Page 55 of The Duke of Desire
Chapter Twelve
Stour’s Edge, Suffolk, a fortnight later
The dreary weather perfectly matched West’s mood. He’d been home for several days now after riding helter-skelter to catch up with Townsend. The viscount had been shocked and frightened when West had found him and Miss Forth-Hodges at a coaching inn. The lady had been surprisingly resolute as well as unyielding. She’d made it clear that she understood the damage to her reputation and didn’t care. She only cared about marrying Townsend.
West had negotiated the terms of the marriage settlement as Forth-Hodges had indicated and then accompanied them to Gretna Green, where they’d been happily wed. They may have gone about things the wrong way, but West had never subscribed to a “right” way, and their happiness was all that mattered.
Unfortunately, the weather had turned awful, and the rain had prevented him from arriving at Greensward before the house party had ended. He’d missed Ivy by one day. One terrible, infuriating day. He scowled at the gray River Stour wending its way past his estate in the distance like a serpent on the hunt.
He abruptly turned back to his desk and tried to focus on the matters of running his estate. Thankfully, he had a capable and attentive steward and a blindingly efficient secretary.
The latter, a fellow about five years West’s senior and who could best be described as a wily grasshopper in appearance and demeanor, stalked into West’s office with a stack of letters. “The post has arrived, Your Grace.” He set the missives on the desk in front of West.
“Thank you, Hemphill.”
West eyed the mail acrimoniously. Every day he tore through it, hopeful for a letter from Ivy. And every day he was disappointed.
“Anything of interest there before I weed through it?” Hemphill asked.
The secretary always gave West his mail before opening it so that he could scan for letters from women seeking his services. Hemphill was more than aware of West’s liaisons and in some cases helped with arrangements—leasing houses or coordinating travel.
West waved at the secretary. “Have a seat, if you will.”
Hemphill deposited himself in the chair in front of the hearth.
West sorted through the missives until he came across one that was in a feminine hand. It wasn’t the first he’d received since arriving home. But would it be from the one woman he wanted most to hear from?
He tore it open, and his heart stopped for the barest moment. It was fromher.
Clare,
Why wasn’t she still calling him West? Perhaps she was simply trying to be formal in her correspondence.
I wanted to thank you for dispatching the new schoolmistress to the workhouse in Wendover. She arrived the day before we left, and Lunden offered her the position. I do believe the arrangement will be most beneficial to everyone. I can’t overstate my appreciation.
West smiled to himself. He imagined her reaction when the schoolmistress had arrived. Had she revealed one of her treasured smiles? He rather thought so. And now he was angry all over again that he’d missed her.Hellfire.
He went back to reading the disappointingly short missive.
Mrs. Forth-Hodges shared with me that she received your letter regarding Emmaline and Townsend’s elopement. She is most grateful to you for ensuring that everything went as it should. I hope and pray for Emmaline’s happiness. I must also thank you for your role in the situation. You are a most surprising gentleman.
West felt a burst of absurd pride.
Lady Dunn and I are off to Bath for the next two months. I’ve never been, but she has friends there. I suppose that’s all there is to say. I wish you every happiness in the future.
I. Breckenridge
He glowered at the parchment as if it were somehow to blame for the frustrating lack of…emotion. But what had he expected? If he’d come to know Ivy at all, he shouldn’t have been surprised. She repressedeverything.
Well, almost everything.
That last night together, he’d drawn her out.
“A troubling letter, Your Grace?”
Hemphill’s question crashed into West’s thoughts. He looked over at the secretary, who was just replacing his spectacles on his nose. “Not troubling exactly. Just… Never mind.”
“Is it your next arrangement? I noticed a feminine scrawl on one of the letters. It seems as though you’ve received a few of those this week.”
