Page 72 of Wicked in His Arms (Wedded by Scandal 2)

“Oh, Livvie,” Francie said softly, rushing over. “Does your apparent misery have anything to do with Tobias departing for town?”

Her heart cracked. Memories of the many fights between her parents surfaced and her father’s subsequent actions surfaced. “Do you suppose this means he will soon take a mistress?” she asked hoarsely.

“Livvie!” Francie snapped, fisting her hands on her hips. “Tobias would never dishonor you so.”

Livvie laughed without humor. “He has left for an unmentioned duration for Town. It seems the very thought of living with me is unbearable. Any gentleman as passionate as your brother would surely find it impossible to do without the more intimate areas of companionship after several weeks of estrangement from his wife.”

Shock slackened her friend’s jaw, and she stood speechless.

“Your fight was…”

“Terrible,” Livvie supplied with a smile that wobbled. “I own I was reckless and foolhardy, but I thought I was protecting him from potential scandal. Instead it seems I made a muck of it, and then he made an even worse muck. Now we again hate each other, and I fear I may never regain his good opinion. It enrages me that I so desperately want it and his adoration.”

“Tell me what happened,” Francie demanded.

As fast as possible, Livvie relayed the dreadful happenings.

“William attacked you?” Francie gasped, sinking onto the sofa.

“Yes.”

“And you challenged him to a duel? Then Tobias came and…and…beat him?” she said incredulously.

“Yes,” Livvie snapped.

“I cannot credit your assertions. Tobias would never fight or duel or act so scandalously.”

“He did, and he hates me for it,” she said on a sob.

“Oh, he must love you so much,” Francie breathed in wonderment.

Livvie froze, even her heart felt as if it had stilled. “Love? Are you afflicted?”

Her mind churned in confusion, and what felt like hope blasted through her. She surged to her feet and started pacing. Love? Then she scoffed at the very notion. A man in love did not abandon his wife.

“He does not love me…he desires me, but there are no tender sentiments in his heart.”

“Oh, Livvie, surely you must see how rattled he would have been by his rage. He is so composed and chilly, and for whatever reason you have been unraveling his knots.”

“And he resents it.”

“Or maybe he is just unsure?”

“He left me.”

“I do not think he means to be away forever, think of the scandal when society learns of your estrangement.”

“He does not care about society’s opinion. In fact, he would be much relieved if I left for another of his estates and lived there until I am needed for his heir.”

Francie shook her head as if in a daze and then her gaze landed on the canvas. She gasped and her fingers fluttered to her lips. It was then that Livvie glanced down at the painting she had rendered. It was of Tobias.

“It’s beautiful,” Francie said in a breathless tone. She stood and walked over to look at it, awe settling on her face.

The image was of Tobias standing on the cliff bluff at the far east of the estate. He looked raw, untamed, passionate, and free from constraint. Though she painted him immaculately dressed in riding breeches and jacket, hat and a crop dangling from his hand, his eyes and expressions were anything but proper. The wildness of the land around him and the fierceness of the man himself could not be denied.

“Is this how you see my brother?” Francie asked softly.

Livvie frowned. “This is how he is, this is Tobias, but he hides from his passion…”

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