Page 45 of Her Rogue of a Duke
Now, he found himself stationed at Francesca’s door, like the veritable fool he was, duty-bound to offer an apology over a fault from almost a decade ago, even grovel if necessary. Yet, each time his hand grazed the door handle, his resolve faltered and he recoiled, haunted by the image of Francesca meeting his eyes with the same disdain she had once regarded him with.
Whatever reproach she had for him though, he knew he deserved it. He deserved her indignation and contempt. Hell, it was hardly a fitting punishment for his sin to begin with, but if it helped alleviate his guilt and allowed him to make amends, he would gladly accept it.
With a deep breath, he steeled himself, determined to finally face the consequences of his actions. His hand shook slightly as he reached up to rap on the door. When there was no answer, he frowned and rapped again, but he was met with silence once more.
“Francesca?” he murmured, loud enough for anyone inside the chamber to hear, but not too loud to draw attention to himself.
Still, there was no reply. When the corridor finally emptied, he gingerly turned the handle and pushed open the door.
He stepped into a bedchamber filled with the delicate scent of rosewater, lavender, and everythingFrancesca, but ultimately devoid of her presence.
Her wardrobe stood open, several walking dresses lay strewn across the bed, hinting she had left the manor, possibly for apromenade or an outing after having carefully selected her attire for the day.
Joshua furrowed his brow. Why had he not been informed? She was his responsibility, after all. She should not be going anywhere without him knowing beforehand.
He took a deep breath and pushed that thought to the side. He was her host, not her keeper. She did notneedhis permission to leave the manor. Still, a pang of concern flashed through him. He could not help himself. He scanned her room for any sign of where she might have gone, and his gaze eventually settled upon a folded letter resting atop her otherwise neatly made escritoire.
A knot of apprehension formed in his gut as he tentatively made his way toward it, unsure yet if he fully intended on delving into her private correspondence. Before he could reach it, though, he heard the distinct sound of footsteps approaching the room from the hallway.
The next moment, Mrs. Clark appeared in the doorway.
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “Your Grace, I apologize. I hadn’t realized you were here. I noticed the door ajar and thought I should check…”
“It is quite all right, Mrs. Clark,” Joshua quickly reassured her. “I was merely… inquiring after Lady Francesca. Do you happen to know of her whereabouts?”
“Ah. Lady Francesca has set out for a promenade through Hyde Park. She left about an hour ago by my estimations,” the housekeeper informed him.
“A promenade?” Joshua murmured. “With whom, may I ask?”
Before Mrs. Clark could offer a response, Joshua’s attention was drawn back to the correspondence on the escritoire. He picked it up and hastily read through it. A pang of jealousy hit him as he realized it was from Lord Liam Terrell, and it was an invitation to promenade as well as ‘discuss the things that had transpired between them’.
But, more importantly, it was an invitation she had accepted.
Was she giving Hucklow another chance? How could Francesca even consider rekindling things with that blackguard? Especially after everything she had shared with him? Joshua had touched her in ways no other man had before and given her pleasure she had never before experienced. The mere thought of her with another man ignited a fire within him, stirring deep, primal emotions he had long tried to suppress.
No. He needed to find her. He was not yet certain what he was going to say, but he could not bear the thought of her arm-in-arm with Liam, walking through the park as though they were a true couple. Worse, what if he intended to propose? Would she accept given her situation?
The very notion was intolerable.
Francesca's touch, her presence, had become something Joshua couldn't imagine being without. The thought of Liam encroaching on what he felt was his territory blinded him with a mix of anger and possessiveness.
He could not let that happen. All shred of reason and logic flew from his mind at the image of Francesca and Liam together… of Liam touching Francesca the way he had…
And all Joshua could see was red as he stormed from the chamber. Spotting Warren coming down the corridor, he barked orders at his butler to have a carriage prepared, then made a beeline for his study to fetch his tailcoat and hat. Once fully attired, Joshua charged down the grand staircase to the entrance, prepared to intercept Francesca and Hucklow at Hyde Park if necessary.
Yes. Even at the risk of causing a public spectacle.
His resolve unwavering, Joshua grabbed the front door’s handle and yanked it open, but came to an immediate and startled stop when he found Lady Susan standing on the front step of Elmcroft Manor, a hesitant expression plastered across her face.
“Your Grace!” Lady Susan gasped, equally startled by his abrupt appearance as he was by hers. “Forgive my unexpected arrival. I hadn’t expected you to be departing. I realize my visit is rather unannounced, but there is an important matter that I… feel the need to get off my chest.”
Joshua looked down at her, doing his best to mask his growing impatience.
“My apologies, Lady Susan,” he said in a gruff tone. “I am rather pressed for time, and I really should get going…”
“Please, Your Grace,” she implored with a hint of desperation. “This really cannot wait a moment longer. I fear I have already put it off for far too long.”
He gritted his teeth, barely containing his frustration. “I truly regret it, my lady, but…”