RUNAWAY GOVERNESS, THE by TYNER LIZ

Author:TYNER, LIZ [TYNER, LIZ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: REGENCY ROMANCE
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-10-02T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

He was a fool.

He let himself out the door and walked to the mews, escaping his house. Before, he’d wanted to go to the taverns and clubs, but now he felt forced away. Because he knew what would happen if he stayed in. He’d not be able to turn away from her as easily as he’d turned from the drink.

He wasn’t deserting Isabel, but he could not bear the thoughts buffeting himself another second. He had one foot in the memories of the past and another dangling in Isabel’s direction to be pulled even deeper into the strangling world of emotions.

He had a chamber that had a suitable bed and he could have used it. He just didn’t want to be mired in thoughts and when Isabel was near he acted on impulse, and then his mind followed. The actions he liked; the thoughts he could do without.

He ran his fingers through his hair and ignored the darkness around him, reminding himself of the saying that it was darkest before the day dawned. But it was also dark in the light when grief took the day and choked it lifeless. If not for the nights of drinking and revelry, he could not have survived the past.

Three grieving sisters trying to find their footing and a father who could not move didn’t spread joy and sunshine all about.

Some things were best forgotten. Thinking of the past only put one back into it. Life wasn’t to be lived in memories, but in experiences. Forward at full rush, letting the wind of revelry breeze the thoughts away suited him best.

He owed Isabel nothing, other than material things and, of course, not to bring her public disgrace. He had saved her and in return had had little choice except marriage.

All in all, he felt rather fortunate when he truly considered the options of a wife other than Isabel. In fact, the one good thing of this was that Isabel would have been his choice had he wished to marry, but he hadn’t.

He planned out the next few days of his life. He would work to get the horses back and he would spend an enjoyable time doing so. A few nights with his friends at the clubs should clear his mind.

* * *

‘Are you going to stare at the cards all night?’ Sylvester asked.

With a small shake of his head, William pulled a card from his hand and put it on the table. He’d lost again. He didn’t care.

Lord Robert, younger brother of the Duke of Wakefield, made a rude jest. Sylvester laughed. The Duke didn’t. William hadn’t thought the comment insulting Sylvester humorous either.

The ale tasted off. He kept hearing Isabel’s voice, and the tune she hummed. He stood. ‘I’m finished.’

Sylvester looked his way, smiling. ‘Leaving early?’

‘I just want to go. My luck with cards is dismal tonight. Next time should be better.’ He’d spent the last few nights running around the clubs with Sylvester and staying up all night.

When he returned home to sleep in the day, Isabel had been moving about in the house.

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