AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Twenty
The moment Stephen stepped through the doors of the manor, the Dowager Duchess was waiting for him in the foyer. The angry cross of her arms and the narrowness of her eyes made the smile he’d been wearing since leaving the Stanton home fall off his face. He approached her tentatively. “Is something the matter?”
“I’m not sure, Stephen,” she said. “Why don’t you tell me if something is wrong?”
“I don't understand.”
“Neither do I,” said the Dowager. “You know I hardly see you lately. We have been in London for quite some time and I think we’ve only sat down and had a conversation twice in all that time. And that’s including when we were on our way to the debut ball.”
“Mother—”
“Hold on,” she said sternly, holding her hand up. “There is more I want to say. I did notice that there was something odd about you when you returned from the gardens at the debut ball but I thought that if I gave you some time, you would want to talk to be about it.”
“Mother, it’s nothing like that.”
“Then what is it, Stephen?” she demanded. “Why did you take so long to return? And why have you been missing dinner so often and staying out so late? You couldn’t have seriously brought that woman you’ve been seeing to London, could you?”
Stephen sighed. He tried not to show how close to the truth his mother had been. “You’re overthinking things, Mother. There are a lot of things that need taking care of regarding Father’s businesses and I have been meeting with a few of his partners. That’s all there is to it.”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Are you sure?”
“You’re asking me if I’m sure I’ve been meeting with Father’s business partners? I would hope so, or else I’ve been made a huge fool of.”
She didn’t laugh at his joke. Didn’t even smile. But she did lower her arms to her side. “I would like you to spend some time with your Mother from time to time. There’s no use getting overworked when you’ve only just become duke.”
“Does that mean I can be overworked later on in life?”
“Once you are married and your wife is with child, you can do whatever you wish.”
Stephen grinned at her offhand comment. “Mother, how sweet of you to say.”
Her lips twitched this time. “If you had arrived a little later, I might not have gotten the chance to tell you about the guest we’ll be having tomorrow.”
“Guest?”
“Yes, a special one. For dinner. So whatever plans you have for tomorrow, I’d suggest you cancel it. This is of the utmost importance.”
Stephen nearly sighed. The last thing he wanted to do was have dinner with another potential wife his mother wanted to force on him—who he had no doubt was the guest—instead of being with Belle for Anne and Robert’s marriage celebration. But he also knew he couldn’t possibly say no. He'd promised his mother his cooperation during this Season and so far, he’d done nothing but attend one ball and spend many nights away from home.
“All right,” he said, hoping his voice didn’t sound as disappointed as he felt. “I’ll be there on time. You don’t have to worry.”
“Good. Now I’m heading off to bed. Waiting around for you has been more tiresome than I thought it would be.”
“Have a good rest, Mother.”
“And you as well, Stephen.”
He watched his mother walk away for a few moments before he made his way to his office. He went straight for a drink, hoping the burn of the alcohol would chase away the chagrin at not being able to carry through with his original plan.
Will Hannah be disappointed?
A quiet piece of himself wished that she would, only to satisfy that part of himself that hoped she longed for his company as much as he did hers. His mother’s annoyance was understandable, but Stephen didn’t know how he would be able to stop himself. Being with her, even when they were only talking and learning more about each other, made him wish he could spend every second he could next to her side.
That kiss...
The burn of the whiskey was nothing compared to the heat of the blush that enveloped him at the memory. He was becoming bolder. That farewell kiss he had given her had been in the spur of the moment and the look in her eyes when he pulled away had been worth it. It pained him to leave but he’d consoled himself by remembering that he would return the next day.
And now that isn’t possible.
