Page 76 of A Duchess to Unravel
Alistair raised a brow.
“What for?”
A faint smile curved Theo’s lips as a small blush filled her cheeks.
“Well my lovely dress is shredded,” she replied, “And I cannot walk back to my rooms naked.”
Despite the warring feelings inside of him, a smile touched Alistair’s lips, and he placed a kiss on her forehead.
“You will stay with me tonight,” he gently commanded, rubbing his hands down her shoulders, over her back, “We can figure out clothes in the morning.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
THREE DAYS LATER
“May I ask how it was, Your Grace?”
Theo slowly pulled herself from her thoughts. She had completely forgotten that she had been in conversation with Mrs. Mackenzie. With effort, she turned her head from the window she was seated by and gave an apologetic look to the housekeeper.
“Do forgive me, Mrs. Mackenzie, I am not feeling myself. What is it you are asking?”
She needed to be sure, because the first thing that came to Theo’s mind was the night she’d spent with Alistair--the night she’d given him everything. It was also the last night she’d seen him. The next morning, she had woken up in his bed alone, a note left on his pillow, stating that he’d been called back to Caldermere on urgent business, and she was to follow him at her leisure.
Theo had never dressed faster or had her things packed in such an expedient time that day, wanting to get back to her husband. Yet even after she had arrived back in Caldermere, she had not seen Alistair. It seemed every time she went to him, she had just missed him, according to his steward.
Why had he not simply awakened her and taken her with him? They had shared such an intimate night. Not just with their bodies, but with their emotions. She had thought … she shook her head, feeling herself be pulled into her thoughts again.
“London, Your Grace,” Mrs. Mackenzie explained with a kind smile, then laughed lightly and shook her head, “Though it is not my business, I suppose. It is just that we have been so busy these last couple days I realized I had not inquired on your time away.”
“Oh,” Theo breathed, then sat up straighter on the window seat.
“Well, it is not an improper question, Mrs. Mackenzie and I appreciate your concern,” she replied. “I believe it went quite well. It was lovely to see my friends and brother again.”
“And His Grace?” Mrs. Mackenzie asked, “How did he fare?”
Theo closed the book in her lap, giving up on it. She hadn’t been able to concentrate on the story anyway, even before Mrs. Mackenzie had come to speak with her.
“Well, I suppose,” she answered. Then, unable to deny her own curiosity asked, “Why do you ask? Has he said otherwise?”
Mrs. Mackenzie’s expression reflected a bit of worry, even as she smiled.
“In truth he has not said much,” the head housekeeper replied, “He has barely been present since his return to Caldermere. It was just strange, is all. In the past he’d always made time for a cup of tea with Mr. Mackenzie and me to discuss what he’d missed while he was away.”
Theo’s curiosity grew deeper.
“He did not do so this time?” she asked.
Mrs. Mackenzie shook her head.
Theo nibbled anxiously on her bottom lip. For the past three days she’d been trying to tell herself that she did not miss Alistair. That his distance was not an issue and that his absence was a taste of what her freedom would feel like.
“I am just a silly, worried old woman is all,” Mrs. Mackenzie laughed, shaking her head as she waved a hand through the air.
Theo mustered a smile and shook her head.
“Not at all,” she replied. “You have been with your master a long time. It is natural to worry over someone you’ve known for years.”
“Bless you for thinking so, Your Grace,” Mrs. Mackenzie replied, then smoothed her hands over the skirts of her gray dress, as if brushing her emotions away.
