The Matter of a Marquess - Jess Michaels Page 0,14

punishment for some undefined crime, no doubt.

“Please sit,” Katherine said, and she motioned to the other woman to close the parlor door. She did so and then moved to pour them each tea. Katherine flicked her hand toward the third in their group. “This is my sister-in-law, Elizabeth Banfield.”

“Lizzie,” Mrs. Banfield said softly.

Aurora lifted her gaze. The young woman was petite and blonde, and her expression was a little guarded but very kind as she turned over the teacup. Aurora set it aside. She could drink or eat nothing now—she would surely cast it all back up again.

“Married to Nicholas’s brother, too?” she whispered.

Lizzie nodded. “Yes. Morgan.”

Aurora covered her eyes. “I knew I shouldn’t have come. I knew it was wrong to pretend that I didn’t know the connections, that they didn’t matter. I so wanted the escape you offered, Katherine. No, Your Grace, for surely you won’t want to be friends anymore after I took advantage of your kindness so selfishly. You must hate me as much as he does. I should go, I should go, no matter the cost.”

“Calm yourself,” Katherine said, sitting beside her on the settee and taking her hands. “You and Nicholas have a history. Will you explain it?”

Aurora nodded. “You are owed that, of course. After what I did, you are owed so much more.” She shuddered and tried to find words to a past that was so steeped in emotion. “His father…his adoptive father…served mine as man of affairs. We grew up together and were…” She fought the tears. “We were friends.”

“More than friends, I think, based on that reaction a moment ago,” Lizzie encouraged.

“Yes. Eventually more than friends. But it all ended…” Aurora shook her head. “I couldn’t explain why. We haven’t spoken in almost ten years. A lifetime. I married someone else, Lord Lovell. Nicholas entered the army and acted with bravery and honor.”

“But you knew his affiliation to Robert,” Katherine pushed gently. “You must have. It’s very public, especially now that Nicholas is being considered for a title.”

Aurora rubbed her eyes. “Yes, I did. Of course I did. But I understood that Nicholas…no, that isn’t right either, not anymore. Not after the time apart and his coldness toward me. Mr. Gillingham is not close to the Duke of Roseford. I assumed there was no risk that he would be here. But I should have told you the connection. I should have told you so that you could decide if you wanted me in your home.”

“I’m not sure I would have understood even if you had told me,” Katherine said with a sigh. “You’re right that Nicholas and Robert have been…I suppose estranged is the best descriptor. They have always been very different. In truth, there is little we know about his past beyond what is public.”

“So he never spoke to any of you about me?” Aurora whispered. She tried to be happy about that fact, not hurt. She hadn’t mattered enough to him to follow through on their plans, why would she believe he cared enough to talk about her to his family or friends?

“You said it didn’t work out,” Lizzie said with a blush. “And I hate to pry, but as Katherine already told you, Nicholas is a man who holds his emotions close to his chest. That outburst on the drive is far out of character. Do you have any idea what might have sparked it?”

Aurora drew in a long breath, thinking back to those wonderful stolen moments so very long ago. To the promises whispered and broken. Then she shut her eyes, wishing she could block it all out. Knowing it would only play in her mind just as it had been doing for years. It had never softened, never improved. Just haunted her, as he haunted her. Still haunted her. Forever in her heart and soul.

“That is complicated,” she said softly. “So very complicated.”

Chapter 4

“Nicholas,” Robert said as Nicholas entered the duke’s study. He’d known someone would follow. How could they not after his uncharacteristic outburst? And here was Robert, trailing just a few steps behind him, his gaze filled with concern and confusion.

Nicholas ignored his brother and went to the window, looking out over the drive. Aurora’s carriage was moving away now, toward the stable. Which meant she was staying, if only for a short time while this drama was resolved.

He didn’t know whether to crow or curse at that fact. She was still here. A heartbeat away instead of a continent or a city