Chapter 10
Discreetly, Lion checked his pocket watch.
Having house guests was bloody tiresome, and a reminder of why he never had them.
Uncle Algernon had cornered him in the orangery some two hours ago, and he didn’t show any inclination of slowing down on his long-winded description of the proper cultivation of citrus trees.
His uncle was a congenial chap and very caring, but he also scarcely ever ceased talking.
Lion had never met a more garrulous man in his life.
He wondered how dear Aunt Helene could possibly bear it.
He had already attempted to politely interrupt on no fewer than five separate occasions, and yet Uncle Algernon had swiftly deflected the conversation to yet another subject, continuing a vast discourse on everything from furnaces to politics to orchids to glazing.
Lion needed to escape so that he could at last speak with Addy. Alone.
Enough time had lapsed between the night she had come to his bedroom and this afternoon. He was hoping to propose to her so that they might have a happy announcement for the family on Christmas Day. But he would never be able to do so unless he removed himself from the orangery.
“Oh dear,” he interrupted suddenly, seizing his opportunity when Uncle Algernon took a breath. “I nearly forgot that I am meant to be arranging for the cutting of a Christmas tree. My sisters are insisting upon it. If you’ll excuse me?”
“Of course,” Uncle Algernon said, disappointment lacing his voice. “I’ll carry on having a walk about the orangery to look for areas that require improvement.”
Dear God. He shuddered to think of how long that particular conversation would take.
Lion forced a smile. “Quite.”
Making haste in his retreat, he moved back into the main house, searching every room for Addy.
He was met with disappointment at every turn.
Addy wasn’t in the library, the drawing room, or the music room.
He ascended the stairs next, consigning propriety to the devil and going to her bedroom.
He had been doing his utmost to follow the rules following the arrival of his sisters, aunt, and uncle, and look at where it had landed him.
Her bedroom door was ajar.
Odd, that. Ordinarily, she kept Dandy inside. Lion knocked and peered in.
“Miss Fox? Dandy?”
He was greeted with silence. The room looked neat and tidy, nary a hint of either Addy or her incorrigible mongrel. Perhaps she was keeping his sisters company. The three of them had been inseparable these past few days.
Frowning, Lion made his way to Lila’s chamber, where he knew they had been convening, giggling and making an indecorous amount of noise. He hadn’t minded, even if he had been envious of his sisters for having all of Addy’s attention.
He rapped on the door. It opened to reveal Lila with tear-stained cheeks and a red nose.
“What is the matter?” he asked, instantly concerned.
“Addy’s had to leave,” Lila said with a sniff. “She needs to return to New York City.”
“Her betrothed, Mr. George Smith, broke his leg when he fell off a horse,” Letty added from behind a handkerchief.
She punctuated the announcement by loudly blowing her nose.
Lion stared, struggling to comprehend what his weeping sisters had just said. Her betrothed. Mr. George Smith. She needs to return to New York City.
“What the devil?” he blurted out.
“Addy’s father sent word that she must return to tend to Mr. Smith,” Lila explained, frowning at him as if he were the world’s greatest churl.
“Who is Mr. Smith?” he demanded.
“Addy’s betrothed,” Letty said slowly. “Have you not listened to a word we’ve said?”
“I’ve listened, but listening and comprehending are two different beasts entirely,” he said grimly. “When did Miss Fox leave?”
“It was easily an hour or two ago,” Lila told him. “She came to us, quite distressed, and explained that she and her aunt Pearl needed to go to York so that they wouldn’t miss the train to London. Or was it three hours ago?”
“She gave us each the most beautiful pair of earrings for Christmas,” Letty added. “Sapphires and emeralds to match our eyes.”
“I do wish she hadn’t left in such haste. It’s not like her.”
“She did seem at sixes and sevens. I’ve never seen her in such a state before.”
“I’ve got to stop her,” he said as much to his sisters as to himself.
His mind whirled with these unexpected revelations.
Mr. George Smith? Why had she never spoken of the man to him?
Why had she given herself to Lion if she already had a betrothed?
And why would she leave without at least deigning to tell him goodbye?
Only yesterday, she’d expressed an intention to stay beyond Christmas.
None of it made sense.
Lion spun on his heel.
“Lion?” his sisters called after him. “What are you intending?”
“I don’t know,” he tossed over his shoulder as he stalked to the staircase.
All he did know was that he couldn’t let Addy go. Not like this.
