AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
Edwina stood in the foyer, shaking with anger, her hands closed so tightly that her nails bit into her palms. She could not believe the audacity Fergus had to walk out on her. The shouting she could bear, the evasiveness too as she knew she could work through it with him. However, if he just kept walking out, she would be helpless to make any real progress with him.
The butler found her standing where Fergus had left her.
“Your Grace?” he asked gently. “Are you quite all right?”
Edwina did not know what to tell him. She did not feel fine. In her anger, she could not decide what she wanted. Fergus had told her their marriage was a mistake. She could run back to her father, refuse to see Fergus, and ask for Fergus to provide for her so long as they remained separated.
“Your Grace?” That was not the life she wanted.
“Which way did he go?”
“Who, Your Grace?”
Edwina turned to him finally. “His Grace, the Duke. Where did he go?”
“He went out to the stables again, Your Grace.”
Without another word, Edwina pushed past the butler, hurrying out toward the stables. In the dark, she struggled to find her path through the garden but finally emerged out by the paddock. Seeing Simon emerging from the stable, she called out, “Did he leave already?”
“Yes,” Simon called back. Edwina picked up her skirts to rush to him.
“Where did he go?” she demanded.
Simon shook his head. “I wish I could tell you, Your Grace.”
Coming closer to him, she tried not to let her anger and frustration come out on Simon. She looked him in the eye and told him, “This is not the time to take sides. You may think you are trying to protect him, but so am I.”
“I am not trying to protect him,” Simon argued, throwing his hands wide. “He has not told me where he is going tonight nor has he in the past few weeks. I would tell you if I knew.”
“We must find him at once,” Edwina muttered, determined. “I need my horse.”
“Your horse?” Simon asked, surprised. “I did not think you rode much.”
“Well, tonight, it is imperative that we find him at once,” she reasoned and beckoned Simon to follow her to the stable. “Can we wake the groom?”
“Or the stable boy,” Simon agreed then called out, “Charles! Oi! Charlie!” Overhead, they heard a couple of loud thuds then the boy started scrambling down the ladder from the hay loft.
“At yer service, mum,” the boy said, bowing dramatically at Edwina.
“You overheard everything, aye?” Simon asked the boy.
Charlie blushed sheepishly. “Ya was pretty loud.”
“I think you will want to ride astride tonight,” Simon advised. “I know it is not normally done, but…”
“I agree,” she breathed. Simon waved for the stable boy to carry on then turned back to Edwina. “I really must advise against this. The night is dark. Do you think you can navigate the trails? Surely I must go with you.”
“I must do this alone,” she told him, confidently.
“We could have someone else go out to look for him. A messenger, a footman, anyone else. You are not the strongest rider, and you are a young woman at that.”
“You were not able to stop His Grace from leaving,” Edwina pointed out, crossing her arms. In the dark stable, she could hardly make out his face. Charlie brought Gloriana out of her stall, her white mane reflecting the moonlight. The boy made quick work of saddling her.
“May I note that you were not either,” Simon countered.
Edwina scowled at him but then softened. “I think you and the others should stay here, in case the mob comes looking for Fergus. See if you can dissuade them, say I am out with my husband. I hope if I can find him, speak with him alone, I might be able to convince him to do the right thing.”
