Page 80 of The Insufferable Duke
As the sun dipped low in the sky, casting the streets of London in a burnt orange glow, all grew tired in the carriage. It had been a long day anyway, and the excitement then fearful energy had drained them all. The Duke of Dunton would not stop yawning, his pale features growing more drawn, and Robert could no longer sit straight.
After the last place they searched and they returned to the carriage, Helena sat back on the coach bench and her arm brushed Christopher’s. He made no effort to pull away from her, thankful for the briefest of touches.
“Why is this so hopeless?” Robert muttered in anger. “There must be somewhere else, somewhere more we can look.”
The Duke of Dunton shrugged helplessly.
“When I get my hands on my brother…” he muttered, leaving the threat hanging.
“There must be somewhere else,” Christopher said, trying to keep the Duke of Dunton calm. “Is there anywhere else your brother likes to go, Your Grace? Somewhere perhaps more unorthodox.”
“I do not know.” The Duke shook his head.
“Wait.” Helena sat forward. It meant her arm no longer touched Christopher’s, and he felt cold without that touch. “There is a place we have not thought to look, for why would he go there this time of year?”
“Where is that?” the Duke asked.
“Uncle Gibbs’ hunting lodge.”
At once, the Duke of Dunton leaned out of the carriage window and ordered more instructions to the driver.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
“Well, at least someone is here,” the Duke of Dunton pointed out, looking through the carriage window as they pulled up.
They all leaned forward, trying to catch a glimpse of the hunting lodge in the middle of the woodland. Helena moved so far forward, she was in danger of falling out of her seat. Christopher lifted his hand to steady her, and she took it as if on impulse.
Christopher felt burned, feeling someone stare at him. He released her hand at once, looking up to find the Duke of Dunton was the one who delivered that stare.
“Look,” Robert said, nodding his head at the view through the window. “Someone is moving about inside.”
There was a sudden movement as the Duke of Dunton thrust the door open, scarcely after the carriage had stopped moving. Robert was quick to follow. Helena hurried down next, and Christopher leapt down in his effort to catch up to his brother.
Robert marched toward the door of the small stone building between the trees, but Christopher caught his arm and swung him back around.
“What are you doing?” Robert seethed.
“If you go in there in full fury, that is hardly going to make the man accept you any more than he already does, is it?” Christopher asked, watching as Robert’s eyebrows raised in understanding. “You have to be calm for this, Robert. You cannot lose your temper.”
“You think I have any control of my temper right now?” Robert asked in a low tone.
“I think you can try harder.”
“I look forward to saying that when your betrothed is taken from you one day,” Robert said warningly. “You know nothing of how difficult this is.”
Christopher didn’t answer for a minute. He fought the temptation to turn and look at Helena a few steps behind him. He wished to argue with Robert, to point out that he did know something of what it was like to be divided from the woman you love, even if it was very different circumstances.
We are divided right now because of her suspicion of me and this whole mess.
Yet he wasn’t going to confess that for his brother to hear.
“Stop throwing your anger at me,” Christopher muttered. “I have done nothing but try to help you every step of the way in this.” His reminder made Robert hang his head a little. Clearly, Christopher’s words had broken through the red mist at last. “Get control of yourself, Robert.”
The Duke of Dunton stepped forward.
“I suggest I take the lead here,” he said, authoritatively. “It is my brother that has done this, after all.” He glanced back at Helena who hurried to walk behind him.
They all followed slowly to the door of the hunting lodge. Christopher’s eyes darted across the surface, trying to take every part of the building in at once. The tall grey stone structure was partly hidden by the branches of the oak trees on either side of it. Through the windows, candles glittered now the evening light had faded so far.