He rushed to the stables and ordered Athena saddled.
Jacob, his head groom, confirmed what his sisters had said, that Addy had left with her aunt, Dandy, and Alfred several hours before.
They had taken his carriage, considering that the carriage she had hired for her journey to Marchingham Hall had yet to be repaired.
Which meant that not only was she leaving him, but Lion’s own blasted grooms and coach had assisted her.
She had a few hours of advantage, and Athena was bred for endurance rather than speed, but Lion was determined. He would find her in York, and he’d have his answers there.
Addy, Alfred, Aunt Pearl, and Dandy had reached York with just enough time to make passage on the last train leaving to London before Christmas.
They were settled in a comfortable private car now, the locomotive rattling down the tracks that were carrying them out of the station.
It was something of a miracle they had been able to secure tickets, but when she had realized there was a chance they could leave York today, she had seized it.
Addy stared out the window, trying not to weep as Dandy sat in her lap.
“Are you going to tell me why you suddenly decided to leave Marchingham Hall without warning, and on Christmas Eve, no less?” Aunt Pearl asked quietly.
She had known the question would be coming. Aunt Pearl hadn’t made a single query from the moment Addy had arrived, breathless and distraught at her chamber door, until they had settled in the train car.
“I overheard something distressing,” she said flatly.
The last few hours had utterly exhausted her. She was equal parts weary and sad, confused and heartbroken.
“Would you like to share what that was?” her aunt asked patiently.
Addy took a deep breath. “It was that Li—the Duke of Marchingham wants to marry me.”
“But that’s wonderful news, my dear.”
“For my dowry,” Addy added grimly. “He was speaking with Lady Hargrove in his study, and the door was partially open… I didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but when I heard what they were speaking about, I couldn’t help myself.
It seems that the duke has a great deal of debt and his estates are woefully in need of repair.
Marrying me would solve all his problems.”
Her voice cracked on the last word.
Dandy licked her chin and then resumed panting, for train rides made her exceedingly nervous. Addy patted her head. At least her loyalty had resumed now that they had left Lion behind.
“Oh my darling Addy,” Aunt Pearl said, pity lacing her voice. “I’m so sorry. I know you were harboring tender feelings for the duke.”
“I fell in love with him,” she admitted, shaking her head.
“I know that we were at daggers drawn initially, but over the time we spent at Marchingham Hall, I thought that changed. I thought he saw me differently. I thought I melted his ice away. But I should have known that he was nothing more than a fortune hunter. Why would an elegant, proper duke like Marchingham want a vulgar, troublesome American when he could have his choice of true ladies?”
“Any man would be fortunate to take you as his wife,” Aunt Pearl defended her sternly. “Not for your dowry, Addy Louise, but for you. You’re intelligent and kindhearted and beautiful. I’ll not hear another uncivil word about my beloved niece, not even if it comes from her own lips.”
Tears stung Addy’s eyes anew at her aunt’s unflagging loyalty. “This is why you’re my favorite aunt.”
“I’m your only aunt, my dear.”
Addy smiled on a half sob. “It’s best that you are the only one. No others could possibly compare.”
“Did you confront the duke about what you overheard?” Aunt Pearl asked next.
“I couldn’t bear to,” she confided, feeling foolish for the way she had fled. “My pride and my heart were both dashed to bits. I thought that what we shared meant something to him. Instead, he was just trying to secure his estates.”
“Was he familiar with you?”
Aunt Pearl’s voice was sharp.
Bother. Addy had revealed too much. She averted her gaze out the window.
“It doesn’t matter now.”
“Adelia Louise, of course it matters. Your mother will have my head when we return if you’ve been compromised in any way.”
She swallowed hard. “Mama doesn’t need to know.”
“Addy.”
Addy heaved a heavy sigh. “I won’t tell her, and you aren’t to tell her either. I’m not going to be trapped into marriage with a man who only wants me for the wealth I can bring him. I deserve a husband who will love me.”
“Yes, my darling, you do,” Aunt Pearl agreed quietly. “It is best you waited to tell me all this until after the train left the station, you know.”
She glanced back toward her aunt. “Why?”
Aunt Pearl was somber. “Because otherwise, I’d have driven directly back to Marchingham Hall and punched the duke squarely in the eye.”
Addy smiled, and then a tear rolled down her cheek when she gave in to another wave of tears as the train took them toward London.