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Catherine was a grown woman. She could look after herself. Even during a verbal tongue-lashing from the dowager countess.
Chapter 22
It was dark when Derrick finally arrived at the Earl of Gillingham’s estate. He couldn’t see anything when he peered out the window. The Kent countryside looked like a sea of black.
The sensible thing to do was to go to a nearby public house and stay there for the night, sending his calling card ahead so this wouldn’t be an ambush. But Derrick didn’t want to do that. He needed to see Ellie now.
Would she allow him to meet with her? He could only hope so. After all, he had agreed to give her a few days alone, but barely a day later Derrick was coming to look for her. He couldn’t stay back any longer.
Hopefully, his mother would have dealt with Catherine. Derrick didn’t think he would be able to get through himself, so it was best to leave it with his mother. She was always good at getting the point across. Catherine had pleaded with him to stay, but Derrick couldn’t bring himself to feel any sympathy for her. She had brought this upon herself.
Of course, she could go to her husband and tell him what happened, and the truth of what had transpired between her and Derrick would come out. It could put a dent in Derrick’s reputation, but he didn’t care as long as he got the point across. He hadn’t been Catherine’s lover during either of their marriages, so they hadn’t committed adultery.
Then again, Catherine could say whatever she wanted to make it look like that. Hopefully, Lady Northampton would be able to stop her.
The carriage pulled up outside the house, and Derrick jumped out, signalling at the driver.
“Wait here a moment.”
“Yes, my lord.”
It felt like forever before someone answered the door. Derrick had been wondering if anyone could hear the bell. When it opened, a young man with coarse red hair looked out blearily.
“Can I help you, sir?”
“The Earl of Northampton. I’m Lord Gillingham’s son-in-law.” Derrick held out his calling card. “I want to speak to the earl.”
The young man—he had to be one of the servants, he didn’t look like one of Ellie’s relatives—blinked in confusion and fought back a yawn as he reached for the card. He squinted at it.
“Does he know you’re coming, my lord? He didn’t say anything about a late caller.”
“I’m afraid I didn’t plan in advance. But this is very important.” Derrick shifted so he could put himself in the doorway so he wouldn’t have the door slammed in his face. “Please, I need to see him.”
“The earl isn’t well, and he’s not taking visitors.”
“I wouldn’t have travelled all day to be here if it wasn’t important. Just let me in!”
“What’s going on, Ronald?”
Derrick saw the tall, gaunt figure of the Earl of Gillingham coming out of a door to his left. He wore a dark red robe over his clothes, leaning on the doorway more to keep himself upright than for a nonchalant pose. Ronald straightened up.
“The Earl of Northampton wants to talk to you, my lord. I’ve told him that he’s come at an inconvenient time—”
“I can talk to him, Ronald.”
“But the doctor said—”
“We can ignore doctor’s orders even now and then.” Pushing himself up slowly, the earl beckoned Derrick over. “Come on in, Northampton. We can talk in here.”
Derrick didn’t need to be told twice. Stepping around the servant, he hurried into the room after the older man, almost bumping into Gillingham as he slowly walked away, appearing to be very tender on his feet. Derrick slowed and waited as the other earl went to a chair by the burning fire.
“How are you feeling, my lord?” Derrick felt like a bumbling fool, his words bumping into each other. “Ellie said you weren’t well.”
“I’m better than I was, but it’s still a long road.” Gillingham lowered himself carefully into a chair with a wince. “I have good days and bad days. The bad ones normally happen if I exert myself too much. And I did today when my daughter suddenly returned home.”
“I apologise for that.”
“Why would you need to apologise? I was surprised about her turning up, but I wasn’t upset about it. It’s nice to see her after all this time.” Gillingham sighed. “I should be apologising for not being at the wedding.”
