Part 21 (2/2)
There was nothing left to say. Gritting his teeth, Jack turned on his heel and left, slamming the door behind him.
Chapter Seventeen.
Some say magic is what ties nature and man together and binds them until ye can't tell one from t'other. I think 'tis love that binds nature to man, and nothing else.
OLDWOMANNORA OFLOCHLOMOND TO HER THREE WEE GRANDDAUGHTERS ONE COLD NIGHT.
Jack looked at the paper. Devonsgate had listed all twelve footmen: John, Mark, Luke, Thomas...b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, his butler had hired the entire New Testament.
He threw the list onto his desk and rose, stretching as the clock chimed nine. He had been working steadily in his library since the argument with Fiona. If he was going to be miserable, he might as well do it on a full stomach.
He glanced at the piles of papers on his desk. Mr. Troutman had been so ecstatic over Jack's request to review the investments that he'd sent a portfolio and begged Jack to avail himself of the contents until their scheduled meeting.
After Jack's argument with Fiona, he'd been glad to have something to throw himself into. It was difficult to stay focused on the facts and figures though, and he frequently found himself pacing the room.
Fiona was the most stubborn woman he'd ever met. Once she decided something, she refused to move from it. She wanted Jack to be something he was not: a family man. A man who devoted himself to his wife and children. He was not that sort of man and never would be, and Fiona would just have to accept that.
So why, if he was in the right, did he feel wrong? He shoved his chair from the desk and crossed to the fireplace to stir the flames.
Hewasn't wrong, d.a.m.n it. Fiona had forced this marriage on him-on the man he was. Therefore, she had to accept that he had no obligations. This unease merely came from the distastefulness of having an argument-no one liked having his peace cut up. He would wager Fiona felt as bad as he did.
The thought made him look at the door. Perhaps he should speak with her. He remembered the look on her face and sighed, rubbing his tight neck. Maybe he'd give her more time to calm down.
But what if she was upstairs crying? What if she thought him the coldest, most unfeeling man on earth?
What if- b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, what was wrong with him? Disgusted, he returned the poker to the stand with a clang. A gentle chime from the ormolu clock informed him that it was now a quarter past nine, and he wondered if Fiona had eaten already. He hoped she was not feeling so horrible about their fight that she couldn't eat. Perhaps by now, she was calm enough to have a rational conversation. She might even apologize for her surprising outburst. That was a pretty picture, Fiona begging his forgiveness. He paused for a minute to savor the image. Perhaps if he magnanimously invited her to share supper with him, some of their awkwardness would disappear. Jack could then present her with the chemises he'd purchased for her. She would be very sorry then, once she saw the exquisite sheer linen and delicate lace. She would beg his forgiveness, and he would accept. They might even make love. The thought made him smile. He'd never shared such pa.s.sion with a woman before. Still, he could not allow that to interfere in his life. After he and Fiona had settled their argument, he would call for the carriage and go about his evening entertainment. After all, a man had to make a stand. Feeling better already, Jack rang the bellpull. Almost immediately, Devonsgate stood in the doorway. ”My lord, I was just coming to speak with you about-”
”Good! I am famished. I had no idea it was so late. Inform Cook that Lady Kincaid and I will have dinner in the dining room. After that, I shall want the carriage.” Jack entered the foyer. ”My lord,” Devonsgate said, hurrying after Jack. ”The carriage is gone.” Jack halted, then turned slowly to the butler. ”I beg your pardon?” The butler flushed. ”Her ladys.h.i.+p has the carriage.” Jack didn't know whether to laugh or...h.e.l.l, he didn't know what to do. ”When did she leave?” ”Not thirty minutes ago, my lord.” b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l! ”Why was I not informed?”
Devonsgate stiffened. ”My lord, you've never asked us to tell you when her ladys.h.i.+p comes and goes.” He hadn't, blast it. But he would have if he'd known his wife was planning-Whatwas she planning? Jack had a sudden sinking feeling he knew where she'd be. ”Did she mention her destination?”
Devonsgate exchanged a pained glance with one of the footmen. Jack turned to the man. Younger, with wispy blond hair and protruding eyes, he stood at rigid attention, only the s.h.i.+ne on his forehead portraying his unease.
What was the man's name? Ah, yes. ”Thomas?”
”Yes, my lord?”
”Did you speak with her ladys.h.i.+p this evening?”
”Yes, my lord. She came downstairs dressed to go out.”
”Dressed?”
”Yes, my lord. She looked quite elegant.”
b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l, she was probably wearing some of the cloth.e.s.h.e had bought for her, looking charming in a
gownhe had chosen. ”Did she tell you where she was going?”
”Yes, my lord.” Thomas sent a wild glance at Devonsgate. Jack could not see the butler, but whatever
gesture he'd made, Thomas swallowed noisily, stiffened his straight back even more, and said in an expressionless voice, ”Her ladys.h.i.+p said she was going to a real, authentic gaming h.e.l.l.” ”Which one?” Jack asked grimly. ”Lady Chester's, sir.” Lady Chester was a fast widow who lived on the fringes of society. She ran one of the most das.h.i.+ng gaming h.e.l.ls in town. Every rakeh.e.l.l, scoundrel, and wastrel would be there. Jack knew, because he was acquainted with them all. ”Did she say anything else?” Thomas swallowed again. ”Yes, my lord. She-she said she was going to gamble away your entire fortune.”
”She did, did she?”
”Yes, my lord,” Thomas said miserably.
”Anything else?”
”Yes, my lord. She also stated that she was going to drink until she was tipsy, and-” Thomas seemed
unable to go on.
”Finish it,” Jack said in a harsh tone.
”And flirt with every man in sight.” Thomas said the words so quickly they blurred.
The absolute nerve of her! To go out on the town and gamble with his funds, drink until tipsy, and flirt
withhis friends-it was untenable.
In a blaze of white anger, he said through gritted teeth, ”Was there anything else, Thomas?”
”Yes, my lord. She was talking to herself quite a bit, muttering as if she was angry about something. She
said she was finished taking good advice and her life turning out bad, so perhaps it was time to take some bad advice and hope for something better. At least that way, if it didn't work, she wouldn't be surprised.”
”What does that mean?”
Devonsgate cleared his throat. ”If I may be so bold as to interject, sir. After her ride this morning, her
ladys.h.i.+p mentioned that her brothers had given her some bad advice. She wished to know if mine had ever done the same.” ”She is taking advice from Gregor and Dougal? I cannot believe they'd suggest she visit a gaming h.e.l.l. An unescorted lady would be prey to all sorts of unwelcome behaviors.”
”She didn't go alone.” Jack stiffened and turned back to Thomas. ”She-she sent word to a Mr. Campbell that she hoped to be out. He replied almost immediately that he would be glad to meet her there.” ”h.e.l.l and blast! Campbell is the worst of the lot!” Thomas paled. ”I-I-didn't know, my lord!” ”What is she thinking?” Jack snapped. ”Have the phaeton brought around.” ”But my lord,” Devonsgate said, ”it has no cover. The weather has been very unpredictable of late.” Unpredictabledidn't begin to describe it. ”Bring it. I will be returning in the carriage, anyway.” ”Very good, my lord.” Itwasn't good. It was infuriating. Muscles tense, Jack ran up the stairs to change, his mind and emotions whirling.Fiona, what in the h.e.l.l do you think you're doing?
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