Thirty-three

Hunter

"Lord Devon?"

"Yes, Mr. Gentry?"

"I fear you will not be returning home, today either, my lord. The roads remain impassable."

I jumped up from my dining room chair and dashed to the window. I had not looked outside since I went to bed last night. "Blast."

Zach entered the breakfast room whistling My Love, She's But A Lassie Yet. His Scottish mother sang it to him as a child. I heard it nearly every day on the continent. He halted mid tune. "Blast, what?"

"This miserable weather." I tapped my finger against the frosted glass. "It appears we remain stuck."

He meandered forward and stood beside me. "Well, that certainly doesn't look good. How do you think the women are faring?"

"With Mrs. Gentry at the helm, I suspect better than us, but we should check on them just the same."

"How long do you suppose this will delay our return?" Zach truly had nowhere to be, but most likely showed concern for my benefit.

Mr. Gentry hadn't left his post in the doorway and answered, "I sent two groomsmen out this morning to see how far they might get on horseback. They stopped at Winnersh. The bridge over the Loddon River is sheer ice. You would be turned back."

I shared a nervous glance with them both. "Hopefully with the sun shining now, it will begin to thaw." I ran a hand down my face and met Zach's stare. "Since our talk two nights ago, I haven't slept well. I need to get back to Gwendolyn and divulge everything."

"Good man." My friend patted me on the shoulder and stepped over to the sideboard to peruse the breakfast items. "I'm famished."

Before Mr. Gentry departed the room, I called out to him. "Any likelihood of sending a message through?"

"Not unless it's by carrier pigeon… my lord." He held a straight face when he said this, but I was well aware of his wit. Zach chuckled behind me.

This whole quandary turned out to be a grander nightmare than anticipated. If anyone saw me with Lady Baxter at the Penington's or overheard our conversation, it could have disastrous consequences.

And now, I lost my appetite.

"I'm going to change into my riding clothes, Collins, and will await your arrival in the stables." Then I strode out.

Thankfully, we kept a significant-sized staff employed at Gottling Hall, despite lacking permanent occupants. A footman named Robert, seconded as a valet for me. While the man, who was several years older than me, helped me dress I peppered him with questions about the estate. Especially since it fell under the responsibility of the marquess, and I had not set foot on the grounds for over three years. The questions Robert couldn't answer, I knew Mr. Gentry would, and I made a mental note to meet with him this afternoon in the study.

Walking out toward the stables, the brisk air invigorated me simultaneous to the heavy burden that weighed upon me. Why had I been so blasted foolish in keeping this from Gwendolyn? I knew the reason centered around Josiah, but how long was I going to allow his memory to control my actions?

"I'm married to Gwendolyn… and I love her ," I murmured to myself.

Just saying those words out loud sent a pleasing shudder down my spine. I needed to get back to London posthaste and make sure she knew without a shadow of doubt that I would spend my every waking breath making her happy.