Chapter Ten
Two days after he’d comforted Angelica in a storehouse, he hadn’t seen her since.
Perhaps she assumed doing so was too risky, or perhaps she was already trying to put distance between them, Caleb didn’t know.
But he missed her, most acutely. He would keep trying to reach her, for he refused to give up on them, and he needed her to know that he wouldn’t leave her to this fate.
Oddly—or perhaps terrifyingly—the duke hadn’t evicted Caleb from his property.
And even more surprising, Tittleford asked that he accompany him, along with a few others, on a fishing expedition that afternoon.
He’d accepted the invitation out of mere curiosity, but it was also a bit of keeping one’s enemies close.
And he did enjoy a good fishing trip.
As he walked out with the group, the men were discussing locations.
A good-natured argument started debating the aspects of fishing in ponds opposed to streams. Two of the men swore that the carp and trout were more abundant in the streams that would eventually feed into the larger pond on the property.
“What say you, Marsden?” the duke asked, but nothing in his expression gave away his thoughts. “Should we start at the pond or the streams?”
Why would he ask that? Caleb supposed it didn’t matter, for he wished to have a word or two with the duke, regardless, since the man had been adamant that no servants accompany them. He tightened his grip on his fishing rod. “I would like to start at the pond.”
“Very well.” The duke nodded. Then he made eye contact with one of the other men. “Thompson, you and the boys find a spot at one of the streams, while Marsden and I go to the pond.”
The taller man in the trio frowned. “Are you certain, Your Grace?”
“I am. Besides, I’d like a private conversation with my trusted solicitor. We’ll come ‘round to your location in an hour.”
Was it Caleb’s imagination or did the duke slightly emphasize the word “trusted”? Deciding not to dwell on it, he dutifully followed the older man toward the pond while the three others went in the opposite direction where they would eventually find an energetic stream.
Silence brewed between them as the walk to the pond was conducted.
That was fine with Caleb, for he preferred it that way, and it allowed him to order his thoughts.
Would this prove the day when he would finally call the duke out for his treatment of Angelica?
He didn’t know, but it felt the perfect time.
Around the perimeter of the pond were reeds and cat’s tails.
They concentrated in clumps here and there clinging to the edges.
A large boulder rested nearby, and that was where the duke set his basket of bait and other items needed to draw fish out of the water or off the line.
Swans, mallards, pochards, a variety of geese paddled about the surface or grazed for food along the edges.
Water rails squealed in reedbeds while grebes and herons stalked their prey both in the water and out of it.
Colorful spring flowers dotted the landscape.
A spate of oak and pine trees separated the pond from the area where the stream was hidden.
Ordinarily, it would have been a pleasant enough place, and he would have adored bringing Angelica here, for a bit of swimming and relaxing.
“Let us try our luck here, Marsden.” Tittleford glanced at him, rested his back against the boulder. “Would you like brandy or ale to start?”
“No thank you. I am still quite satisfied from what I imbibed at luncheon.” At the meal, the duke ingested copious amounts of liquor, yet he didn’t act inebriated. Quite frankly, he didn’t trust Tittleford and wanted to remain clearheaded for this conversation.
“Very well.” As the duke baited his hook with a bit of raw beef, Caleb did the same.
Two barely audible plops sounded as the bait was dropped into the semi-murky water.
No sooner had the hooks sank beneath the surface than the duke spoke. “What the hell were you thinking when you decided to fuck my wife?”
He could deny the accusation, but since Angelica had already owned up to it, that would have been folly.
So he did what anyone would do. Despite the cold fear dripping down his spine, he kept his gaze on the pond but shrugged.
“She’s a beautiful woman who is lonely and neglected.
And you did tell me to keep her company. One thing led to another.”
“Damn, I didn’t think you man enough to admit to it.”
Caleb still refused to look at the duke, for if he did, he would no doubt land the man a facer for what he’d done to Angelica over the years. “Why shouldn’t I? It was my decision, and I did it. If you are hoping that I’m sorry to be caught or regret taking her to bed, you’ll wait an eternity.”
From beside him, the duke grunted. “I could sack you.”
“You can, of course, as it is your prerogative, but I am good at what I do, and I’ve handled your affairs for decades.
