His mother was right. Caroline was a shallow, scheming woman. She was not the type to be a good mother. But Sara…she was completely different. Beautiful, yes, but also intelligent and curious. Brave. Driven. Creative.
Was he afraid? Probably he was. His heart had taken a beating when Caroline had left him. At first, he’d longed for her to come back to him, to admit it had been a foolish mistake, but that time had long since passed. He dreaded any contact with her.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” Phoebe said as she rounded the corner of the library.
“Good afternoon, Lady Ardleigh. You look radiant this morning.” It wasn’t a lie. Phoebe was lovely and always fresh.
“Thank you kindly, sir. My husband and daughter are such treasures to me I awake with a smile on my face every day. Forgive me, but I left Ardleigh outside with the baby. They have so little time together with all his responsibilities.”
“Of course, I actually came to see Lady Downey.” He was direct when he needed to be.
“Her emotions are very fragile right now. I believe it would do her good to hear your apology, Your Grace, but please do not overstay your welcome. You did say you came to apologize, did you not?” Phoebe’s eyebrows rose as she questioned him.
A person would do best not to underestimate such a lady. “Of course. I’m a man of my word, and I gave you my word yesterday. Has she said anything else about the assault?”
“She could only name her attacker as ‘Stinky.’ She told me you’re aware of him, as he is the same man who broke her finger. Perhaps you should stay and speak with my husband after your visit.”
“Yes, I would like that.” He followed Phoebe out of the library.
“By the way, I have medicated her,” Phoebe said before she opened the door.
“Is she still in much pain?”
“Well, yes, but it isn’t the physical pain that concerns me. She is very fragile right now. I fear she is hanging on the edge. Please be careful what you say, Your Grace.”
Philip ran his hand down the front of his face, wishing such a simple movement would wipe away his guilt. He had wronged Sara in more ways than one. Lady Downey was a woman of integrity and principles, and she deserved to be treated as such.
He’d do what he could to make it right.
Phoebe ushered Philip into the dayroom. Sara rested on a settee facing the window overlooking their gardens and the stream that ran through the bulk of their property. His heart leapt in his chest as she turned to look at him.
***
Sara had been thinking about Philip, about his gorgeous blue eyes, and here he was as if she’d conjured him. Phoebe had given her a bit of laudanum to ease her pain. It had been quite difficult to walk to the dayroom, but her friend had insisted the view would be preferable, and indeed she could see the Earl of Ardleigh and his daughter playing in the lovely gardens.
Phoebe knelt in front of her and held her hands. “The duke would like to speak to you, Sara. Are you agreeable?”
Sara glanced up at Philip again. The view was more than agreeable, and so she nodded her agreement. How long had it been since she’d seen him? She tried to remember but couldn’t. She gave him a quick smile as he sat down across from her. Why was he sitting so far away from her? The answer seemed to bob just beyond her reach. Her mind was too cloudy to think. Well, it didn’t matter. She didn’t need to think to look at him.
Philip pulled her coverlet higher on her lap, then leaned in to give her a chaste kiss on her cheek.
Oh, yes, she remembered how much she loved his scent.
“Sara, how are you? I am so sorry this happened to you. I should never have left you alone in your shop. You trusted me to protect you and I failed. I’m sorry. Can you forgive me?”
She smiled at him. He had the whitest teeth, but he seemed upset right now. What was he saying? If she could just get him to smile and look at her the way he had that night at his townhouse. The night that he had loved her. That’s what she wanted, to feel like he loved her again.
“I also apologize about the necklace. It was rude and presumptuous of me to have sent it to you after you made your position clear to me.”
She pointed to the window. “Philip, do you remember the Ardleighs’ baby, Abigail? She is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen.” He would definitely smile at the baby, wouldn’t he?
“Do you know Ardleigh said he is going to teach his daughter to fish when she gets older?”
