting room, Charlotte appeared in the doorway.

“I need to see her,” Edwin stated.

“I don’t understand,” Charlotte said.

“I know she is here. I want to see my wife, and I am not leaving until that happens.”

Charlotte looked confused. “She returned to you. What is going on?”

“She did, but… she left again.” The Duke felt the weakness coursing through him, but he had to push through it.

“She did not come here,” Charlotte told him.

It was worse than he had feared. “She has gone home?”

Charlotte bit her bottom lip. “She would have come here before going there.” She hesitated for a moment. “I am afraid I don’t know where she is.”

“Please,” Edwin pleaded. “I need her back, and she deserves to know how I feel about her. I need to speak to her, and if she does not want me after that, I will return home. Please help me be with the woman I love.”

Charlotte thought about it for a moment before she gave him an address.

“That is where she went before. If she had not come to me, she would have gone there so people wouldn’t talk about her—or you. I must warn you, Duke. I know my sister, and if she has gone back there, she might have no intention of returning to London.”

“Let me worry about that. Thank you, Duchess.”

“I know she can be a handful, but she is worth it,” Charlotte said.

“I know.” The Duke nodded.

Edwin was soon back on his horse, and he had a longer ride this time, giving him more time to think. He rode for two hours before getting to the small countryside house. It felt too small a gesture to be turning up to talk. She would think he was only declaring his love to make her return home and save face. After all, he hadn’t been able to say it to her face, which was why she had run away again.

The Duke dismounted and tied his horse to a tree this time. They were in the middle of nowhere, and he feared the horse would run off.

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