the Unclaimed Duchess (2010) by Petersen Jenna

Author:Petersen, Jenna [Jenna, Petersen,]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2011-01-14T19:09:21.703000+00:00

Chapter 12

The rain began just as they arrived on the outskirts of London. It was a hard rain, one that sometimes caused the carriage to tremble and made it stuffy and close during the final hour through twisting city traffic. Anne sat alone in the vehicle, this one the fine ducal carriage that had met them along the road the previous day, and watched the droplets drag down the window like teardrops.

At least the weather matched her mood.

The vehicle shivered to a stop and she wiped at the steamy glass with her sleeve. Outside, Rhys sat on his horse, his greatcoat pulled tightly around his shoulders and his hat low over his eyes to protect them from the rain. She sighed. Even now, sitting at the gate to their London home, her husband already looked more like a duke. It was silly, but he held himself differently somehow.

Would she ever again see the man who had teased her, pleasured her with such abandon, and jumped over the cliffs with her?

The carriage lurched onto the drive and stopped a second time. Anne looked around her, gathering up the few items she’d carried along the road and tucking them into her reticule in preparation for disembarking. The carriage door opened, but before a servant could come to assist her, Rhys appeared in the doorway. A few droplets of water trickled from his hat and hit his face, trailing along his cheeks like tears. She couldn’t help but stare in wonder at the image.

“Anne?” he said softly.

She shook off her thoughts and forced a smile. “You poor thing, you’re soaked through.”

He shrugged one shoulder as he offered her a hand to exit. “I’ll be dry soon enough.”

“You could have joined me in the carriage,” she said as she stepped onto the drive.

A servant sidled up beside her with an open umbrella to protect her as they all scurried for the front door and the dry foyer within.

Rhys nodded as they crossed the threshold. “I thought of it, but…”

He trailed off and Anne pursed her lips in understanding. He hadn’t wanted to be alone with her.

She was happy not to have to reply when the servant lowered the umbrella and moved away, leaving Gilmour to close the door and turn toward them with one of his usual bland but pleasant smiles.

“We are very pleased to have you home my lord, my lady,” the servant said, though Anne could see there was a slightly curious expression in his eyes as he looked at them.

Surely their sudden departures must have caused quite a stir among the servants, especially with all of Anne’s upset and inquiries before she followed Rhys to the countryside. And their curiosity was only a small glimpse of what would follow if Rhys had his way.

Anne sighed before she said, “Yes, thank you, Gilmour. I assume there has been much correspondence during our absence.”

He nodded. “Indeed, Your Grace. Both of you have received several items.”

First he gave a letter to Rhys and then the butler held out a high pile of notes and invitations that Anne took with another sigh.

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