Page 79 of Never Doubt a Duke's Desire

Chapter Twenty

For years this humble community haswondered why His Grace, Duke of Westwood and Miss Follet had separated, now we understand a bit more.A dalliance with a Frenchmanthat was rumored to have asked for Miss Follet’s hand in marriage—but was refused. We can only speculate why.

Dropping the paper, Isaac snorted. “I know why, her pride tells her that she is only fit for a king.”

He reached for his coffee and drank. He was not sorry about last night, and though the realization that he would never get an answer from Helena about her infidelity was a kernel of heaviness in his breast—he knew he could live with it and put it behind him.

After he finished his meal, Isaac called for bathing water and began to ready himself for the day. There were a few things to do in town, some issues to square off with his steward,then he was off to London to more. Showing his face after such a telling night was a daring risk but he was not one to hide and run. At least people then knew that, between Miss Follet and him, he was not the one to blame.

His errand could not be put off so by nine, his carriage was called, and he was being driven to the town. In an office near the town’s square, he spoke with his steward for over an hour,then, with the matters there settled, he headed off to London.

***

The moment Isaac stepped into White’s, the leading gentleman’s club on St. James’ Street, after a long day of business in the city, he briefly wondered what had possessed him to do so. All eyes were trained on him as if he were a strange oddity, like a passing menagerie, or a cat with two heads.

Why had I thought that this was a good stopping point between the city and home?

The cloying scent of cigar smoke, dimness, bare walls, and leather seats showed just how much a female touch was missing from the room. As he walked to the main room, Isaac met the curious gazes, and returned cold stares and polite greetings as he received them.

“Westwood, I am surprised to see you here,” someone drawled behind him. “I thought you would be hidden away, finding another way to ruin everyone else’s ability toholdon to good women.”

At the scowlingjeer, Isaac turned to see Alistair Eccles, the Earl of Greenlandsneering at him from a billiard table. Casually he replied, “How am I to be blamed for that? Am I in your bedchamber? You might want to check a physician for that.”

Laughter rang out from the men around them, but Isaac did not move from the sullen man.“I assume you have tried your chance withMiss Follet and were refused?”

“Not only refused, but rejected entirely,” Eccles grumbled. “It seems no one after you will do.”

After calling for a drink, Isaac shrugged. “Thenshe will die alone as I am not interested in her anymore. I may be a stubborn man, but I am hardly a glutton for punishment and misery.”

Eccles shifted his glass to the side, and pinned Isaac with a questioning gaze. “Is it true? That she was the reason you two parted?”

A waiter came with his drink and Isaac took a healthy mouthful. “Yes, and to this day I do not know why. Moreover, I do not want or care to know why.”

The Lord lifted a brow. “You have moved on that quickly?”

Leveling a skeptic eyeto the Lord, Isaac replied. “Twenty-four long months of misery and bleakness is hardly quick. But yes, I have found another. And do not bother asking, you nor anyone here will know who she is.”

“Marrying a foreigner, eh?” Eccles snorted. “I have known men who have pulled that cord and it was the worst mistake they had ever made.”

Isaac did not bother correcting him. Instead, he finished his drink and nodded.“I will see you around, Greenland, but don’t give up on Miss Follet yet. She might come around.”

With a nod, he left the club and after the carriage was called headed home. His eyes landed on the bag of medicine he had bought from an apothecaryin London. They were for Louisa to use if she was still ill and to put up if the malady took her again.

He rubbed his face; London now knew about his status with Helena, and glumly he realized that it was going to open a floodgate. Women would be crawling out of the woodwork requesting, through their mamas and other connections,for a chance with him. He was not sure how to turn them awaywithoutsullying his reputation and forcing them to ask questions he would rather not answer yet.

Night had fallen before he made it home, but it was not too late for him to send a maid with the bag of medicine to Louisa’s room.

Taking the supplies, her mouthslipped open in surprise. “That is very generous of you, Your Grace.”

“It’s a trifle.”He shrugged, then realized that he might have given Louisa more trouble than she could handle, especially if the maid asked why the Duke had bothered to purchase medicine for her. “Most days she brings my meals to me and I have come to appreciate her efforts. Please see to it that she gets them in the morning. Let her rest tonight.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” The maid curtsied.

I hope I have not given you trouble, Love.

After a bath and supper, Isaac readied for bed, feeling bereft thathe was not going to share that night with Louisa. It chafed him more than he had expected and as the night drew on, he tossed and turned. He wanted her there, dammit, but she was ill, and he had to force himself to understand it. Which told him another thing—he was utterly in love with Louisa.

And she deserved to know it before his hesitancy drove her away. She had said those three little words before, but God help it theycouldn’tform in his throat much less pass his lips. He wondered why.

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