Page 9 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman (The Marlow Family Secrets #3)
Caro sat in a chair in the corner of the Duke of Pembroke’s formal drawing room, staring at the ornate frescos painted on the walls and ceiling, and the pretty designs in the plasterwork dressed with shining goldleaf.
Her hands rested in her lap, her fingers clasped together, as she struggled with her nerves.
Her heartbeat raced as though she were running, and her shallow breaths would not draw any deeper into her tight chest.
Lady Marlow, Mary’s mother, sat beside Caro, speaking to her, not with her, because Caro could not persuade her tongue to form a word.
The room was full to the brim with members of Mary’s family, and only the Lord knew why, but for whatever reason, Caro, who had until a couple of weeks ago spent her life in teeming ballrooms, now had an irrational fear of this crowd of people.
Her palms were damp. She wiped them on the skirt of her dress beneath her shawl.
The Duchess invited Caro to eat with the family daily, for every meal.
Caro had continually declined and kept to the rooms she had been allocated.
She felt safer within the more confined space that she controlled, where she could say who entered and who did not, and there she had no need to feel ashamed.
The Duchess must think her rude, though, but it was better than feeling as though she might humiliate herself by vomiting in front of them.
She was only here this evening because Drew had arrived. He was free. The Duchess had come to Caro’s rooms an hour ago to inform her. ‘Drew has been released from prison, he is here, but he needed to wash. He sent a message to say he will be down for dinner and will speak to you then.’
The room was full of Mary’s extended family, who came from London to celebrate.
Drew must surely come soon.
Mary was in the room earlier; she spoke to her father, then they left together.
Caro’s gaze hung on the door while Mary’s mother talked of her younger children.
The noise of conversation was intense, deafening. A shiver ran up her spine. It was more than simple fear, there was annoyance and anger too. She could quite happily scream, be quiet , at these people. At any moment the panic inside her would explode and she would shatter like glass.
Her mind spun with the words that would give her a reason to excuse herself and retire to her rooms. Drew would come up and speak to her later anyway.
That was the moment he walked in, with Mary at his side. His hand holding hers.
The room broke into applause. Drew’s smile looked self-conscious.
He had never looked as humble as he did in that moment, yet, there was pride in his eyes when he looked at Mary.
He had won himself a place in this family and achieved what Caro never would – a good marriage.
He deserved this. She did not begrudge him this moment, nor would she run away and spoil it.
The men shook Drew’s hand, the women congratulated him, and Mary’s younger brother, Robbie, spoke to them, a tall youth who had tried to speak to Caro a couple of times.
Mary’s hand lifted as she looked across the room.
She pointed Caro out. Drew looked over and smiled.
Caro lifted her hand, acknowledging him.
She would have risen and joined him, if the room were not so full and he were not surrounded by more well-wishers.
When Drew finally reached her, he sank down on his haunches and took her hands in his. ‘How are you?’
Terrible. Terrified and tired. She wrapped her arms around his neck. ‘Glad that you are safe,’ she whispered in his ear. ‘I am sorry. This was all my fault.’
His arms came about her too, making her feel as though the two of them were on an island in this room, the only two who knew how pain felt.
‘None of it was your fault,’ he whispered back, speaking into her ear too. ‘It was Kilbride’s. Your husband has no moral compass. But it is done with.’
‘I feared for you, but it seems that was unnecessary now you have this family.’
‘I was afraid for me too,’ he jested. ‘This feels strange, doesn’t it? I shall not lie. I am ready to run as much as I am sure you are. This family is nothing like ours.’
‘I know.’
‘The Duke of Arundel, Lord Wiltshire, Mary’s uncle, told me Kilbride is going to sue you for divorce. You will be completely free. Then you may begin a new life.’
Tears rushed to her eyes at the thought of Albert wanting to be entirely rid of her. It meant he would find another wife, a wife who would bear him children. The pain of that cut her heart in half.
A light touch brushed Caro’s shoulder.
It was Mary. She held out a man’s handkerchief. Her father stood beside her.
‘Thank you.’ Caro forced a smile as she accepted the handkerchief and dabbed it at her tears.
‘All will be well, now,’ Drew said, his hand patting her arm. Then he stood and looked at Lord Marlow. ‘I thought you were hungry. Are we not going to eat?’
Caro walked into dinner beside Drew and sat next to him at the table. But as soon as the meal was over, she retreated to her rooms.