Page 29 of In Need of a Duke
“I helped her dress only an hour ago. I’ve been in the kitchen helping Cook.”
“Do you know what’s happened?”
Susan stilled, her eyes wide. “Happened, Your Grace? I don’t understand.”
“My suits have been burned. And the duchess is missing.”
“Missing, Your Grace?”
He didn’t like the way her voice hitched.
“Where’s my wife, Susan?” he snarled. “The truth now.”
“I’m not sure. I told you. I assisted her with her riding habit only an hour ago.”
“She was riding this morning. Does she usually ride twice a day?”
Susan squared her shoulders. “The duchess enjoys the fresh air, Your Grace.”
“Pack your bags. You’re dismissed immediately,” he snapped, striding back to his rooms to find his valet. “Daniel, run to the stable and have a horse readied.”
He wasn’t going to allow her an extra minute. He marched through the house, then burst through the door outside and strode to the stable in large, angry strides. She would answer for her actions.
When he left, he had allowed her freedom to do as she wished, to spend as she so desired, and now that he returned, she could barely look at him.
He was the damn Duke of Dandridge, and his duchess would treat him with respect. He wouldn’t allow her to run from him.
Ian mounted the horse, then circled the stable yard as the stable hand and footman stood together. “Where is the duchess?”
“She prefers to ride near the river usually, Your Grace. She left almost twenty minutes ago and had a bag with her. But the weather is starting to turn, Your Grace. I tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen. It’s not a good idea to be out riding right now.”
Overhead, the clouds had filled in and loomed overhead, dark and ominous. A cold wind picked up, rattling the bare trees.
Charlotte was a fool to think she could run.
“Very well.” Ian nudged the hindquarters of the horse and shot off to the south of the property where she preferred to ride. He hadn’t been riding in some time, and he hadn’t ridden the estate since his father’s death.
There had been too much to do. And he had preferred London to this house. It only served as a reminder of being a dutiful duke. His father had seen to making him aware of what a burden Ian was, leaving for months at a time, along with his heartbroken mother and Nathaniel.
Ian rode as fast as he could, even as the wind changed and blew against his face, and his eyes watered from the chill. He hadn’t taken the time to dress properly, but then again, he hadn’t the time.
Charlotte was an excellent rider, and if he didn’t catch her, he didn’t know when he would find her next.
She would answer for what she did to his suits. She would look at him. She would pay attention.
He thought he saw something in the distance before the tree line and pressed on, finally catching sight of her.
“Charlotte!”
The wind carried his voice away, but he thought she leanedforward, pressing her horse faster as they navigated through the trees and closer toward the river.
“Charlotte!”
This time, her head whipped back, and her wide, blue eyes met his with surprise as Ian bore down on her.
Closer, he could get closer.
She wouldn’t be leaving. He wouldn’t allow her to make a fool of him.