“My father used to take me fishing,” she replied automatically. “I didn’t like to put the bait on the hooks, but I loved fishing with him.”
He stared at her, but he still wouldn’t smile. She wanted him to smile because she loved seeing him happy…because she loved him. Had she ever told him that?
She tried again. “That was my favorite time with my father, you know. When we fished together, I knew he really loved me. We didn’t get to spend much time together because he was so busy.”
He continued to stare. When he reached out to her, she went to him gladly. Oh, his embrace was so wonderfully warm. She felt so safe when he held her like this. She loved his long eyelashes, too. Were his left eyelashes wet? Why would that be?
She tilted her head to the side. “Do you fish, Philip?”
“Yes, Sara, I do fish. I would love to take you fishing sometime.” He finally did as she’d been willing him to do and smiled.
Her heart burst. She leaned over and whispered in his ear, “I love you, Philip. Do you love me?”
He was silent for a moment as he peered at her. She thought she heard a very soft, “Yes, Sara, I love you.”
She kissed him briefly on the lips and pulled back to smile at him. “Are those tears, Philip? Why? Why would you cry? Don’t you really love me?”
Why would he be crying if they loved each other? Wouldn’t he simply be happy to be with her?
Something was wrong. She turned, searching for Phoebe. Her hand struggled with the coverlet before it dropped from her lap. Her eyes seemed to burn, forcing her to blink several times. She turned back to the window. Where was Philip? Where had he gone?
She reached for something to grab onto, anything, but only found air. Pain seared through her.
He doesn’t love me after all. A strange wetness on her hands made her glance down, only for her to see tears dripping onto her lap.
Phoebe appeared in front of her.
“What’s wrong, Sara? Did Philip say something to upset you? Everything is going to be fine. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll take care of you.” Phoebe waved toward something at the doorway. “I will take care of you, Sara,” she repeated, cradling Sara’s head against her shoulder.
Sara sobbed in her friend’s arms. “I love him, Phoebe. Why can’t he love me back?”
***
The Ardleighs sat in the library with Philip.
“I don’t know what I said to upset her, Phoebe. Honestly. I never mentioned the name ‘Stinky’ to her.”
Even as he spoke to Phoebe, his mind was on Sara. On those three words she’d said. She loved him. Was it the laudanum talking, or had the medicine simply released her true feelings? Moreover, he’d told her that he loved her back. Well, he did, didn’t he? Or was it pity he felt?
“Never mind. I fear her mind is fragile right now. I need to know what we can do about this man.” Phoebe directed her gaze from Philip to her husband.
Philip’s thoughts were still a chorus of “I love you.”
Stop it! he silently lectured himself. Stop letting the ramblings of a medicated woman affect your ability to think logically.
The sound of Ardleigh’s voice broke through his thoughts.
“Philip?” he asked for what was clearly not the first time. “Can you please tell us what the investigator told you?”
“What? Oh, yes. Pardon me. The investigator said her husband was a heavy gambler and was in debt to one of the major criminals in London. But he has yet to ascertain which one is responsible.” He stood up. “Ard
leigh, do me a favor, please. Check with the investigator and see if he has found any new information. I am sorry, but I must leave. I have business to attend to.”
Ridley had proven himself useless so far. Philip wished to find a replacement, although the new man would need to be equally discreet. Perhaps one of his brothers would have a suggestion.
“What could be so important, Brentwood?” Ardleigh asked as his friend hurried through the library door.
He glanced back over his shoulder.
“I need to practice shooting, and my brothers, too. My focus is on what is the most important in my mind right now.
“Revenge.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Philip trudged up the steps to his front door. Once inside, he ignored Stevens and every other servant who stopped to stare at him. They looked like they wished to speak to him, but his expression clearly put them off. Something was wrong with the estate, or perhaps one of his brothers had done something stupid. At the moment, he struggled to care. Phoebe was right, how could he have suspected Sara of dishonesty, even for a moment?
