Falling for the Marquess - Julianne MacLean Page 0,107
sum to live on, Quintina, since you are by rights my father’s widow. All I require in return is that you never set foot in this house again.”
With that, he left the room and returned to his coach. “Take me to Wentworth House,” he instructed the driver, hoping that he would find his wife there, and that she would agree to hear him out.
Seger stood beneath the portico at Wentworth House, asking the butler if Lady Rawdon was inside. The man did not answer the question. He simply invited Seger in and escorted him to the duke’s oak-paneled study to wait.
Wonderful, Seger thought, preparing himself for the certain advent of the so-called “Dangerous Duke’s” infamous wrath. Bloody hell, he didn’t have time for this. He only wanted to talk to Clara.
Finally, the door of the study swung open, and James walked in. He stood tall and grim just inside the door, stared at Seger for a moment, then crossed the room and poured two glasses of brandy.
He handed one to Seger, and said, “This is disturbingly familiar.”
Seger accepted the glass, then set it down on the desk without touching it. “Is Clara here?”
James regarded him, then set his own glass down as well. “You made me a promise once, Rawdon, that you would not treat my sister-in-law carelessly.”
“Yes.”
“It seems you have not kept your word.”
Seger clenched his jaw. “No, I have not. I have hurt her, and I know that. But you can rest assured that I have not been unfaithful to her, nor have I ever come close to entertaining the notion.”
James considered Seger’s defense. “That’s not what Clara believes—not after what happened this morning.”
“She’s here, then?” Seger asked, clutching at the hope that he would be able to make things right.
“Yes.”
Seger felt the pressure lift from his chest. “I need to see her.”
“But she doesn’t want to see you.”
“Did she actually say that?” Seger asked. “Or are you just trying to protect her?”
“The answer to both those questions is yes.”
Seger swallowed over his frustration and paced around the room. “That woman I met this morning.... She means nothing to me.”
Why was he explaining himself? The only person who needed to hear his explanation was Clara.
“From what I understand,” James said, “Clara has endured a certain degree of stress since she married you. She is my wife’s sister, and I consider it my duty to make sure that such circumstances do not continue.”
Seger’s whole body tensed. “Clara is my wife, Wentworth, and any duties regarding her happiness are my concern, not yours.”
The duke’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not sure you are capable of fulfilling that duty. You have not displayed any such tendencies in the past.”
“Maybe not,” Seger replied irritably, “but we all grow, and some of us even deserve second chances. I thought you embraced that idea.”
Tension hung in the air like a thick haze. “I do,” James said, “and you were given that second chance. I’m just not sure you deserve a third.”
“I did nothing wrong. I had to see that woman. She said she had information regarding Clara, and when I realized who she was, I had to speak to her. You see, she was the woman I—”
“I know who she was.”
Seger felt like he was talking to a brick wall. “Then you must understand why I had to speak with her. But it’s over now. I’ll never see her again. All that matters to me is that Clara....”
His voice broke. He couldn’t finish. He wasn’t even sure he could remain standing. “Please, James,” he said, taking an unsteady step forward and pleading desperately, knowing he sounded pathetic. Knowing that his eyes were becoming wet, his voice was breaking. “I have to see her.”
James stared at him for an agonizing moment, then he went to the door and held it open.
“She is with Sophia in the nursery. Third floor.”
Seger regarded his brother-in-law with some surprise, then crossed toward him. “Thank you,” he said, pausing before him in the doorway, before dashing up the stairs to find his wife.
Clara sat in the rocking chair by the window, gazing out at the gray sky and the idle leaves on an old English oak, while she rocked Liam to sleep. She leaned her head back, hugged the soft bundle gently to her breast and closed her eyes, but opened them again, slightly startled, when Sophia bent to scoop the babe out of her arms.
“I’ll take him now.”
“But he was just falling asleep,” Clara whispered.