Page 81 of Devoted to the Duke (The St. Clairs 1)

“Your Grace. Please. Come in. Have a seat.”

Jeremy sat in the available chair placed in front of the desk and glared at the solicitor.

“You’re Davidson? The one who sent me the message?”

“Yes, Your Grace. Her Grace has already come and gone this morning.”

His heart sank. He hadn’t thought Catherine would act so quickly in filing for an annulment, much less have already committed her signature to the document. He had to find her and tell her what a grave mistake he’d made, hoping to change her mind before he gave up on their marriage.

“Did Her Grace mention where she was going when she left your office?”

If anyone might be able to point him in the right direction, it was this man. He prayed the solicitor could reveal Catherine’s whereabouts.

“Only that... she would be traveling,” Davidson managed to get out. “She didn’t say where.” He pushed some papers toward Jeremy, his eyes pleading for the duke to sign the documents.

Jeremy smiled. Catherine would never go anywhere without Leah.

And Leah was at his London townhome.

He stood quickly, knowing how urgently he needed to get home. No wonder Catherine had Davidson send the message for him to come sign at once. It was because she needed to spirit Leah away. He decided to take the annulment agreement with him—unsigned—and see if he might somehow get Catherine to tear it up.

When he reached for the papers, his eyes fell to a folded page on the desk. It bore his name.

“What’s this?” he asked and picked it up.

Panic filled Davidson’s face. He reached for it and quickly withdrew his hand when Jeremy glowered at him.

“Th-that’s... not for you, Your Grace,” the man sputtered.

“I beg to differ. My name appears on it.”

“Yes, it does, but it’s not for you. Not now. Her Grace was most specific about that.”

“Oh, she was? Do tell, Davidson.”

The poor man looked as if he might collapse. “She was adamant that you be summoned to sign the annulment papers this morning. She wanted the annulment to go on record today.” He cleared his throat. “And the letter she left was to be sent to you in exactly one week. Not any earlier.”

“Do you know what it states?”

The solicitor looked appalled. “Certainly not.”

“I will take it with me now,” he said firmly.

“Will you wait the week, Your Grace? I would hate to disappointment—”

“Are you married, Davidson?” Jeremy asked suddenly.

“Y-yes. Yes, I am.”

“Do you love your wife?”

A smile emerged amidst the dismay. “I do.”

“Well, I love my wife, too. I need to make sure she knows that before I sign your document.” He scooped up the papers Davidson had previously offered. “I’ll take these with me. If Catherine still wants an annulment after I’ve spoken with her, I will return tomorrow and sign them before you. And if she doesn’t? I hope never to see you again, Davidson.”

Jeremy folded the papers and slid them inside his jacket. He still clutched the letter Catherine had written him in his hand. “Good day.”

With that, he strode from the office and back to his carriage. He instructed his driver to get him home as quickly as possible and then climbed inside. As the coach took off, he opened the single page.

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