CHAPTER 31
HE DIDN’T COME HOME. She stayed awake all night, listening for sounds of him from the other room. There were none. For the first night since their marriage, he had not slept under the same roof as she.
Why would he? He had accomplished his goal. By now, he must be bored with their marital activities and relieved he had impregnated her at last, like a broodmare. Now he could go find more congenial bed partners. Isn’t that what all men did?
When pearly daylight filtered through the curtains, she had had enough. She dressed by herself in a plain traveling gown before ringing for her maid. The girl rushed in, her eyes widening at the amount of clothes thrown haphazardly on the bed.
“Send a footman to the train station to book us passage on the next train that departs for Lincolnshire. Then tell the butler to have the carriage ready in an hour and come back to help me pack. We are leaving for the country at once.”
The maid bobbed a curtsy and left with alacrity. Abigail observed the mess she had created, and a sob caught in her throat. Better to leave the packing to the maid.
She went to Elizabeth’s room. The girl had been present during her brother’s fight. It had saddened her when he had cut her season short. Now she was going to wake her up and cut it even shorter. She was bound to be upset.
She thought Elizabeth would still sleep, but as soon as she opened the door to the bedchamber, Elizabeth turned towards her, eyes wide open.
“Abby? What is going on? I hear maids and footmen running around.”
Abigail sighed. “I’m sorry Liz. I’m going back to the country, and you must come with me. Your mother left yesterday and your brother didn’t come home last night. I can’t leave you here all by yourself.”
She had expected protests, but to her surprise, the girl jumped out of bed.
“I’ll be ready in a few minutes.” Elizabeth said without requiring more explanations. Maybe she saw something in Abigail’s eyes and understood more than anyone thought.
God, how humiliating! Everyone in the household much know Colin had discarded her. And what had she done wrong? All she had ever wanted was to please him. She never even complained about his stupid no touching rule, even though she didn’t understand it. He seemed to want her to experience pleasure, but not enjoy herself too much. Be a lady, be a whore. Be a damn broodmare. To hell with it. If he wanted her gone, she would go. While she still had some dignity left.
She would go to Hartfield Park and from there, decide on which of his properties she wanted to live long term. He had told her he would sign over one of the unentailed properties to her. She would raise her child there. Without him.
She thought about the years ahead, watching him come to visit their child, treating her with polite indifference, and a sob escaped her throat. She closed her eyes, leaning against the wall, fighting to draw breath.
No. She wouldn’t fall apart now. What cause had she to complain? He had proposed a bargain. A generous bargain. She should be grateful that he was willing to grant her freedom and support her in comfort. She had done much better than in her previous marriage. At least he let her go before his violence turned towards her.
An hour later, before the sun had risen over the tops of the trees, the horse-drawn carriage rumbled along the cobblestone streets on their way to the train station. The elegant buildings of Mayfair flashed past their window, exuding an air of grandeur and sophistication. Inside the carriage, Abigail sat beside her sister-in-law. They were not talking much, their faces sober and pensive.
Suddenly, the carriage lurched and swerved to one side, making Elizabeth fall half on top of Abigail. The horses neighing mixed with the coachman’s shouts as he struggled to control the animals.
What on earth was going on? Before they could right themselves, the door was yanked open and the burly figure of a masked man, dark and menacing, pushed his way into the carriage.
Fear coalesced like a ball of ice in her stomach.
“What is happening? Who is that?” Elizabeth half screamed in the enclosed carriage.
Abigail clutched the girl’s arm.
“I don't know, Elizabeth. Stay calm, please. I’m sure everything will be fine.” She said it for the girl’s benefit, but alarm was coursing through her. Surely this couldn’t be a random highwaymen attack? In the middle of Mayfair, during the morning hours? No, this, after the previous attempts on their lives, did not bode well at all. What should she do?
