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Owen let out his breath. “Thank you.” He kissed her hand.
“I think it’s time we were leaving. It is getting late.” Bran and Sarah stood.
The couple said their farewells to their friends and promised to let the Hughes know when they’d completed their plans for London.
After they left, Owen at last took Selena in his arms. She tensed, just like she used to when he’d first come home. Owen dropped his arms and backed away. “You are not happy about going to London?”
Selena raised her eyebrows. “I never said that.”
“But you are thinking it. I can tell.”
She pulled away. “It doesn’t matter what I think.”
“It does to me. If you don’t want to go, then we can stay at Stonegate.”
“Going to London is the right thing to do.” Selena met his stare. “The doctor said being around people and places from your past might help you regain your memories. Bran is correct. You spent most of your time in town, so it is the place to go. But I won’t be of much use since I seldom accompanied you.”
And there was the crux of their current situation. It was because of his lifestyle in London that they had been apart. It seemed that at every turn when he believed he was making strides in his relationship with Selena, there was another reminder of his sordid past.
Perhaps it would be better to abandon the notion of getting his memories back. As he pondered all this, he recalled the letter and the map he had found in his belongings. Contact Longfellow, London. He had almost forgotten another puzzle piece to his past. It seemed no matter what, London called to him.
Owen refocused his attention on Selena. “How soon can we be ready to leave?”
“I will write to the staff at the London townhouse tomorrow to prepare things. We can leave the day after that, if you like.”
“That would be good. Thank you.”
Selena smiled weakly. “If that is all, then I will say good night.”
Owen did not reach for her again. The rift between them once again widened. For every hill he conquered, there was another mountain to climb where his wife was concerned. “Good tonight, Selena.”
The best way to win Selena was to get this all over with. They would go to London. Owen would go to his old haunts and speak with his past acquaintances. If, after doing all he could, his memories did not come back, then he would embrace his new life with Selena and forget about the past. But he had to try.
After some time, Owen also went to his bedchamber. Tom was waiting.
“Was the evening a success, sir?”
“I believe it was. The day after tomorrow we are leaving for London.”
The valet paused for a second. “Will her ladyship be accompanying you?”
“Yes.”
He handed Tom his dinner jacket, then went about undoing his cufflinks and necktie.
“How long will you be staying?” Tom asked.
“I’m not sure. How long did I usually stay?”
“Sometimes, it was weeks at a time. You have an entire wardrobe at the townhouse, so I won’t have to pack much.”
Owen thought of something as he undressed. “Tom, did you go with me to London?”
“Of course, sir.” The valet handed Owen a dressing gown after he removed his shirt and trousers.
“Then you know the places I would have frequented?”
“Y-yes, sir,” Tom stuttered.