He remembered the night they had spent together. She gave herself to him completely. Her body, yes, but she’d also given him so much warmth, passion, laughter, and trust. What had he given in return? Distrust, insults, and worst of all, he had turned his back on her when she needed him most. He had known she was not safe in her shop, but he’d done nothing to press the issue.
He was about to walk into the dayroom when his mother approached him.
“I know, I know, you were right again, Mother.” He held his hands up to concede victory. “I haven’t forgotten our last talk.”
“Oh, pah, I am always right. When will you learn? But never mind that now. You have a visitor. I left her in your library.” She pointed back in the direction of his library.
“Mother, please, whoever it is, just send her away. I can’t deal with anything else today.” He grumbled as he thought of having to talk to some mother who was going to push her young daughter at him. The only woman he wanted was Sara.
“No, Philip, you better handle her, because I certainly won’t. I will not deal with that kind of woman.” Something flashed in her eyes, revealing a clear dislike of his visitor, but she didn’t say anything more, instead stalking away.
He obediently turned back to his library, grumbling a bit as he did so. He opened the door and froze in shock.
“Oh, Philip. There you are. You’ve kept me waiting forever. I know you must be a little angry with me, but I am sure I can think of a way to make it up to you.”
Caroline sat perched atop his desk with her legs crossed. Her glorious dark curls cascading over her shoulders, her large breasts nearly visible. She’d always worn her hair down in the bedroom, simply because she knew it drove him mad. She wore a slinky red outfit that belonged in a whorehouse. Her swanlike neck was adorned with the ruby necklace he’d bought for Sara.
Where the devil had she come from?
“What do you want, Caroline?” He reached behind him and closed the library door. He had to get rid of her. The last thing he wanted was for Phoebe to catch wind of this. Sara’s friend likely already thought poorly of him.
“You, Philip. I want you.”
He gave her a scornful look to let her know he didn’t believe a word she was saying.
“I missed you. Didn’t you miss me? I’m so sorry for what I did. But now I know the truth. You are the only one for me. I hope you can forgive me.”
She stepped off his desk, then slid the straps off her shoulders, one at a time, and let the obscene gown slip off her body. She reached up and ran her thumbs slowly over her nipples, just the way she used to do, her guaranteed trick to make him hard instantly. He used to call them his sweet chocolates. His mouth went dry as he leaned against the door. Her voluptuous breasts overflowed in her hands, her nipples turned dark and hard. As he did, instantly.
Bloody hell, betrayed by his own body. He licked his lips as he watched her saunter over to him, swaying her hips in a perfect rhythm. He couldn’t take his eyes off her nipples, his erection so hard he was in pain. Attempting to adjust himself, he struggled to calm the blood pounding through his veins—no, pounding in his groin. Sweat gathered on his brow as he loosened his neck cloth.
“I found this beautiful ruby necklace on your desk. How does it look on me?” She fingered the red gems before caressing the diamonds with her tongue. “Does it look as nice on me as the other necklace you gave me?” She offered him a sweet smile before she ran her tongue across her lips. Licking her finger, she traced it across her nipple, leaving a trail of wetness for him to see.
He gazed at the necklace and then into her eyes.
Caroline’s eyes were cold, hard, and calculating. There was no warmth, compassion, or love in them. None of the things he’d seen in Sara’s green eyes.
One glance into their cold depths was all he needed.
His erection deflated as fast as if he had stepped into a pool full of ice. All he felt was revulsion. She had no power over him anymore.
He rejoiced as he strolled around her to pick up her red gown. He was no longer a prisoner to her whims. Her hold on him had ended, and a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
“Put this on, Caroline. I am no longer interested. Better yet, where are your real clothes? Get them on and get out.”
He turned around and leaned against his desk as he crossed his arms, reveling in his freedom.
She grabbed a voluminous gown off the floor, something she’d worn over the transparent red outfit, and began dressing. “You can’t throw me out. I am your wife. This is my home, and I’m back, so deal with it, Philip.”
