Page 97 of Yours Truly, the Duke
“You let her take the children?”
“Let her!” Fredericka exclaimed passionately. “How dare you think Ilether?”
In a flash, she drew back her hand and slapped him across the face. His head snapped back. The sting was sharp. His ears rang as the crack of sound reverberated around the silent room. He didn’t know which of them was more shocked by what she’d done, but no doubt he deserved it.
“Two men had to hold me back while Jane took them away,” she whispered on a broken breath.
Rage lit inside Wyatt like a brush fire. “Someone dared to touched you?”
“They were officials from the court,” she said in a softer voice, shaking as she struggled to gain control and stay strong.
“I don’t care if they were saints from heaven! No one puts their hands on you.”
“Then you should have been here,” she shot back quickly.
The truth of her words was vivid and hit harder than her slap. “You’re right. I should have. I know you wouldn’t let her take them without a fight.” Damn his insensitive way of speaking. His fist tightened with angerat himself for not being there, and anger at Jane for her callous disregard of Fredericka’s feelings.
In that moment, Wyatt knew what he must do. First, he had to find a way to comfort Fredericka.
“It’s over now.” She cleared her throat.
“No, hell, it’s not.”
“I’ve had time to ponder and consider my options. It’s always good to make lists. Keeps things in perspective. This morning I knew what I had to do. Not expecting you to be here, I put my intentions in a letter. No need to discuss it. You can read it later. Our marriage of convenience is no longer necessary. You don’t need me and I no longer need you.”
“That’s not true,” he whispered, shaking his head, realizing he wasn’t getting through to her. There wasn’t a damn good reason she should believe him. “I need you more than I ever have. I love you, Fredericka,” he answered as sincerely as he knew how.
“We are simply too different to live together with any happiness. Every fiber of my being was telling me not to marry you, but you wooed me with your handsomeness, your gifts of trusts for the children, and that spark of attraction between us that wouldn’t go away and leave me alone.”
“That was love, and it’s still there.”
She straightened her shoulders. “I want you to know you were right. I do obsess over the children’s behavior. I’ve always wanted them to be perfect.” A soft, sad laugh passed her lips. “I wanted my sister to look down from Heaven and see what fine ladies and gentleman her children had grown into, and be proud ofmeso she would finally love and forgive me for encouraging her to go to London with her husband.”
Remorse for all he’d said to her about Jane and her sister rushed through him. “You did nothing wrong by urging her to make the journey. You couldn’t have known what would happen.”
“It’s hard to forgive oneself,” she whispered.
Wyatt exhaled a tired sigh. “I know better than most, Fredericka.”
“I miss Elise, Charles, and Bella so much. I don’t think I knew how much I loved them.”
“I knew.” He moved closer to her. “I will be right here beside you helping to see that Angela’s children grow up happy.”
“No, Wyatt.” She gave him a sad smile. “Your friends will always come first. I know how important your clubs and tournaments are. I gave you your inheritance, and now it’s time I give you back your freedom.”
“You didn’t take my freedom. I gave it. I didn’t finish the tournament in Oxford. I left in the middle of it. Something I’ve never done before, but I knew my place was here with you. I told Hurst and Rick I’m resigning from the club. No more sporting games or matches with the Brass Deck.”
She still didn’t believe him, but her lashes fluttered and hope stirred inside him again.
Wyatt stared into her beautiful golden-brown eyes. “You were on my mind almost every minute I was away, Fredericka. I remembered everything about you. The arguments, the laughing, the loving, hurting you with my callous words, and kissing you in the rain. I knew there were many things special about you the moment we met. I just didn’t know it was love.”
“Wyatt, I can’t think about this or about us right now. The children are up early and Jane sleeps late. And with any luck, after yesterday, she’ll be staying in bed allday with one of her headaches but I can’t count on that. In any case, I intend to go visit the children. She said I could, and while I am there I will find a way to slip out the house and take them with me. I know of a place where we can go and be safe.”
He smiled. It didn’t surprise him she had a plan and was going after them. “I have a plan to get them too, but let me finish saying this first.”
“Hurry,” she murmured. “I don’t know how much time I have before Jane is up and about.”
Wyatt felt as if he could hardly breathe. Making her believe him right now was the most important thing he’d ever done and he wasn’t sure he could hurry it. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you when Jane came, and that I didn’t do more sooner. It’s easy to take things for granted when you’re a duke, and I shouldn’t have where you and the children are concerned. I’m sorry I let you down. It’s taken me too long to realize how deep my feelings are for you. I’m sorry for the things I didn’t say when I held you close and lay with you and for all the things I said that didn’t turn out right. I’m sorry I made you cry.”
