Athena's Ordeal by Sue London - The Haberdashers 02 - Athena's Ordeal

Author:Sue London - The Haberdashers 02 - Athena's Ordeal [London, Sue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
Amazon: B00DJCFUS8
Goodreads: 18113115
Publisher: Graythorn Publishing
Published: 2013-08-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

Even though he hadn't slept well, Quince awoke earlier than usual. Something was wrong. There was a terrible silence again. He checked the pillow beside him to make sure he wasn't imagining it. He was alone in bed. Rising from the sheets, he stood in the middle of the room and warred with himself. Should he ring his valet and prepare for the day? That would be the logical course, as surely he was only imagining that Sabre was gone. He was only upset that she hadn't been there, at arm's reach, upon awakening.

Or should he follow his instincts and search for her now? After another moment of indecision he found himself once again putting on the simplest of clothing to go searching for his love. At this rate he thought he would soon earn a reputation as the mad, barefoot duke. He didn't find her anywhere upstairs. Jogging down the steps he found Havers to greet him at the bottom. The butler seemed anxious.

"Where is she?" Quince asked without preamble.

"The Miss left this morning. In the wee hours." Havers was literally wringing his hands. "We didn't know if we should wake you."

Quince felt himself go cold. "If it has to do with Miss Bittlesworth you should always wake me."

The butler nodded, looking close to tears. "She went to the barn and had a horse saddled. She didn't want anyone to go with her but Bill, the groomsman, followed her to make sure she was safe-"

"And?" Quince prompted, impatient to hear the conclusion of the story.

"He returned not thirty minutes ago, your grace. She's... she's gone to London."

Quince nodded and looked down at the floor, hands clenched. He understood now how dangerous a job it was to be a messenger. He wanted to rage. He wanted to hurt someone, anyone who stood in his way. He wanted to curl into a ball on the floor and weep. She had left. She had left him. Was she so frightened about him writing to her father? Was it something else? How had he misread her so completely that he hadn’t expected her to leave? He realized he was still staring blankly at the floor and lifted his chin.

"Have my horse saddled."

"Yes, your grace. Do you want any outriders?"

Quince had already turned to take the stairs two at a time. "I don't bloody care!”

In short order he was dressed, mounted, and on his way to London with four riders trailing him. Bill the groomsman had received the shock of his life when the duke asked for him, then gave him a hug in thanks for ensuring Miss Bittlesworth's safe arrival at her destination. Bill's description of the house meant she had headed directly where he thought she would.

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