“No, you aren’t my wife any longer, Caroline. I divorced you. Or didn’t you receive your official notice? Oh, sorry, you should have paid attention to your mail while you were with your lover.” He gave her a smile as false as her own.
The comment stopped her in her tracks. “What?” Her eyes blazed as she strutted over to him. “You can’t do that. Divorce is not allowed in the aristocracy and you know it. You married me for life!”
Her hands fisted on her hips. She paced in a fury, her eyes shooting sparks as her words flew at him like arrows. “You have to provide for me, Philip. It was part of our marriage vows. I have needs, you realize. You are required to fulfill them.” She came at him then, pounding him with her fists.
He took a step back, dispassionately moving her hands away from him. “You’re correct about one thing, Caroline. I do have money. When you have money, as you know, you can do almost anything you want within the law. I chose to use a good portion of my wealth to divorce you. Had you shown up for the proceedings, you may have been entitled to a payment, but you chose not to come. You were busy with your lover. However, I am feeling generous today. Keep the necklace. It is worth enough to pay rent somewhere for you until you can find some other fool to fall for you. I certainly don’t want that necklace to touch anyone else now that it has touched your skin.”
Caroline fisted her hands at her sides and stomped her foot. “Philip, you cannot do this to me!” The tears started down her cheeks.
Unfortunately for her, he was accustomed to her drama, and unmoved by it.
“I can, and I did.” He stepped around her toward the door. “Gather your things, Caroline. I want you out by the time I return. Don’t come back.” He reached for the doorknob.
She threw herself against his body from behind, her nails digging into his arms. “Please, I will do anything. I have nowhere else to go. I know you are angry. I know I embarrassed you. Punish me. Beat me. Do what you will, but don’t throw me out.”
He halted at the door, although not because her offer appealed to him.
“Philip, spank me. Take me over your knee.”
He jerked his head around to look at her. Once glance confirmed what he’d suspected.
“Ah, the truth comes out at last,” he said. “I wasn’t enough for you in the bedroom?�
�
“Philip, please, I beg you. Duncan was the only one who knew how to satisfy me, but I can show you.” Her breathing turned ragged, her teeth nipping her bottom lip.
Philip pulled away from her.
“Get out, Caroline. You disgust me.”
***
Philip closed the door behind him and leaned against it. He ran his hand down his face to steady himself. All his remaining questions had been answered in less than an hour, and his ex-wife would never clutter his thoughts again. He didn’t care what she did. He hoped he never saw her again.
He gathered himself together and headed down the hallway. His butler awaited him in the entryway. “Stevens, make sure my ex-wife leaves the house within the next few minutes. Do not allow her to wander around. In fact, have Eli take her to a hotel and pay for the night. Arrange for a week’s stay to be billed to me. Let her know it shall be the last of my generosity.”
Stevens nodded, a slight twitch at his mouth. “Yes, Your Grace, I will handle everything discreetly, as usual.”
Philip retreated and headed for the dining room. His mother gave him a questioning look from her seat at the end of the table. “Everything is taken care of, Mother. May I take this moment to remind you how much I love you?” He smiled and leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek.
His mother offered her cheek with a puzzled expression. “I suppose so. You may expand upon the details later.”
He continued on his way, but then turned back. “Mother, would you do me a favor and ask Benjamin, Graham, and Adam to meet me outside on the shooting range in about an hour? We need to practice, make sure we can each handle a gun and even a dagger. In fact, I will make sure I’m proficient at both. We have work to do.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The next morning, Philip exited his carriage and bounded up the steps of the Ardleigh Manor House. He and his brothers were more skilled with weapons than he would have guessed, though they each had their preference. They’d worked tirelessly most of the afternoon. He and Adam were best at pistols, though Graham could use his fists better than any weapon. He felt better prepared to handle whatever scum was pursuing Sara.
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