“I heard that she was still in London,” Caroline continued. “I have been trying to get some answers from her, about her departure.”
“Who told you this?”
“It was only a rumor, which I heard at one of our luncheons.” She explained carefully.
“Did Madeleine tell you this?” Her aunt asked pointedly.
“No,” she said hurriedly. “Madeleine did not know Emma at all.”
“This must stop,” her aunt commanded. “You will make no further contact with Emma, is that understood?”
“Yes, Your Grace.” The relief was slowly calming her tense body, but it was a short-lived alleviation.
“You will apologize to Lord Estaria as well,” her aunt added. “Profusely!”
The following morning, Owen sat in his small dining room, eating a lavish-looking breakfast. The dinner at Brighney Manor the night before had been a disaster. Just when he felt Lady Caroline was warming up to him, he learned that she was having secret correspondence with someone.
Father has requested to see me today. He will most likely want to see how my courting with Lady Caroline is going.
He had risen from bed, uncharacteristically early, determined to arrive on time to his meeting with his father. He finished his coffee and stood up.
The ride to Aston Manor was a short one. He had begun to feel like a stranger in this house. The butler, who he had known for all his life, escorted him to his father, and there seemed little difference in the butler’s exchange with him to that of any other guest.
“Your Grace,” the butler said. “Lord Estaria has arrived.”
“Let him in.” Owen entered the parlor, bowing low to his father.
“My, my,” His father muttered. “You are on time.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” he said politely.
“I have heard that you have begun courting Lady Caroline,” his father stated.
“Yes, Your Grace. She is kind and courteous, and I have enjoyed our time together.” His father sighed heavily before looking at him in exasperation.
“That is all very well, but it has been brought to my attention that Lady Caroline has previously refused the proposals from other gentlemen, on more than one occasion,” the Duke scoffed.
“Your Grace?”
“You have one month to marry Lady Caroline.” His father spoke with a dreadful finality.
“A month? Surely you cannot be serious?” He regretted his words immediately.
“I am very serious,” his father barked. “Too long have I made excuses for your abhorrent behavior, but that ends now. Either you will be married in a month’s time, or you will be written out of the will.”
“Your Grace, I beg you to reconsider.” He took a step closer to the Duke. The door to the parlor room open again, and the butler entered.
“Your Grace, Mr. Langley, has arrived.” Owen turned around swiftly at the sound of the name.
“Very good, you may show him inside,” the Duke replied.
“What is he doing here?” Anger was bubbling inside of him.
Father must have lost his mind, bringing on this blasted solicitor! He clearly does not believe I will remain in his will for much longer.
“Mr. Langley will be working for me for the coming weeks,” his father said. “He is very knowledgeable on Inheritance Law, even wrote a splendid article about it.” His voice was calm and cold. “Mr. Langley will make the necessary changes to my will. This is your final chance. You are excused,” his father added dismissively.
Owen stormed out of the room furiously but haltered as he stood face to face with that blasted Mr. Langley, who looked equally surprised to see him, but he left without uttering a single word to the solicitor.
How dare Father do this to me?
One month to make Lady Caroline agree to marry him? That was near impossible. He would have to meet Lady Louisa soon.
I must take action unless I will be left with nothing!
Caroline was hiding in her room. Her conversation with her aunt the night before had left her feeling scared and insecure. Although she thought her aunt had believed her explanation, the Dowager Duchess had behaved oddly during breakfast. The Dowager Duchess had been observing her every move, with a calculating expression.
Lord Estaria had sent word that he would not be able to meet her that day, which her aunt had scolded her for.
“You should consider yourself lucky that he has not yet broken off your courtship after yesterday’s debacle,” her aunt had said to her angrily.
All she wanted was to be in Mr. Langley’s warm embrace again. But she could not see how she would be able to send him so much as a snippet of paper, the way her aunt was observing her every move. Her fingers touched her lips, imaging his mouth pressed against her. She had a dreadful ache inside, a wanton longing for his touch.
When will he touch me again? I am desperate for his strong hand around my waist, feeling his arousal against my thigh…
There was a quiet knock on the door. After she called to enter, Madeleine appeared, looking small and defeated.
“Her Grace has requested you join her for tea,” Madeleine said timidly.
“All right,” she sighed, standing up.
“I want to apologize, My Lady.” Madeleine was even paler than usual, and Caroline could see that her eyes were red from tears.
“There is no need, Madeleine,” she dismissed.
“Yes, there is,” Madeleine insisted.
