“Your Grace…”
Margaret didn’t seem to know what to say, and Diana herself was even less sure.
How had everything fallen apart so quickly? How could it be that she had been so happy only a short time ago? And now… now her husband was sending her away.
“It is best if we pack a few things to take with us. I am sure his uncle will have the carriage brought around for us any moment, and we will need to be ready to go,” Diana said quietly.
Margaret followed her up the stairs, and the two set about packing the most important of their things. And then Diana took a few extra moments to write a letter for Matthew.
Whatever he might think of her, whatever he might want from her, she could not leave without telling him goodbye. Or at least trying too.
It occurred to her that he may not even read the letter. He might simply throw it away or burn it. But she was going to do what she could to let him know how she felt, regardless of what it might mean to him.
She summoned the housekeeper while Margaret carried their bags downstairs and then loaded them into the carriage.
Miss Jenkins feigned ignorance of what was happening. However, Diana was certain that she knew more about what had happened than she let on, but for now…
“This is for Matthew. When he returns.”
“Of course, Your Grace,” the housekeeper replied, taking the piece of paper and tucking it into her skirts.
“Thank you.”
“Be well, Your Grace,” the woman told her, and though Diana was certain she had been spying on her ever since she had arrived, there was a gentleness to her address now.
“And you, Miss. Jenkins,” she replied and the woman curtsied once more and then quickly bustled away, as though she did not want to be present for anymore.
With that, Diana took one last look at her room and then quickly went down the stairs and out to the waiting carriage.
Matthew’s uncle was standing at the entrance, watching her, giving her another of those sad looks and squeezing her hands gently before she squared her shoulders, lifted her head, and strode to the carriage.
It wasn’t until she and Margaret were well on their way to her parent’s home that she allowed herself to truly process what was happening. She was being sent away by the man she loved, theman that she truly wished she could spend the rest of her life with.
Margaret remained silent, holding her gently as she cried and mourned her loss. The loss of her husband. The loss of the home that they had chosen together. The loss of the children that they would never have. Because only now did Diana realize that shedidwant to have his children.
But it was too little, too late. Because Matthew had turned his back on her for good.
Chapter Eighteen
“What is this?” Matthew asked, holding up the letter to Miss Jenkins as she returned to the room.
“That is the letter that Her Grace handed to me before she left,” she told him.
“It is strange.”
“I am sorry, Your Grace.”
“She speaks of my not wanting to see her. Of my sending her away. Yet, I did nothing of the sort. Why would she believe that I had sent her away?”
Miss Jenkins simply looked away from him, mumbling something about knowing nothing.
“That is nonsense, and you know it,” he replied sharply. “You know everything that happens in this house, and we both know it. You know what has happened to Diana. Now, where has she gone? And why does she believe that I wanted her gone?”
“I do not know where she has gone, Your Grace. I would assume that she has returned to her family, but I do not know that for certain.”
“Fine. What happened here? Why did she believe I wished her to be gone?”
Miss Jenkins still hesitated, and he scowled at her.
