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CHAPTER TWELVE

Robert knew Eliza had packed her belongings and left.

The carriage had already been at her disposal for the following day, so it made no difference to him.

He felt sick—his insides twisted, and he did not recognise the emotion–and it was horrible.

He paced the drawing room, and recalling her sweet voice as she recited Donne while the fire made her golden hair a halo was torture.

Picking up his glass of claret, he hurled it against the wall. The shattering glass echoed his shattered thoughts.

“Your Grace, are you well? I heard a crash.” Concern etched George’s face as he entered the room.

“I am a fool. Blazes! Eliza was the only one who gave me purpose. Now she is gone. Not even a letter will I ever receive from her precious hand.”

“Your Grace, I know this is not my place, but may I speak plainly?”

“Yes, George.”

“In the brief time the Dowager Countess was here, you were the most content I have seen, Your Grace. I know that marriage has never held your interest, but neither I have seen you be friends with a woman as long as you have with her. All these years of writing letters and the companionability you have. I think she may be the one—the one you could marry.”

This was the most he had heard George speak. And speak true he had. Robert spoke the words slowly as he chose them.

“Are you saying I should marry Eliza? Me, marry?”

“Yes, Your Grace. Is she not the woman you cannot live without? Does a mistress bring you any joy beyond the brief company you partake in? Would you not prefer to spend your days and nights with that one woman who completes you?”

George’s words were making sense of Robert’s turmoil—regret at having let her go, grief at having lost her, and fear that he could not make it right.

He had hurt her. Her parting words had been dignified despite her wounded pride.

Her strength—that he admired so—had been made necessary in a terrible way that was all his fault.

“George, please saddle my horse. I need to catch up to her and apologise–and grovel at her feet till she agrees to marry me.”