“Her Grace is angry with me, but it will subside,” she replied.
“I was away for too long at the museum,” Madeleine said quietly.
“It was too risky, and I should not have sent you away.” She walked to the mirror and gazed at her sad reflection. “I only worry about Emma now, for there is not a chance for me to try and contact her anytime soon. That concerns me a great deal.”
Madeleine stepped back and forth, seeming to debate with herself.
“What is it, Madeleine?” Caroline asked.
“I spoke with Mr. Langley,” Madeleine whispered.
“What did you say?” She was not sure she had heard correctly.
“When I left the museum, I was about to send an errand boy with the article, when I suddenly saw him. I called him and gave him the article directly.” Madeleine spoke rapidly.
“You met Mr. Langley?” Her mind was racing.
“Oui, it was like fate had brought him there,” Madeleine replied.
“But why did that cause you to be away for too long?” She asked. “I don’t understand.”
“My Lady, I am afraid I may have disappointed you.” Madeleine did not look at her but stared at the floor.
“Tell me what you did.” Caroline was getting more nervous.
“I asked Mr. Langley to go see Emma,” Madeleine uttered. “I told him that I was concerned you were in danger and asked him to find the truth.”
“You told Mr. Langley everything?”
“I told him all I know. There have been terrible rumors, of great danger, of people you should not go near.” Madeleine was pleading with her now. “I had hoped that he would be able to help.”
“But why are you so frightened?”
“Because, My Lady, I went behind your back!” Madeleine sobbed. “You stood up for me, and I betrayed your confidence.”
“Dear Madeleine.” Caroline laughed with relief. “I’m not angry with you. I’m grateful!” Madeleine stared at her in disbelief.
Why didn’t I think of that before? If anyone will be able to get to the bottom of this, it’s my sweet, Mr. Langley. All hope is not yet lost.
Chapter 27
Caroline stood in her room, dressed in her dark cloak. It was very late, and she was waiting for the perfect opportunity to sneak outside. The day had been a tense one. The Dowager Duchess seemed determined to make sure she did not try to send any more letters. Her aunt had discussed in length with her how she should apologize to Lord Estaria, which made her hair stand on end.
Her ear was pressed against the door of her room. There was no sound. Very slowly, she opened the door and tiptoed down the grand staircase.
My heart is beating so loudly I can hardly hear anything else. But I cannot give up. I must see Mr. Langley.
She was approaching the front door when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side. She gasped, terribly startled. “Be quiet!” Mrs. Wilson mouthed, leading her toward the servants’ quarter.
“Mrs. Wilson? What are you doing?” Caroline clutched her chest, trying to slow down her heart.
“Madeleine came to me earlier tonight,” Mrs. Wilson said seriously. “She was afraid you might do something reckless.”
“How could she have known?” She shook her head in disbelief.
“We servants know more than you all think we do,” Mrs. Wilson replied with a slight grin. “You cannot leave this way.”
“Oh, dear Mrs. Wilson. I must go. I must see him,” she pleaded with the housekeeper.
“All right, My Lady.” Mrs. Wilson drew a heavy breath. “But you must do as I tell you.”
“I will!”
“Leave through the kitchen entrance, and walk along the hedges. That way, no one will be able to see you.” Mrs. Wilson instructed, walking into the kitchen.
“Thank you,” she said gratefully.
“Now, I will wait for you, but if you have not returned after midnight, I will have to send someone out for you.”
Caroline nodded her head gravely at Mrs. Wilson’s words.
“You have my word.” She embraced Mrs. Wilson tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“Now go, My Lady.”
Caroline hurried outside, pulling her hood down so it completely hid her face.
My sweet Mr. Langley, we will be together soon.
Her feet ached from walking, but thankfully the journey was not too long. There was no one out and about during this late hour, and she kept to the shadows. Finally, she saw the correct address.
Mr. Langley’s home!
His name was written on a small plaque next to the door. She knocked three steadfast knocks, her heart thumping.
After a short while, the door flung open, and Mr. Langley stood in front of her, still dressed, but he had taken off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. She could see the delicious outlines of his strong arms, and it made her bite her lip longingly. She pulled off the hood, revealing her face.
“Lady Caroline!” He gaped at her. He blinked his eyes rapidly and seemed completely at a loss for what to say. Then at the sound of a dog barking nearby, he seemed to come to his senses again, he moved to let her enter his home.
