Page 62 of The Duke's Impossible Deal
“Ihave asked the servants to start packing my things, and will arrange everything else after breakfast.” Tobias stood in the drawing room the next day, his hands clasped behind his back.
He had not managed to sleep the night before. Instead, he had lain awake, plagued by thoughts of the harm he had caused.
How could I have been so blind?
It was time to make things right. He had been foolish to think it could be any other way, and Georgie and Alistair had paid the price.
“You do not need to do that.” Rowen stood, placing the dress she was embroidering on the sofa beside her.
She stepped towards him. Her lips were pursed, eyes wide. Her hair fell about her face, framing it in a way that made her look younger, more innocent.
Tobias’s chest tightened, and he almost took a step towards her, but caught himself and remained rooted to the spot.
I must be like ice.
“I do.” He stiffened. “I will not break my vows to you, nor my vows to James.”
“But we do not even know that you are the cause of all of this.” Rowen took a step towards him. “Perhaps it is simply the change.”
“I will not take that risk.”
There is something wrong with me.
Tobias swallowed and stepped back. “I will make the arrangements, and I will leave by this afternoon.”
“By this afternoon?” Rowen gasped. “Surely we should discuss this?”
“What is there to discuss, Rowen?” Tobias tore his gaze from her.
“We are married?—”
“In name only. That is what we both agreed. What we both want.”
He wished that he sounded more certain, but even as he said the words, his chest constricted as though an invisible hand was wringing him like a rag.
“I swore I would protect you.”
“And just how do you think leaving m—us will do that?” Rowen strode towards him, her eyes blazing. “I had not thought you a coward, Tobias. Running when things get hard.”
“Is that what you think I am doing?” Anger flared in his chest.
“I have no idea what you are doing. I opened up to you, and your first response was to turn tail and run!” Rowen shook with frustration.
“This is what you wanted!” Tobias closed the distance between them, towering over her. “You were the one who asked me to keep my distance, who wanted me to stay away from the children.”
“And you insisted on having a hand in their education,” she shot back. “And I do not think you were wrong.”
“How can you say that? You told me that you were worried about them?—”
“Because I am! But I do not think, I… Your leaving will not help.”
“Are you sure about that?” Tobias’s voice was quiet as his eyes searched her face. “Tell me that you are sure it has nothing to do with me, and I will stay.”
Tell me you want me here.
He hated himself for thinking it. Hated how weak he was for wishing she would ask, even though they both knew his staying would only cause more harm.
She opened her mouth and shook her head. “I did not think you were the type of man to run from a fight.”
