Page 63 of Married to the Ruthless Duke

Nathaniel signed reluctantly and then stood up to leave, walking out of the room with a sullen look on his face. Alexander knew there would definitely be a long conversation between him and his mother, but there were some truths that needed to be told.

Once Alexander heard Nathaniel’s carriage leave the castle grounds, he sent for his man of affairs and gave instructions for him to handle all the work he wouldn’t be around for, as he’d be taking time off to spend with his wife.

“Your Grace, don’t you want to—” the man said, indicating his state of undress.

“I do not have the time.”

It took a lot of work to make Alexander relatively presentable, considering that he had neglected his appearance for quite some time, but the man with his incredible grooming skills had Alexander looking his best in record time. All that work was lost when he mounted his horse as if the devil was on his heels and raced to the Honeyfield townhouse. He was sincerely hoping Nathaniel had been lying about his wife’s journey.

When he got to the Honeyfield townhouse, he knocked, and the old butler he recognized from the few times visiting Helen opened the door, but instead of a smile, the man was giving him a look of disgust usually reserved for scum scraped from under his shoe.

Alexander guessed he deserved that after his horrible treatment of Helen.

“Is the Viscount in?” he asked with as much dignity as he could muster, considering his appearance.

“Yes, Your Grace.” The butler bowed, remembering his manners. “He is in his study.”

“Please announce my presence to him.”

Alexander was ushered in quickly and led to the salon, where everything had started. He was bombarded by images of the things that had happened between him and Helen in this room. He could almost feel the rage coming off her in waves, and he smiled at the fact they’d come a long way from then.

In a few minutes, the butler returned to usher him to the Viscount’s study. Alexander knocked, and at the Viscount’s answer, he walked in. The Viscount made to stand up, but Alexander waved him off.

“No need to stand on my account—we are family, after all.”

The Viscount shot him a disbelieving glance. Alexander couldn’t quite settle down, so he paced the study, feeling the cool weight of the Viscount’s stare on him.

“I came to see my wife,” he said, turning suddenly to meet the Viscount’s eyes.

“The Duchess is not here, Your Grace.”

“Then where is she?”

“I believe she went with her sister to visit their grandmother. They left about an hour ago, in fact,” the Viscount answered flatly, a thread of anger in his voice.

“Where?” Alexander asked quietly

“Scotland.”

It seemed Nathaniel was right, but then Alexander was ready to chase his wife to the ends of the earth. He was going to get her back no matter what happened. He loved her too much to just let her go.

“But I can’t let you go to her,” the Viscount said, rising from his seat. “Not after how much you hurt her.”

“My Lord, you are mistaken. I?—”

“I gave you my shining star of a daughter, and she came back to me a wilted flower. Now you are back for her? I cannot allow that.”

“I didn’t leave her. She left me,” Alexander explained, his feet itching to be on his way to bring his wife back to their home.

The more he was delayed here, the further she was sure to have gone.

“For good reason, I’m sure,” the Viscount spat. “Do not think I do not know the rumors about you. You must have hurt my daughter in some way for her to?—”

“I am sick and tired of the ton and their silly talk. I have never once done any of the things they’d accused me of, yet those foolish things hang over me like a dark cloud,” Alexander yelled as his hands shook with rage. “I have lived under that cloud since I was a boy, and now I’m a man, and you all expect me to continue? Do you all never seek to know the truth? Helen was right in telling me to speak up because I keep letting the real villains get away with all the evil they’ve perpetrated, but no more. I’m going to find my wife and tell her I love her, and so help me God, if you try to stop me…”

The Viscount looked taken aback and then broke into a smile. “Give me a moment, and I’ll procure a map of the route they’re taking.”

“All right.” Alexander nodded in surprise.

---