” Pausing to consider his words, he moved his fishing pole a tad to see if he could entice any fish.
“As the old saying goes, I know where your bodies are buried, so to speak.” Finally, Caleb glanced at Tittleford.
“Do you truly want someone else to take those reins?”
“Bah.” The duke waved away the comment. Anger clouded his eyes. “Why would you steal the duchess out from under me?”
“What was there to steal? You haven’t paid attention to her for years, and a woman who has been ignored and neglected is fair game.
” The more he spoke, the more the hot wave of anger grew in his chest. “When you do notice your wife, it’s with your fists.
Because you are a small, insecure man if you feel the need to hit and wound a woman.
” As the duke sputtered, Caleb rushed on, for he wouldn’t have another chance.
“In truth, you have your life; she has hers, and you’re living it up with your mistress anyway. ”
“You have no right to lecture me or judge me, Marsden.”
He shrugged. “I am not judging you, but you could have set Angelica free.”
The duke huffed. “I could have, yet it is a feather in my cap to have such a looker as a wife. Though I do prefer Mrs. Ackerson’s company. She is closer to my age.”
God, what a bounder.
“You never loved Angelica.” It wasn’t a question.
“I suppose she told you everything.”
“Of course she did. We have known each other for years, and I’m not blind. I’ve seen what you’ve done and how you’ve acted. How you’ve nearly beat the spirit from her.”
Until I’ve helped to build that back up.
“Not that it matters, but no, I have never loved Angelica. Clarice has my heart, and has for more years than I’ve been tied to the duchess. However, Mrs. Ackerson was born too low down in the ton for me to marry.”
That gave Caleb pause, for the heart wanted who it wanted. But he couldn’t resist poking the bear, so to speak. “Do you beat her as well?”
Anger scudded across the duke’s face. “That is not your concern.”
Ah, so he did. “I suppose some women thrive on the pain, consider it oddly attractive or think it’s their due.”
“Damn you.” After tossing his fishing pole to the ground, the duke threw a punch at Caleb. “None of this concerns you.”
“Ah.” Easily, he dodged the jab, but it felt good to finally needle the man. He let his own pole drop to the ground. “You care nothing for the duchess, and you have your heir. Leave her the hell alone.” The fishing session was ruined in any event; and he’d said his piece.
A snarl issued from Tittleford. “Are you daring to order me to do something, Marsden?”
It would be so easy to strangle this ogre with his own fishing line, but Caleb didn’t.
“Not daring, only suggesting.” For the rest of his life, he would fight for Angelica.
“Let her live out her life so that she at least can find a shred of happiness and joy. Both of those things that you stole from her.”
The duke’s expression reflected aghast shock. “You think she’ll find that with you?”
Caleb remained silent. If the duke couldn’t work that out for himself, then he was indeed a nodcock.
Tittleford snorted with laughter. “You can’t attract a woman of your own, so you resort to poaching someone else’s?”
Something inside Caleb snapped. Enough was enough. “I love Angelica, and I have been treating her as she’s deserved. Unlike you.” With a cry of rage, he got off a punch of his own, and when his fist connected with the duke’s ribcage, there was a satisfying crack as one broke.
“Ungrateful pup.” Tittleford returned the punch, which caught Caleb on the chin.
Pain exploded through his face as he stumbled backward a few steps. “I’m warning you, Tittleford. Leave the duchess alone. You have no need for her any longer. Let her life her own live.”
He half-coughed, half-wheezed, but his sneer was made of pure evil. “So you can have an affair under my nose? So you can be in society with her? Cuckhold me and make me a fool?”
“Better considered a fool than the monster you truly are.”
“Fuck off.” The duke got off another blow, but Caleb dodged it in time, and the other man nearly lost his footing.
Tittleford put space between them as he fumed and his face reddened.
One of his bootheels was perilously close to the edge of the pond.
“Don’t push me, Marsden. I can ruin you, crush you like a bug. ”
“No doubt you can, but oddly enough, I’m no longer afraid of you.
And that means you have no power over me.
” As he spoke, he straightened his spine, for he didn’t care any longer.
“I’m in love with your wife, have been for years.
I love her like you’ve never managed to or would never consider, like you never will, and in doing so, that makes her happy. ”
“You are a fool.”