Page 34 of Daring with a Duke (The Jennings Family #2)

34

Ash

“L ady Felicity…”

Ash watched Felicity as she stormed out of the room, chin held high. She didn’t answer him, and she didn’t look back. He did think he might have heard a growl…

He winced. Fucking hell, she was angry with him. Angry might be putting it lightly. He just wanted her to have the best options possible for her future, reassure her that her brother’s worries that she was too old were absolute lunacy. Gentlemen would be tripping over themselves to win her hand.

He sank back to sitting and looked back to Lord Bentley, who was collapsed against the back of his armchair, his face drawn.

“I must apologize for my sister, Your Grace. I am beyond shocked at her behavior. Felicity is a free spirit, but she was raised to conduct herself properly in society, in front of company. I am beyond embarrassed for the both of us. I have no idea what has gotten into her.”

“No apologies are necessary, Lord Bentley. It is quite clear I have offended your sister. And that most definitely wasn’t my intention.”

But it might as well have been. Because hadn’t he just done exactly what she had come here to save herself from? He had decided her future for her, stripped her of her control, of her choice. And Ash, more than anyone, didn’t have the authority to be that person.

He wasn’t her brother, her guardian, her husband. He flexed his hand, the tension shaking through his fingers.

He wasn’t her anything.

Lord Bentley rubbed his hand over his forehead. The man looked as though he’d walked here from London.

“Why don’t you retire to a guest chamber? I am sure it has been a harrowing journey—”

Lord Bentley’s snort cut him off. “It’s been a harrowing bloody week, Your Grace. I have been sick with worry over Felicity and where she disappeared to. And then with the rains and the delay in the mail. And then we were set upon by highwaymen on the journey here.” He let out a windstorm of a sigh and mumbled, “God, I could strangle the brat.”

Ash’s brows pinched in sympathy. If Pandora had run off? He couldn’t even imagine it. The thought alone had his heart jolting in his chest. Wait, pardon?

“You were set upon by highwaymen?” Ash blurted. “Is everyone well? Are you injured? Should I summon a doctor?”

Lord Bentley waved him off. “No, no. All is well. To be frank, once they took in my size, they became much less confident about their choice of victim. That, and I’m a fiend with a pistol.” Bentley grinned. “I took down the rum padder, and the rest scattered.”

Well, then… Felicity’s natural ability with a pistol made more sense now.

He cleared his throat. “I am pleased to hear that, Lord Bentley. And given what you have endured today, please take as long as you need to talk with your sister and rest. You are welcome to join us for dinner or I can have trays went up.”

Lord Bentley smiled weakly. “I appreciate your hospitality. I shall go find my sister, and we will be out of your way as soon as possible. I am sure you cannot wait to have some peace and quiet again.”

Ash’s lungs faltered. Shite. They were leaving now? Tonight ? Panic skittered through his veins like sliding on wet ice without any way to stop. No. Felicity couldn’t leave. Not yet.

He knew she would need to leave, of course. He had just laid that all out, essentially dictating what could be an advertisement for her return to the marriage mart. He might as well have said there is no future between us and shoved her into a departing carriage.

But as much as that was the logical thing—and he was being very careful to do as his brain instructed—his heart was screaming at him. Reality was crashing down on him. That traitorous slab of muscle thudded in his throat, cutting off his airway, making it impossible to swallow.

She was leaving. This was ending. It was over.

Lord Bentley rose.

It was too soon.

The man turned to leave.

Just one more day.

“You must stay the night,” Ash rushed out.

Lord Bentley halted in front of his chair.

“It is late, and I promise neither of you are an inconvenience. Please, stay, rest, and depart on the morrow.”

Felicity’s brother hesitated, amber eyes, so similar to his sister’s, conflicted.

“We should probably discuss more details regarding the dissolution of the betrothal as well. Talk with your sister, and we can discuss details tonight or in the morning. But please, stay and take some time to recover from the arduous week.”

Ash waited with bated breath, pleading in his mind. He knew it was foolish to torture himself longer. But he wanted a chance to speak with Felicity and explain himself. They couldn’t end on this note. That is what he told himself. It wasn’t him pathetically grasping at any excuse to keep her here just a little bit longer. Lord, could he be any more of a convoluted mess?

“I can lend you the services of my valet as well.”

Lord Bentley stiffened. But then the tension eased, and the man spoke. “I had not planned for a stay, but I will happily take you up on that offer.” He smiled ruefully. “That, and I believe if I tried to take my sister from the estate right now, I’d be at risk of losing a limb or two. With how she stormed out of here, I should probably allow her some time before I approach her.”

Thank God . Ash’s muscles went slack. And he knew his body’s reaction, how it felt like he was just given a reprieve now that he had been granted more time, was a sign he was in very big trouble.

Speaking of big trouble. If Lord Bentley wasn’t going to search Felicity out immediately, then Ash would. Because they were long overdue for a conversation. Every part of him clenched painfully tight, his muscles, his lungs, his heart. He had a feeling this conversation was going to shred him to pieces. Because he had to make her understand why she was better off without the likes of him. Something that his own heart was fiercely protesting.

“Would you mind sending your valet up?” Lord Bentley’s voice distracted Ash from his budding panic. “I need to get out of my traveling attire and into something clean that doesn’t smell like horse. I rode the remainder of the journey here because I was too anxious to sit in a carriage. And then the whole highwaymen inconvenience…”

Inconvenience. Ash thought that was putting being set upon by armed brigands lightly. “Of course, I will inform him straight away.”

Ash stood and made his way to the bell pull. First, get Lord Bentley settled and Sam sent to assist him and then…then seek out Felicity.