AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She wandered still through Reginald’s office, a small smile coming to her lips as she beheld the small stains of ink on the surface of his desk. Marcella traced a hand over the spots, created by her husband’s steady hand.
Her eyes flitted next to the small letter folded on Reginald’s desk. She drew in a sharp breath. Her name was written in rough, unpracticed letters. Marcella traced a finger over the name. This was hers.
“What is it?” Adeline asked.
Marcella’s hands shook. She was half-afraid to open it and read the contents. “A letter.”
She carefully unfolded it and gazed at the letter. Marcella read every word carefully, her eyes moving with feverish speed through the contents. When she finished, she sank into Reginald’s usual chair. “He’s gone,” she whispered.
“Gone?” Adeline exclaimed. “He can’t have—where would he go?”
“He doesn’t say exactly,” Marcella replied, tipping her head against the back of the chair. “It’s Southwark, though. Reginald has spoken often of how much he loves the people there. That is most assuredly where he went. Back to the people who he feels love him.”
Adeline took the letter from the desk where Marcella had dropped it in her surprise. “Never to return!” Adeline exclaimed.
“I know,” Marcella said. “Because of me.”
Adeline shook her head. “It wasn’t only you. Marcella, he makes it quite apparent that he’s been struggling for a very long time. That he left is… I don’t wish to be cruel, but it seems immature to me.”
“I behaved very immaturely, too. Maybe more so. Of course he has struggled with this. He was away from thetonfor ten years and then, returned. And instead of supporting him, I treated our engagement like a game. He’s right. It was cruel and unwise of me,” Marcella said. “I could’ve helped him and made all his burdens easier to bear, but I did not.”
“We all could’ve made returning to thetoneasier for him,” Adeline replied. “He still wanted to marry you for money.”
“But if I love him,” Marcella said, “Is that not reason enough to forgive him and work to make things right?”
Adeline nodded slowly. “Yes. I suppose the best thing to do is summon someone to go after him. You can write a letter to pass along to him, and—”
“No,” Marcella replied.
“You aren’t going to send someone?” Adeline asked.
Marcella slowly shook her head and climbed to her feet. “No, I have to go after him by myself, Adeline. At once. If I send a letter, he won’t be persuaded, but if he sees me, he might be.”
Adeline nodded. “We’ll prepare you an escort.”
Marcella imagined how that would proceed if she showed up with an entourage of servants and stepped unruffled from a sleek, shining carriage. She would be the image of everything that Reginald despised.
“No,” Marcella replied. “It has to be just me. That’s why he fell in love with me. He liked that I wasn’t like every other member of theton,and that’s what I must be if I’m to persuade him to return with me.”
Adeline’s eyes widened, and her jaw dropped. “But you can’t go alone! That’s carelessness. The road is dangerous! There are robbers and highwaymen, vagabonds and criminals.”
Marcella traced her fingers over the letter once again, lovingly memorizing the shapes of Reginald’s strokes. “I’m not afraid of any highwaymen,” Marcella said. “For God’s sake, I married one.”
“But Reginaldisn’tmost highwaymen!” Adeline argued. “You can’t really see any wisdom in going after him, alone and unaided.”
“Sometimes, what’s wise isn’t always the right thing.”
Marcella set a brisk pace across the room, Adeline following close behind her. “But you must have some preparation. It’s far too dangerous for you to go alone,” Adeline insisted.
They hurried down the stairs when Marcella turned abruptly. She faced her friend and shook her head. “Dear Adeline, I cannot. Every moment that I tarry here, Reginald’s trail will become harder to follow. The less people will remember his passing. No, the sooner I leave, the more likely I am to find him. You can prepare an escort for me if you like, but they’ll be following, Adeline.”
Adeline drew in a deep breath and drew herself up straighter. “This is a mad, ill-advised plan, Marcella.”
Marcella smiled to herself and continued her descent. In truth, her heart hammered against her ribs. It was dangerous, and she felt as though she ought to hesitate. Instead, she was filled with the most delightful sense of excitement, wonder even. She was the like the heroine in some as of yet unwritten text, rushing to make amends with her lover.
Now, she understood why romance was written about so often, for the strong and tender feelings which rushed through her small frame could only be the product of the truest love. She returned to her bedroom, dismissing her lady’s maid.
“Itismad and ill-advised!” Marcella declared, as she donned her warmest riding habit. “That is precisely why Reginald will love it!”
