Scoundrel of My Heart (Once Upon a Dukedom #1) - Lorraine Heath Page 0,74
safely to her residence. He knew they had, the day after he left, because the boy he’d hired to keep watch had reported to him when she returned.
After that, like a fool, he’d begun his vigil at the top of the stairs, ignoring everyone around him, focusing on the door through which she never walked. Her absence didn’t stop his heart from thundering each time someone came into the club until he realized it wasn’t Kathryn. He needed to accept that never again would it be her.
The club now seemed duller because she would never again grace it. The din and cacophony of voices flatter because her laughter would no longer lighten it. The fragrance staler because her orange and cinnamon scent would no longer tease it. Tonight, he would cease his fruitless watch and begin wandering through the rooms again, even as he dreaded the memories of her that each would visit upon him and the loneliness they would leave in their wake.
The cab pulled into the drive of the massive manor in Mayfair. After slipping payment through the opening to the driver, Griff disembarked and studied the well-maintained lawn as the vehicle was driven away. It was strange to be back in Mayfair after all this time, to be on the verge of entering a fancy residence, especially when he no longer felt he belonged here. Maybe he never had.
After ascending the steps, he tapped the knocker against the wood and waited. In short order the door opened, and a butler gave a deferential nod. No doubt a result of Griff’s fine attire. He knew that to be successful he had to look the part of already being successful, and he’d made certain to use his coins wisely when it came to his clothing. “Mr. Griffith Stanwick to see his sister, Lady Tewksbury.”
The butler opened the door wider. “Do come in, sir. I shall see if her ladyship is at home.”
Standing in the grand foyer, Griff would be surprised if she wasn’t. She was back in the sort of residence she deserved, with its massive walls and vaulted ceilings and crystal chandeliers. With its claymores and broadswords displayed, revealing a heritage that could be traced back generations.
“Griff!”
He turned as Althea rushed into the foyer, her husband following at what seemed to be a sedate pace, but it was only because his long legs ensured he didn’t need to move as quickly to keep up with her. Before he could even greet her, she had her arms snuggly around him and hugged him tightly.
“I’ve been so worried.” She leaned back. “You look well, prosperous in fact. The last time I saw you, you appeared quite . . . menacing, to be truthful.”
They’d last seen each other shortly before she married, before she’d gone to Scotland, when he’d still been more involved in Marcus’s efforts than his own. “I’m on a different path now.”
“I want to hear all about it.” She moved aside slightly, held out her arm. “We want to hear all about it.”
Trewlove came forward and placed his arm around her, drawing her in close, in a move that seemed as natural to him as breathing in air. He extended his hand. “Stanwick.”
Griff took the offering, gripping the man’s hand, shaking it solidly. “My lord.”
The new Earl of Tewksbury grimaced. “No need to be so formal. Beast will do.”
“I’ve rung for tea,” Althea said. “Come into the parlor, get comfortable, and tell me everything.”
“Scotch might be better, my love,” Beast said.
Griff wondered how much his brother-by-marriage already knew. He’d haunted the darker corners of London, had ruled in Whitechapel. He wouldn’t be surprised if the man knew a good deal more than he’d ever admit. “Scotch would be appreciated.”
They went to the library where he and Beast sipped scotch, while Althea nursed a sherry as she told him about their wedding—which he truly regretted not being able to attend—and their time in Scotland, how she’d fallen in love with its people and majestic lands. He was grateful to see how absolutely happy she was. It was obvious her husband adored her, much more than he suspected Chadbourne ever would have. In spite of the detour her life had taken, he couldn’t help but believe she was much better off than she would have been had she been able to remain true to the path chosen for her. She was stronger, more confident. Easily a woman who could conquer any of life’s challenges.