Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

O nce his anger cooled down, Gerard began to worry.

Seraphina had run out of the house with nothing more than a shawl and a reticule. Where could she have gone?

His jaw clenched at the thought of her running to Ruebridge. As soon as the carriage returned, he sent her lady's maid to find out from the driver, where he had dropped her.

"She went to her father's house, Your Grace." Leticia reported.

His shoulders dropped and his heart slowed down as he heard those words but then he began to frown. He had heard stories of Lord Northwick at the club, and Seraphina had apprised him of the dire straits they were in.

She had nothing on her, not even a nightgown. How would she manage? He knew he should not care, but she was still his wife, and he was responsible for her.

"Go and pack some clothes for her," he told Leticia.

Her eyes widened in surprise, but she curtsied and turned to go and do as he asked.

"And Leticia?"

"Yes, Your Grace?"

"Pack some of your own. You will stay with her while she's there."

She curtsied. "Yes, Your Grace."

He sighed, watching her leave his study. As soon as the door closed behind her he stood up and went to the safe. Putting a few gold coins in a purse, he went back to his desk so he could write a note.

Your Grace,

You left without packing a bag or taking any money. Of course, you can continue to charge your expenses to my account, but here is a bit of coin should you need it. For now, it is probably best that we remain apart until this matter is resolved.

Irondale.

He folded the note and sealed it before putting it in the purse with the coins. He sighed, sitting back in his chair. Somehow, he felt better for having done that—more settled.

She might have had an affair and not told him, but he knew that that was not uncommon practice in the ton . Usually though, people waited until after they had produced an heir. He could own his part in this debacle. He had, after all, left her alone. Still, he was angry, and he felt betrayed.

He just did not understand why she would not own up to her actions. He suspected that he could get over it, were she honest and straightforward with him.

Instead, she chose to lie and hide out at her father's home.

He realized that he was squeezing the bag of coins so hard that it was leaving grooves in his palms. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

I will not lose my temper.

They were up early the next day. The sun had barely risen on the horizon.

"It's because we slept so early," Tessa said when Seraphina remarked on it.

She nodded. "That's true." Then she frowned. "I don't suppose there's any way that we could have a bath. Who would fetch and empty the water? For that matter, who empties the chamber pots?"

Tessa gave her an apologetic look. "We do, I'm afraid. Caroline, the maid, spends her morning collecting firewood and cleaning the common spaces in the house. She has to wait for the milk maidens to come by, while the cook washes the dishes and makes breakfast for us. She usually goes to the market very early, to see what she can get for the day. So, you see they don't have much time to spare for our grooming."

Seraphina found again that she was tearful and turned away so that Tessa would not see.

Things had always been difficult in their household, but she could see how they had completely fallen apart since she left.

"Well then, let us get to work," she said to Tessa, "because I will have a bath if I have to drag every single pail of water up here by myself."

Tesla giggled. "Oh it's ever so lovely to have you home again!"

Seraphina kissed her cheek. "I missed you too."

They heard a loud knock on the front door and exchanged nervous glances. It was barely seven. Who could possibly be visiting at this time?

Seraphina wrapped a shawl around her shoulders, put on Tessa's slippers and went downstairs to answer the door. She peered through the eye of the door and was surprised at who was standing there, looking nervous and afraid.

Heart speeding up, she opened the door at once. "Leticia, what are you doing here?"

The lady's maid pointed to the suitcases at her side.

"His Grace told me to bring you your luggage," she said.

Seraphina's heart sank.

So, he is throwing me out.

Leticia thrust a purse at her. "There's a note inside for you."

Seraphina grabbed the purse and opened it. She frowned at the gold coins therein, before snatching the notes and breaking the seal so she could read it.

She read it once, and then again trying to decipher the intention behind it.

Leticia was picking up the bags. "Where shall I put these, Your Grace?"

"Uh…" Seraphina was at a loss for words. She cleared her throat. "Well, I suppose you can put them in the guest room, since I understand the furniture in my former chambers has since been dismantled. It's just down the hall." Seraphina pointed the way.

Leticia nodded, picking up the bags and making her way slowly towards their new quarters. Seraphina did not understand at all. Clearly Gerard still thought she had been unfaithful.

So why was he still taking care of her?

Perhaps he is that honorable of a man.

Now that she had the funds, there were a lot of things she needed to do.

It was going to be a busy day.

Breakfast was a silent affair. Gerard knew that his uncle was dying to ask what had happened with Seraphina, but he was not in the mood for his ‘I told you so'.

So, he kept his eyes on his plate, scraping the scrambled eggs onto his fork and sticking it in his mouth with determination.