“What are you doing here?” Mr. Langley peered out the window by the front door, as if checking if she had been followed. “You cannot be here—alone!”
“I had to see you,” she said softly.
“This is not the way, what if someone saw you?” His voice was filled with warmth and concern.
“For this entire day, I have had this dreadful feeling that I would not be able to see you again for a long time. I cannot explain it, but every bit of my soul urged me to go and see you.” She worried for a moment that he would ask her to leave.
“I only worry about you,” he replied, taking a small step closer to her. “But I cannot lie.” He took her hand in his. “Seeing you will always make me less incomplete.”
He led her inside his home, looking around the small lodgings sheepishly. “I fear this is not much.”
“It’s perfect.” She smiled widely and took off her cloak. The small room was quintessentially him. Everywhere she looked, there were piles of books, but everything was neat and filled with his scent. There were two comfortable-looking stuffed chairs next to a fireplace, which she imagined would be perfect for sitting in and reading far into the night.
“It certainly is now,” he said, taking her cloak and hanging it on a hook next to his jacket. The sight made her heart jump.
“My aunt found out that I had been writing to someone,” she said.
“Does she know about our correspondence?” His voice was anxious.
“No, I managed to convince her I was trying to write to my former lady’s maid,” she continued.
“Emma,” he finished.
“Madeleine told me about speaking with you.” She looked into his honest, hazel-green eyes.
“I went to Emma’s house,” he said.
“Did you speak to her?” Caroline sputtered.
“I did,” he hesitated.
“What happened?”
“I am going to investigate this further, something was not completely right,” he replied.
“You would do that for me?”
“For you, I will do anything,” he said, his voice heavy.
“Meeting you was an answer to a prayer I had long forgotten,” she spoke quietly, gazing at him intently. “Never before has anyone treated me the way you have, as an equal, and as someone worthy of listening to.”
He was now standing directly in front of her. The familiar tingling was burning inside her, urging her to touch him. She said, “I cannot deprive my heart, for it no longer belongs to me. You are its rightful owner, and I will love you until my last breath.” They stood so close now that she could almost taste his lips.
“I fell in love with you, moments after I first touched your delicate hand.” His voice was gravelly with emotion and he interlocked their fingers. “At first, I denied it, but how can anyone know you and not love you?”
She pulled their joined hands over her chest, over her heart. “Feel how my heart beats only for you?”
“I am not worthy of you.” He closed his eyes, but his fingers gently stroked over her collarbone, sending shivers all over her. She moved her head closer to him, and their lips touched.
For a moment, they were completely still. But then passion took over.
His hands locked around her small waist, and she moaned into the kiss. She stroked over his arms, stiff and tense. He was holding her against his hard body, possessive and ardent. One of his hands caressed through her hair, pulling it back. Their tongues touched and moved in a delicate dance, sinful and arousing.
Caroline felt she might explode with desire. Never before had she felt this agonizing pleasure. She slid her arm around his back, gasping as his chest crashed against her bosom. The friction of his thin shirt against her gown made her desperate for his hands on every part of her body.
Mr. Langley growled hungrily; his lips were now on her neck. She could not breathe, and her eyes fluttered at this dizzying sensation of his wet lips on the nape of her neck. His arousal was pressed against her thigh, indecently hard and long.
I have a wild longing to touch his manhood, to caress him against me.
This might be their only opportunity, and she wanted him in a way that was not possible. To feel him hard inside her, to get to explore every inch of him. Suddenly, Mr. Langley ended their kiss.
“Forgive me.” He did not dare look at her. “We cannot. It is not right.”
“I fear that we will never have this chance,” she replied.
“I will not defile you, my darling.” He stroked her cheek lovingly. “But I will not stop fighting for you.”
He pulled her into an embrace and whispered loving words in her ear. It would soon be time for her to leave.
“I wish we could run away,” she said longingly.
“That is my dream, my darling,” he replied. “But we must be patient.”
“I must leave now.” She tightened their embrace, not wanting to leave.
“Should I walk with you?” He asked, stroking her hair.
“No, it is too much of a risk,” she said.
“Be careful, my love,” he loosened their embrace and kissed her gently.
“I will.”
The trip back to Brighney Manor took no time at all. Her lips were swollen from his kisses, and his scent still surrounded her. There was still a pool of desire inside her, but also hope. She believed him when he said he would fight for them. She had arrived at the Manor. She was about to push the small gate open when a strange and terrifying sound reached her ears. She turned around and noticed a figure hunched over near the shrubs.
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