Stirring Up The Viscount by Marin McGinnis

Author:Marin McGinnis
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2014-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Instead of leaving as he had planned, Lucien spent the next fortnight calling upon Theodora’s silly friends. It was possible, he supposed, that Theodora had only bought a ticket to Durham to throw him off the track. At least, he thought, that’s what he would have done.

All of them expressed what seemed to be genuine sorrow at her demise, but none had seen or corresponded with her in several years. From the way they looked at him, it was clear they blamed him for her lack of contact, but he did not care. Theodora was his wife; it was none of their business how she had spent her time.

Lucien finally had to admit Theodora was not in London, so he made plans for a protracted stay in the north. He told his fellow lawyers in chambers that he was required to visit Theodora’s family in Northumberland. Although none of them seemed particularly pleased to have extra work, they were also not sorry to see him leave. Lucien would not miss them.

He terminated his servants and ended the lease on his rented house. He had not replaced any of his belongings after the fire, other than clothing, so there was nothing he could not take with him. As he packed his valise, it occurred to him that, for the first time in his life, he could go anywhere, anywhere at all. He thought fleetingly of forgetting about Theodora and traveling instead, perhaps to America or Africa. But then he picked up the red cravat Theodora had left behind and held it to his face. He could almost smell her scent.

His resolve deepened. He carefully folded the cravat and placed it gently on top of the pile of clothing in the bag. He snapped it closed, checked his appearance in the glass. He nodded to himself, satisfied. He was almost giddy, were he capable of such a feeling, with the expectation of seeing Theodora again. He refused to accept the possibility he might not find her or that she really did die in the blaze that had consumed their house. He wanted her back, and he always got what he wanted.

****

Theodora was disgusted with herself. Instead of taking what pleasure she could find in her miserable life, she ran away. Again.

She had run from Lord Caxton until she could no longer hear him calling after her. She got to her room and locked the door, although he could not follow her into the female servants’ hall. Then she had cursed Lucien once again for treating her as he had, for making her afraid, cursed herself for allowing him to do it. Then she had lain there in the dark, thinking about Jonathan.

She marveled at the notion that any woman would have turned down a viscount, especially when the viscount was Jonathan. But she had to admit the heart does tend to follow its desire, even if doing so flies in the face of common sense. She had only to look in the mirror for evidence of that.

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