The house felt too quiet, empty somehow, and he did not know what to do about it. He thought about packing his bags and returning to Irondale, but he refused to admit defeat. He would not let Ruebridge take what was his.

Uncle Erasmus cleared his throat. "The servants told me that your wife is no longer in residence."

Gerard gave him a look. "I do not wish to discuss it," he said coldly.

"I told you she was no good," his uncle persisted.

Gerard dropped his fork on his plate in irritation and gave an annoyed sigh. "Did you not hear me say that I don't wish to discuss it?"

His uncle stared at him intently. "Do not tell me you have fallen for that woman's wiles. You can do a lot better than her."

Gerard glared at him and got to his feet. "Excuse me," he said and exited the room.

On further reflection, he decided that his uncle was the one who would have to leave. Despite repeated requests, he still insisted on making Seraphina feel unwelcome.

He stopped walking, realizing that he was still obsessing about Seraphina and why she did what she had done. Even after firmly resolving not to think about her anymore he couldn't seem to stop.

Should I call Ruebridge out? Challenge him to a duel?

The thought was tempting, but if he did that, the whole of London would know why. He did not want that. He decided that he would take the day off work and visit the boxing club.

He needed to take his aggression out on something.

Tessa was invited to a soiree taking place at the Larson townhouse. Seraphina did not want to attend it, but their father was in no condition to chaperone. She wrote to her friend Rosalind, begging her to take up chaperone duties for that particular event.

Rosalind turned up that very afternoon.

"What is going on?" she asked with concern. "Why are you here, instead of at home?"

Seraphina sighed. "It's a long story, and I am as yet too heartbroken to tell it. Just know that it would not be a good idea for me to be seen in the vicinity of Lord Ruebridge at the moment."

Rosalind's eyes narrowed. "Did he do something to you?"

"No, no. It is nothing like that. It's just a misunderstanding that has been blown out of proportion, and until tempers calm down it is best that we stay as far away from each other as possible."

Rosalind clutched her arm, seeming even more concerned. "Seraphina, are you all right?"

She shook her head shakily, swallowing the lump in her throat.

She did not understand why the slightest thing made her emotional. "I'm not fine. That much is obvious, I think. But it will be well. I have to believe that."

"Is there anything I can do?"

Seraphina gave her a shaky smile. "Be the good friend you always are. That's all I need."

Rosalind looked doubtful but she merely squeezed Seraphina's arm and then let it go. "In that case, I shall be as good a friend as I can and look after your sister at this event. But are you sure there's nothing else I can do?"

"Well, you could invite us to dinner, I suppose. The cook tries but her meals are not exactly scrumptious. I could use a roasted duck with boiled carrots and fresh baked bread," she said dreamily.

Rosalind cocked an eyebrow at her. "Very well. Dinner party it is. Shall we say tomorrow?"

Seraphina beamed. "You are an angel sent from heaven."

"Don't be silly," Rosalind said, "I'm more likely to be a demon than an angel. You know I don't enjoy hymns."

Seraphina laughed, loving her friend for bringing some sunshine into their home and making her feel like the world was not ending.

Rosalind reached into the bag she was carrying. "I brought you a few presents," she said handing over a pile of books. "Enjoy."

"Oh, thank you. This is just what I need to take my mind off things. How do you always know just the right thing to do or say?"

"Oh, as you said, I am a demon," she tossed her head dramatically.

"I actually said that you're an angel, but I take your point." Seraphina smiled genuinely for the first time that day.

Gerard had taken to staring into the fire in the evening going over and over his last conversation with Seraphina, wondering what he could have done differently to get a different outcome.

His uncle had set out for Irondale that morning and so he was alone in the house with no one to talk to. He knew that he could go to the club or invite Dorian over, but he did not have the energy to deal with other people.

He took another gulp of his brandy, leaned back in the armchair and watched the flames dance merrily oblivious to his dark thoughts.

The house felt lonely, you know way that could not simply be attributed to the absence of people.

After all, there were still footmen lining the corridors. There was one just outside his door should he need something. Other members of his household staff bustled up and down the corridors, making sure he was comfortable, and everything was spic and span. He was certainly not alone .

Yet he could not remember a time when he had felt lonelier.

He pushed the thought away, not wanting to follow it to its conclusion. Instead, he poured himself another cup of brandy and lit a cigar. He stood up and walked to his desk, opening the first draw in extracting a book from it.

It was one of Seraphina's romantic stories. He had pilfered it from her collection out of curiosity.

Wanting to see exactly what she was interested in, he went back and sat down, opened the book and began to read.

It was almost as though he felt closer to Seraphina that way.

It alleviated some of the loneliness.