Page 70 of The Insufferable Duke
Helena hurried into the room.
“Julia? Julia!” She called her sister’s name many times, but Julia didn’t appear. There was no sign of her. Even the bouquet was missing though there was a mysterious gathering of petals that had fallen to the floor by the door to the chamber. It was as if those petals had been knocked free by someone smacking the bouquet against the door.
Marching across the space, Helena found the note that had been left behind. It rested on the vanity table, written in curling black calligraphy though she didn’t recognize the handwriting. She lifted a note with her hand then started to tremble as she read the words.
‘She is gone. This wedding cannot happen now. M.’
The signed M made that shaking grown worse.
“It is signed by a Moore.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-TWO
“Robert, you must sit.” Christopher stepped firmly in front of his brother. Robert had either paced or marched to the nearest door, intent on going to Julia’s chamber himself.
“I must do something,” Robert seethed under his breath. “I cannot believe she would run away from this day.”
“Then we wait until we hear something more.” Christopher took Robert’s shoulder and steered him to the nearest chair. “Sit, before you fall down from all this pacing.” Robert slumped into the nearest chair, but he looked far from his usual self. His body had collapsed, his face was strained, and his hair was wild from where he had pulled at it that many times.
“She wouldn’t run away, I know it,” Robert muttered again.
Christopher half wondered if his brother said such things aloud to convince himself as much as anyone else.
He holds onto his hope.
Yet Christopher found it hard to imagine Julia would leave Robert either. Was she not the one who had wished to sneak out and meet up with him so many times these last few weeks? She was eager! Practically bobbing on her toes with excitement at every meeting.
Something doesn’t make sense.
Christopher looked around the room, but it had now emptied but for the two of them. The Duke and Duchess of Dunton had left to talk to the guests and try to calm the speculation. The boy, Matthew, had scurried out after them, moving so fast, it was as if he’d rather be anywhere else in the world except in this room.
Isaac had insisted on a drink, so Frances and Laura had taken him to the main room. As they’d left, Christopher heard Isaac asking what all the sudden fuss was about. Clearly, once again, his forgetfulness was creeping in.
“She wouldn’t leave,” Robert whispered, his tone miserable. He hung his head so far forward, his body buckled.
“Then something else must be afoot, or maybe there’s some dreadful mistake.” Christopher grabbed the nearest chair and sat down in front of his brother. A potted plant brushed him, and he hastily shoved away the leaves that had caressed his cheek. It reminded him of the brief touches that had passed between him and Helena.
His gaze flicked to the door, thinking of her. They’d felt so close, so intimate as they had defended his brother and her sister’s decision to marry. Now, she was far gone from the room.
God only knows what fear she is suffering now. I should be there for her.
He reached forward and patted his brother’s shoulder.
“Robert, hold onto your hope.”
Robert’s eyes flicked up, narrowing to slits.
“You think this is not ominous? Good God, the families arguing was bad enough, but this? No, something worse is happening here.” He thrust a hand into his hair and pulled on the tendrils again. “We really should have just eloped.”
Christopher didn’t know what more to say and sat back in his chair, watching his brother. He could hardly argue and say eloping would have been no good. At least if Robert and Julia had gone to Gretna Green, they would be married by now, and the families would be forced to make peace with the affair.
“Let us just wait for news. Lady Helena will come and tell us something soon,” Christopher pleaded for Robert to stay calm. “And stop pulling at your hair so much. You’ll make yourself bald.”
Robert lowered his hand from his hair and managed the smallest of smiles that faltered all too quickly.
“Any news?” A familiar voice called Christopher’s attention to the open door. Percival stood there, looking strangely uncomfortable as he leaned on the doorframe.
“Does the whole wedding party know?” Robert asked, nodding his head at the people beyond the door. Percival’s wince was enough to give him an answer. “Argh.” Robert flung himself back in the chair. “The whole of thetonwill think me a monster and that Julia could not wait to escape me. This is not the wedding day I pictured.”
