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Where he came face-to-face with the one person he had been dreading he would encounter this Season.
“Annabel!” He winced. How was he meant to address her? “I mean … Your Grace.” He bowed stiffly.
“Annabel is acceptable.”
Richard pulled a face before looking around to find his wife standing to the side with a sheepish expression on her blushing face. “What is this, Sophia?”
“I asked Annabel—Her Grace—Annabel …” Sophia ground to a halt.
“Your wife informed me of your heroics last evening, Richard. She asked me if I would visit today so you could say what you needed to say. According to her, a conversation with me would ease some of your troubles.”
Richard shot a look at his traitorous wife, who was studying her slippers in chagrin. “I see.”
“I thought it would help.” Sophia’s voice was but a whisper.
“Why in the damn—I mean—blasted stables?”
“If I may?” Annabel interjected with an amused smile. Richard turned back to face her, finding it difficult to meet her eye, so his gaze settled on the brick wall behind her shoulder. “I would not come otherwise. I have waited for your apology for some time now, and I thought it would be appropriate to pick up the conversation where we left off. These are different stables, of course, but I think it lends an air of authenticity to the completion of this discussion.”
Guilt, irritation, and resentment squirmed in his belly. He wanted to turn and run, but he would merely look foolish. Eventually, he would need to admit that he had made a horrendous mistake with the woman standing in front of him. Richard huffed in defeat.
“All right. I suppose I owe you an apology, and you are in your rights to demand the time and place, considering …”
Sophia interrupted. “I will be standing right outside while you talk.” She hastily walked out of the stall to stand a few feet away, a nervous air about her as she folded her arms to wait.
Richard turned back to find the girl whom he had known since he was a lad and who was now matured into a woman of elegance. Annabel had developed into a self-assured duchess of the realm while still retaining that spirited, intelligent glint in her brandy eyes.
He thought about what Sophia had pointed out earlier that day. How could he ever have believed he could fool this woman regarding his philandering habits if they had married? Even two years earlier, it now made sense that he had been making decisions that would eventually sabotage the depraved life he had led and force him to become honest. Somewhere deep in his heart, he must have sought to change his path. But what he had done to Annabel was … There were no words adequate to describe how deeply he had betrayed the woman who was once his friend. His chest constricted with the burden of guilt he was carrying.
“I … am … sorry.”
Richard was surprised to discover that a small piece of the weight chipped off, and he found his thoughts began to clear. “I am sorry I misled you into thinking I planned on having a genuine marriage with you.”
More weight lifted, his breathing deepened, and air rushed into his lungs. “I am sorry I betrayed you with someone you cared about.”
The sheer relief at his words made him feel light-headed. “I am sorry that I showed no remorse.”
Finally, he shifted his gaze to look her in the eye. “My deepest apologies that I failed to respect your wishes or allow you control over your destiny when I refused to cancel the wedding.”
Annabel smiled widely at him. “Admit you feel better.”
Richard returned her smile, feeling ten years younger at that moment. “I do.”
“Good! I am glad you did everything you did because it led me to Philip. But I also knew you needed to say this. To accept responsibility for your actions, and that is why I remained firm on the point.”
She reached forward and grabbed his hands in hers. “I am so happy you found the right woman and that you finally found your way. I always knew you had it in you, Richard. You are a great man who influences many. I want you to live a long and happy life—”
“CECIL!” At Sophia’s cry, Richard and the duchess froze. The sound of someone running could be heard.
Richard lunged out of the stall just in time to see his wife hurl herself at the legs of a groom, throwing her arms around his knees tightly to cause him to fall. There was a loud thud as his body hit the hard-packed earth. Then the man swung his arm back to cuff Sophia hard across the face, who bounced back with the force of the blow but held on firmly.
Rage rose in Richard’s chest at the sight. Roaring his fury, he ran to fling himself over the scoundrel, pinning him to the ground while calling out for the taller John. Pulsing with anger, he swung a fist into the groom’s kidney.How dare the bounder assault my countess?
He heard the taller John run up while Richard was still pounding his fist repeatedly into the knave’s side.
“Your lordship, stop! I am here. Let me take hold of the man.” Richard could barely hear the guardsman as blind outrage made him pull his arm back to throw another punch.
“Richard!” Sophia’s voice penetrated his frenzied haze. Richard froze. His heart beat loudly in his ears while he slowly unclenched his fist. He used that hand to push himself up and look back.
