Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

T he next morning at breakfast, Marina was surprised to see her husband. They ate together in awkward silence, and he did not attend dinner, but she still felt hopeful. Their conversation in the library had not gone smoothly, and Marina turned it over and over in her head the entire day—perhaps she had yielded too swiftly. It was almost as if, she thought, Phillip expected her to be the one to make changes. As if he felt he was not the one in the wrong, and although he wanted to mend things, he did not seem to be taking responsibility for the injuries to their connection.

His behavior at breakfast was even more peculiar. Was he waiting for her to bridge the gap? Had he chosen to appear to show that he was doing his part while she continued to neglect hers?

After dinner, the Duchess trudged up the stairs of her home and knocked lightly on her husband's study. There was no answer. She knocked again, but again, nothing. Gingerly, Marina pushed the door open and looked about the room, but the Duke was nowhere to be seen. She shut the door tight and hurried down the stairs to find the steward.

"Where might my husband be at this hour?"

"He is taking dinner out."

Marina gasped softly, taken aback. "Out? And when will he return?"

"I do not know, Your Grace. He took the carriage, so I suspect not for some time."

"The carriage?" The steward did not answer her this time. The Duchess' eyes were glossy—she was not speaking to him but to herself. Where could Phillip have taken the carriage so late in the evening without telling her? She had all but gotten to her knees to beg him to go out with her in the evenings, and now, he had gone without her and not so much as announced that he had plans, much less disclosed them to her.

She ran upstairs to fetch her coat. As she was leaving, Mathilde caught her at the door.

"Your Grace—where could you be going?" She seemed shocked and appalled, but Marina smiled eagerly at her.

"To see my dear friend."

"At this hour?"

"Indeed."

"His Grace has taken the carriage."

"Yes. I shall take my horse."

"But Your Grace—this will upset His Grace very much."

"If he comes home before me, tell him it was quite an urgent matter and that if he must chastise me for my behavior, he shall find at Miss Harrington's."

"Marina!"

Kathrin came charging into the hall, her skirts lifted so that she could run and her brother right at her heels. They both looked as if they were staring at a ghost though Marina smiled breathlessly at the two of them. Her skirts were muddied three inches up the hem, and her riding boots were tucked gingerly into the crook of her elbow, soaking wet.

"Ah, Kathrin. Would it be very much trouble for me to borrow some dry clothes?"

Soon after, Marina was dressed in clean, dry clothing, and she sat across from Kathrin in an armchair before a fire. Kathrin's eyes watched her, worried, but her steady hands worked diligently upon a piece of fabric in her embroidery loop.

"I apologize for my intrusion at this late hour—I should have thought. You might have thought to attend the theater tonight, and I did not even warn you of my visit."

"Never mind that. What is it that has brought you here with such haste?"

"Oh, Kathrin. Would it be too much of an imposition if I asked to stay the night? I should very much like to tell you everything—from start to finish, but I am dreadfully tired."

"It would not be an imposition at all. I have missed you dearly, and I must say that I am quite upset to see you in such a state. But please, Marina, at least tell me that your family are quite well."

Marina nodded quickly. "Of course. I did not mean to give you a fright. Everyone is safe and well; it is just…my marriage. My mind has become so muddled, and I cannot make sense of it all on my own."

Kathrin nodded thoughtfully. "Then we shall have a hearty breakfast and discuss your marriage outside in the gardens where my brother will not be a bother." Her eyes narrowed and snuck a sideways glance at Mr. Harrington, who sat at the desk in the corner of the room pretending not to listen to them. They knew that he was when the tips of his ears grew red in response to her statement. "Come, I will walk up with you to the bedroom and have some hot tea sent up so you might get some rest."

Marina nodded, and the two ladies walked out to the hall together. Kathrin saw her to her room, and outside of the door, she looked around for eavesdroppers. "Is the Duke treating you kindly, Marina?" she whispered, her eyes wide and earnest.

"Yes. I suppose. He does his best, but he sometimes loses his temper and says hurtful things. We both do, I suppose. We had a visit from his uncle some time ago, and Phillip's behavior during it was bizarre. He sent him away and forbade me to speak with him. He has been cold and distant ever since. Tonight, I went to his study after dinner to try to speak with him."

"And?"

"He was not there. His steward said he was taking dinner out, and that he was not expected home until a late hour. I was so taken aback that I rushed here immediately."

Kathrin's eyes were large with concern. "And do you suspect him of betraying your union?"

Marina bit her lip so hard, she could taste the sharp iron of fresh blood. "I am unsure, Kathrin. Come and sit with me. I will tell you everything that has transpired. Perhaps you can help me decide, and in the morning, I will know better what I should do."