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Helen’s family, like her, were odd, and it seemed it was the same with their staff, as they shot him looks with proud smiles on their faces. They all seemed to appreciate brutal honesty above all else, and he didn’t know how to deal with that.

He’d lost her once by not being honest about how he felt about her, and when he finally found her, he wouldn’t make that foolish mistake again.

“Here you go, Your Grace,” her father announced, stepping back into the study. “I’ll suggest you use one of our finest stallions, as you’ve run yours ragged in your ride here. I already told my groomsman to saddle him for you.”

Alexander laughed and nodded. “I thank you for your kindness.”

“I am very happy to see you so in love with my daughter.” The Viscount gave a watery smile. “I pray you two have a long, happy life together.”

I pray so too.

ButAlexander said nothing as he stepped outside and mounted the horse.

He started his journey down the path and then nudged the horse into a speed that surprised him. It seemed his father-in-law had a good eye for horses. A new deal popped up in his mind, but he pushed it down his list of things to do later.

His primary concern now was finding his wife. After riding for hours, he spotted the carriage bearing her family’s seal jostling terribly along the road. Speeding past them, he pulled up near the front, startling the horse and carriage driver.

He heard two feminine squeals from inside the carriage and hoped he hadn’t badly hurt them.

“Identify yourself!” the carriage driver yelled.

“You have something of mine in that carriage, and I want it back,” Alexander announced.

Indeed, Helen was his, and he’d be damned if he let her go again.

ChapterFifteen

“Ihear Grandmother’s library is so big that she had to dedicate a whole tower to it,” Margaret said happily.

She’d been chatting nonstop since they’d begun their journey three hours prior.

Helen wondered where her sister got the energy or how she was able to keep such a happy disposition when they were being tossed about with each dip and bump in the road.

Their carriage was not the best there was, but it was of good quality and should have been enough to soften the heavy blow of traveling down the English roads, but their new driver seemed ignorant of better paths, and now they were stuck bouncing around in the carriage.

“Father mentioned that Scottish men are so much nicer than English men and more handsome, too. I wonder if I’ll find myself a Scottish beau.” Margaret tittered. “Oh, imagine it, Helen. Me wrapped up in the arms of a man more than twice my size.”

“That is a rather scary sight.” Helen tried for a laugh, but it had been so hard since she felt her heart rip in two at her separation from Alexander.

Thinking of him now brought a longing in her heart which then turned into anger at the fact that days had passed and he hadn’t come looking for her and begging her to come back. It then turned into grief that she’d been alone in her feelings, and alone she’d continue to be because she couldn’t imagine herself with any other man.

Who would be able to fill the huge hole the Duke had left in her heart?

She’d been called on by various gentlemen of the ton who’d been invited by her father, but even though they were handsome and apparently could keep up a conversation, there was no spark between them.

“I know it’s scary to imagine, but think of it, Helen.” Margaret sighed, falling back into her seat only to be jostled by the carriage. “You have to use your imagination.”

“I can’t,” Helen admitted softly.

“Oh, Helen.” Margaret smiled softly. “You really do have to. It’s the only way you can heal. Do you think he’s lying around, pining the way you are?”

Her words sent a sharp spear through Helen’s heart that she didn’t know when acid poured from her mouth.

“You do not have a right to judge me, Sister, when it took you your entire youth to get over a man who never wanted you.”

Margaret gasped and fell back into her seat, tears brimming in her eyes.

“Sister, I?—”