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Phoebe recognized the seal immediately. It was from Richard. Her chest lifted rapidly, and such emotions swirled inside her, the most profound being happiness. She was barely aware when the housekeeper departed the room. With a small groan, she heaved herself from the sofa and padded over to the small writing desk by the window. Grasping the letter opener, she quickly pried open the sealed wax. To her surprise, there was an additional letter enclosed within this one.
Dear Phoebe,
I wish I had been able to travel to you immediately upon receiving your address from our father. Evie is with child and has been terribly ill, so we have taken to the countryside and away from the pollution of town. I am very relieved that you are safe. You have been missing for weeks, and I have been searching just as long. I wish you had not run away; I wish you had come to me. I understand the fright and uncertainty you must have felt to motivate you to run from England and the help you know I would have rendered. I have diligently researched the Winthrop family and the little that could be ascertained about your husband. While he seems to be a man of great wealth, there is little to ascertain about his true character and motive.
Trust that I have enough wealth and power to extricate you from the situation you are in. You need not remain married to this man. I will see that all traces of it are buried, and there will be no scandal.
Phoebe gasped, “Oh, Richard, that is not what I want!”
And she knew her brother as the powerful Lord Westfall could make many things happen. Taking a deep breath, she continued reading.
Enclosed is a letter from young George Hampstead.
The room swirled around Phoebe for a few seconds.
I was determined to find the bounder who took advantage of you and then abandoned you to the wolves and put a bullet in his black heart. What I found instead was a young man in love with you and quite willing to do the honourable thing. I perceive that you must hold considerable affections for him or this circumstance would not have arisen. I will make the necessary arrangements to see this marriage to Winthrop set aside and you marry Hampstead.
For a breathless moment, Phoebe felt as if she could not drag any air into her lungs.
“Marry George?”
How dare her brother try to decide for her without asking what she wanted! She quickly opened the letter from George.
Dear Phoebe,
I have been an unmitigated ass and I fear I have made the biggest mistake of my life and I will sorely regret not fighting for you more. I have called off my engagement to Miss Dawkins because in good conscience I could not marry another when you occupy my heart.
“Oh, George,” she cried. “You fool!” To have hurt another lady so callously. Phoebe could not imagine the scandal and mortification his actions must have brought to Miss Dawkins and her family.
I have not been able to stop thinking about you. I love you and I know it with my whole heart. After I broke off the attachment with Miss Dawkins, I tried to find you, but it was as if you disappeared from the face of the Earth. Then Lord Westfall showed up on my doorstep to question me. He said that you will be returning to Town soon. I beg you to forgive me and to grant me the opportunity to right the wrong I did to you. Please marry me, Phoebe. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you.
Love, George.
A choked sound slipped from her, and she crumpled the letters in her hands. Richard had either threatened George or he had really realized he made a mistake. Either way, she did not care, and she would most certainly respond and let Richard know. To George, she had nothing to say. He was in the past.
Phoebe’s heart pounding, she turned around and froze. Hugh framed the doorway, his eyes harsh and penetrating, yet his face politely indifferent. She thrust her hands behind her back, and he arched a brow and came further through the door.
“Who is George?” Hugh signed, his expression mild and vaguely interested.
How long had he been standing there? “I…” It felt silly that she had pushed the letters behind her, and she did not understand why she had done so. “My brother…Richard…he wrote to me.”
Hugh said nothing, and his unwavering regard pushed her to further speech.
“He…he believes our marriage is…is a mistake…and…” She stopped talking when he canted his head to the side.
His fingers spoke. “I see. And with his power and influence, he will bury our union, which is still unconsummated, and allow for a marriage with this George.”
She had never doubted that her husband was a shrewd man. Phoebe pressed a hand to her chest, as if that would still the furious pounding of her heart. She was not sure what she expected from her husband in this moment, but it was not the insouciance displayed. Her brother did have the money to make the world turn in the direction he wished, but so did Hugh.
“Yes.”
Hugh’s gaze lowered to her swollen mound. “Is George the person who is responsible for your pregnancy?”
She lifted her chin, quite aware Hugh had never asked her questions about her circumstances. “Yes.”
“And do you wish to leave and marry him?”
Phoebe staggered and reached out to grasp the arm of the sofa for support. “I am married to you,” she breathed. “I…I cannot just leave, Hugh.”
