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“He is consumed by the ghost of his past,” she whispered bitterly.

She stroked the soft fur on his head as she stared into the fire. The room was toasty warm, but she felt so cold inside. Not even the biggest hearth would be able to ward off the chill that had settled in her heart.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on her door. Scarlett looked up with a frown to find her maid.

“Your Grace,” the young woman greeted with wide eyes. “Lord Southford sends word.”

Scarlett clenched her hands into fists. “I have no need for his apologies. Tell him that I do not wish to communicate with him for the time being.”

“It is not that, Your Grace,” the maid whispered. “It is your mother—Lady Southford.”

Scarlett stood up so suddenly that she felt the room spin around her briefly. “What happened? Is Mama all right?”

“She… The events of this afternoon have reached the Dowager Countess, Your Grace. Lord Southford sent word that she collapsed?—”

“Good heavens!” Her hand flew to her mouth. “Why did they even tell her about it? Never mind—my brother is an idiot, I know that already. Fetch me my coat and make haste! We must make for Southford Estate as soon as possible!”

As her maid helped her dress for the journey back to her childhood home, Scarlett briefly considered informing Hudson.

It’s not like he would care if I disappeared.Maybe it is even for the best if I stayed in Southford Estate for a while.

If Hudson insisted on locking himself in his study, then she was not going to force him out of his self-imposed isolation.

She was done trying to convince him otherwise.

Hudson raised his hand to knock on the door. He did not dare to think how Scarlett would react to the sight of him at her door at his hour, but he could not stay away anymore.

He knocked. “Little cat,” he called out.

No answer.

He sighed. She was probably still angry with him, and he could not fault her for that. He deserved her ire and more.

He knocked again. “Scarlett?”

Still no response.

He frowned. This was silly and childish, and she knew better than to think there was a door on God’s green earth that could keep him from her.

He turned the knob and strode inside, only to be met with a soft growl. Snowdrop rushed at him and then, as if the puppy recognized him from the time he spent in her bed, happily sat down at his feet, its tongue lolling out.

“Where is Scarlett?” Hudson felt stupid asking a goddamn puppy where its owner was, but this was what his world had come to.

He looked up. There was only silence and darkness. Not even a single candle flickering. He frowned as ice filled his veins.

“Scarlett!” he hollered, striding towards the bed.

He flung the covers back and was met with emptiness. He wrenched the wardrobe open and rifled through silks and velvet.

She was gone.

His chest heaved and then clenched painfully.

She had left him.

No, no, no.

He had made his choice, sentenced her to a life of loneliness. He could not fault her for wanting to be free of him.