Page 71 of The Mistletoe Countess
Would Lillias have brought conflict into Frederick’s life so soon? Her elegant sister knew how to guard her tongue much better, but would Lillias have been the best person to shape Frederick? Frederick certainly seemed exasperated enough with Grace to be shaped into something or other. “He was supposed to marry my sister, you know. I felt certain they were meant to be soul mates. Do you think he wishes he’d married her now?”
“He marriedyou,therefore you are exactly the right wife for him.” Lavenia sniffed in disapproval. “There’s no need to ponder thewhat-ifs. They steal the truth of what is. You are soul mates by choice and will. How closely you wrap your souls around one another is of your own choosing.”
Grace allowed the idea to sink within her. How liberating! She was Fredericks’ wife. They belonged to one another in every way. It was time for her to step into the idea without holding back, even if it meant pushing him forward with an argument or two.
“It is not a light responsibility he bears, dear. Perhaps he does allow it to control him too much. Likely, he’s afraid of failing. But in many respects, he is the last hope for a dying legacy.”
Grace searched the woman’s face. “I want to help him, but he doesn’t have to be so snippy toward me. I’m onhisside.”
“Your Frederick has not had a great deal of experience with people being on his side, so he may find it difficult to believe.” Aunt Lavenia’s expression softened, her eyes growing sad. “Being loved for the sake of love itself is a novelty to him since losing his grandparents. He’s been an outcast for a long time, but I feel your generosity of affection and…um…creative intelligence will be the making of him.”
It was no wonder his wife had disappeared this time. He’d treated her abomi-nably. He took the steps of the Great Hall two at a time but found the library as empty as every other room he’d searched. Even if her words challenged him beyond his comfort, she didn’t deserve his attack. His thoughtlessness.
Hero of his own life? He couldn’t even maintain hero status in his wife’s eyes for longer than a day without bumbling something. Halfway through his second pass of the Great Hall, he found his faithful butler. “Brandon, I’m in need of your assistance.”
The man’s features tightened with a strange sort of wariness. “Sir?”
“Would you happen to know Lady Astley’s whereabouts?”
The man did the strangest thing. He took in a deep breath, drew his watch from his pocket, and almost…smiled. “Yes, sir. I do. She left with Mrs. Redfern.”
“Pardon?”
“Exactly thirty-four minutes ago.”
Frederick stared at the butler for a full five seconds before resurrect-ing his voice. “My wife left with my aunt thirty-four minutes ago?”
“Yes, sir.” Brandon cleared his throat. “They were leaving straight for the rectory, if I understood rightly, sir.”
The thoughts finally reached comprehension and thrust Frederick into action. If Aunt Lavenia heard of his treatment of Grace, there was an excellent chance she’d respond in one of two ways. With her knowledge of his past and his attempts to make amends, she could have quieted Grace’s fears and defended him as any good aunt should do. On the other hand, as a wife and defender of her general sex, she could have helped Grace concoct some scheme for his emotional demise.
Lord, if I’ve ever done anything good in my life, please let it be the former option.
It took over a half hour before Patton pulled the roadster in front of the well-manicured, gray stone cottage his aunt and uncle had occupied for the past twenty years. No one here would keep to ceremony for the Earl of Astley. He would always be simply Frederick.
And in this case, that may not play into his favor at all.
Perry, one of his aunt’s two servants, led Frederick to the sitting room, where he was offered tea and cakes. So far so good. He waited five then ten minutes, and at the fifteen-minute mark almost went in search of his wife on his own, but Aunt Lavenia appeared in the doorway, blocking his exit.
“Ah, Frederick, how good of you to come visit so soon.”
He drew in a slow, steadying breath. “You know why I’m here.”
She raised a brow to him, her gaze measuring the length of him as if she didn’t quite trust him. “Then you understand your best position right now is humility.”
He lowered his head and stifled a groan. “I do.”
“And humble men are prone to listen rather than speak.”
His gaze raised to hers, brow tipped, waiting.
“You’ve told her nothing of your past, Frederick? Part of this dis-agreement between the two of you could have been thwarted by some forthrightness on your part.”
“But I—”
Lavenia’s raised finger and steely look paused his response. “Whether you realize it or not, your Lady Astley is exactly what you need. Young? Yes. Fanciful?” Aunt Lavenia chuckled. “Indeed. But also clever, kind, strong, and above all hopeful.”
“I know. I see it.” Frederick’s shoulder bent.
