Page 81 of Forever Her Bachelor

His legs ached, sweat running down his back as he pushed his legs to move faster. Running through the castle like he did when he was a boy, St. Clara was aware that his clothes were in disarray, but he didn’t care. He needed to flee the despondent look of his wife and the haunting truth of his mother.

Releasing a heavy sigh, St. Clara tried to ignore the ache in his chest. Discovering the truth about his mother had caused him to loathe himself even more. He was done failing those wholoved him. He would see to their comfort, but he would free them from the curse.

Allowing Pippa to stay in their marriage made him no better than his father. She needed to be free of him and his family’s curse. There was no choice but to give up the only person he ever loved.

He was a fool to think he deserved happiness. Pippa had been right to separate herself from him all those years ago. She was too good for him, and he would free her before he ruined her like so many ruined his mother.

He thought he could survive anything with Pippa by his side, but the truth was he would fail her as he had once before, as he had failed everyone.

CHAPTER 24

Dear Chauncey,

I do pray that you and your mother will one day find each other again. I would do anything to see my mother one last time. Try not to let the opinions of others alter your memory of her or the possibility of a relationship outside of your father.

Yours truly,

Kitten (The Chemist)

Opening her eyes, Pippa stretched out in the large bed, realizing that her husband had not returned during the night. She was cold and alone without Chauncey by her side. It was peculiar that after only days of being married, she found it difficult to sleep without him.

After Chauncey left the Queen Anne rooms, Pippa had searched for him but was unable to locate him in the vast castle. What happened to his mother was horrific, and she could onlyimagine how upset he must be. Chauncey had spent his entire life fighting what he thought were the sins of his mother.

Once Pippa had returned to their rooms, she spent the remainder of the night reading the late duchess’s journal. Reliving the ordeal that the duchess went through made Pippa sick to her stomach. So riveted, she stayed up until the sun rays warmed her face, trying to comprehend the horrors that the duchess had gone through.

Pippa had read every word, unable to imagine enduring such things and losing her child because of something beyond her own control.

Standing, she stretched her tired body, wishing she knew where her husband was. Pippa wanted to inform him of everything she had discovered in his mother’s journal. He should know the truth about how his father treated her.

Before she could go to the adjoining duchesses rooms to dress, the door to the duke’s chambers opened, revealing her tired and disheveled husband. Though his face was now deeply shadowed with facial hair, his eyes marred with deep dark circles, he was wearing a new waistcoat and tailcoat. She must have come into the room when she was sleeping.

“We leave in two hours.” His voice was cold and distant, nothing like her Chauncey.

No, this was the Duke of St. Clara.

“Two hours? I thought we weren’t leaving until tomorrow. What about the servants and another carriage?” She paused before taking an apprehensive step toward him. Something had changed, and she wasn’t aware of what.

Pippa understood how much pain he must be in, but he was acting unreasonable and rash.

“The servants will remain here and recover. We will take the one carriage. There is another one here, but it is in poor condition.” Pippa took in his cold demeanor.

“C-Chauncey, I know what we read was painful, but we can get through this together.” She pressed herself against him, running a hand through his hair.

She wanted to soothe him, to take away his pain and guilt. Pippa loved him. So much that she was willing to stay and take a chance on them.

On him.

Though she knew the truth, it was still difficult for her to move on from their past. A small part of her was afraid she was not enough, like his father had told her all those years ago.

It was exactly how she had been treated by her uncle and cousins from the moment she’d arrived in London alone and orphaned. Her cousins had never welcomed her. Both girls had treated her more like a pariah than a beloved cousin. Like their father, they had instantly disliked Pippa for intruding on their lives.

Ignoring the doubt that crept over her shoulders like a dark embrace, she stood on her toes, trying to press a kiss to his lips.

Stilling her hand, he took a step back from her, leaving her cold and disappointed. The rejection stung more than anything anyone else had ever done to her.

“There is nothing else to say about last night.” He cleared his throat, pinning her with cold brown eyes. “I have written my solicitor. When we return to London, I shall find other accommodations. You can remain at the townhouse. My only request is that Maggie and the child stay with you.”

Heart plummeting into her abdomen, she tried to breathe, to not allow the overwhelming grief to tear her in two. “I-I don’t understand.” The words were heavy on her tongue, her heart breaking as it had nine years earlier.