Page 99 of Duke with a Deception
Not even his country seat or one of his other estates, but her brother’s country holdings instead? That did not bode well. It felt like a proclamation of loyalty, as if the battle lines had been drawn, and she was firmly on her brother’s side, whilst King was…
Alone.
Alone, just as he always had been.
“There are rather a lot of trunks, Your Grace,” Hutchens added.
A roar came out of him, guttural and uncontrollable. He couldn’t lose her. Not after everything they had gone through together. Not like this.
His redoubtable valet didn’t even flinch, simply held out a coat for King to don.
“There’s no time for that,” he decided, finishing the last button on his waistcoat. “I have to speak with Her Grace posthaste.”
Hutchens winced. “Very well, Your Grace.”
“Thank you, Hutchens. You’re a good man.” He raked a hand through his hair as he strode from the room, pausing at the threshold. “Better than I deserve.”
He didn’t wait for a response before stalking out of the chamber and down the hall, desperate to find Verity and stop her. His hair wasn’t combed, his jaw was stubbled and unshaven, he was scarcely dressed, and he didn’t give a damn.
All he cared about was her.
Finding her.
Keeping her.
The hall was empty. He raced down the stairs with a complete disregard for dignity, not stopping until he was in themain hall. Servants were milling about in their daily toils. Mrs. Sendall bustled past, her chatelaine jingling.
She curtsied when she spied him. “Your Grace.”
“Madam,” he acknowledged tightly. “Where might I find Her Grace, if you please?”
“She and Miss Emma are gathering their wraps and hats at the door,” Mrs. Sendall informed him, not without a look of pity.
Apparently, the whole bloody household knew his wife was abandoning him and that he hadn’t an inkling about it.Damn it all to hell.
King bit out a terse thank-you and rushed to the entrance, where Verity and Emma were indeed bundling up. They were already wearing hats and gloves, Emma clutching Verity’s hand.
“Don’t go,” he burst out, not caring that there were domestics underfoot, within earshot.
Verity spun about, wearing a look of surprise, eyes wide. “Kingham, what are you doing here?”
“Perhapsyoushould tell me what I am doing here,” he suggested, stopping before them, emotions roiling up inside him, so strong and so fierce that they could barely be restrained. “Or perhaps you might tell me why I’ve been informed by the servants that my wife is leaving for her brother’s country estate without my knowledge.”
“Yer Grace,” Emma greeted, dipping into a curtsy. “Lady Vitty said ye was still asleep.”
He glanced down at the child, patting her on the head, tenderness making his chest go tight. “Good morning to you, Miss Emma. Perhaps I was asleep when Miss Vitty said so, but I am awake now, as you can see.”
He hadn’t expected to care for the girl. The very notion of her coming to live at Castelyn House had filled him with dread. But now, he couldn’t imagine the nursery going quiet again. Couldn’t bear to think of his life without her in it.
“Lady Vitty said we’re going on a trip!” Emma said, clapping her hands together. “Now ye can come too since yer awake.”
“Perhaps,” he said noncommittally, not wanting to raise the child’s hopes.
It was more than clear that Verity was attempting to leave him whilst he remained asleep. Cowardly of her, but he suspected he knew the reason.
King straightened to find Verity eyeing him warily, her blue gaze unreadable. “May I have a word with you?”
Indecision crossed her features. “I believe we have already said all there is to say for now.”
