Page 69 of Wicked Is the Duke
"I agree. We simply must wait and see what he does."
She nodded. "Yes. When I saw Lady Carlisle she acted as though she was scared of someone or something."
"How do you mean? Lady Carlisle's never been afraid of anything that I'm aware of."
"Just the look in her eyes as we stood outside. She glanced down toward the inn; the look on her face was one of pure panic."
"We can't protect her, but I'll inform my men to watch for her and to keep an eye on her."
"And why. You'll tell them why?"
"We're not even sure why other than what you've told me."
"Tell them she fears Carlisle."
"Yes, I suppose that will work," he replied.
The carriage came to a stop in front of the manor house. Blackmont descended from the carriage first, then handed his wife down. The rain had picked up, and the pair hurried up the stairs and into the great hall.
Anna started toward the drawing room. "Join me for tea? To warm up?" she asked.
Henry nodded, handing the butler his hat and great coat. "Yes, of course."
As they walked across the black and white marble floor, Henry stopped. "Go on ahead. I need to check on something."
"If you go now, you'll simply forget all about having tea with me."
He grinned. "Never. However, if I'm not back in thirty minutes, have a footman come remind me."
Chapter Twenty-Four
Anna stood before theFrench doors in the drawing room, looking out over the gardens. The rain had continued through the night with no sign of stopping. That would mean any chance to go back to Henry's factory would have to wait.
A noise caught her attention, and she turned to find Henry standing across the room watching her. She had seen him briefly at breakfast, but he’d left her for the solitude of his study. A ritual he carried on, tending to correspondence, estate affairs, and other business matters.
He looked quite handsome standing there in a dark gray suit. Somehow it reminded her of the weather outside, only nicer. She searched his face, looking for any hint of what he was thinking. Perhaps he’d received information about Carlisle and Lady Caroline. She knew he'd sent a letter out late in the afternoon after they'd returned from the factory.
