Page 56 of Betting on a Duke
Ramsbury, the baron, smiled at them. “Lady Chesterfield, we are very fortunate to have you dining with us tonight.”
“Thank you for welcoming me on such short notice. And please call me Clarice.”
“Only if you call us Ramsbury and Anna,” he said as he picked up a goblet of wine and took a sip. “While Samuel stays with us, his friends are our friends and always welcome.”
“Once again, thank you for your generosity and kindness.” As she spoke, warmth flooded her cheeks.
Dinner passed surprisingly quickly once Clarice relaxed and enjoyed the lively conversation, mostly about the upcoming races. Anna was softspoken and close in age to her. Clarice learned that she and Ramsbury rarely spent time in London, except during Parliament’s season. Even then, they kept to themselves. Their stud farm was their whole world, and it made Clarice wonder if, when Samuel started his stud farm, their lives would be similar. But she didn’t mind. She would be happy and content living anywhere as long as she was with Samuel.
*
It had beena long day for Ramsbury and Anna, and they excused themselves right after dinner, leaving Clarice and Samuel sitting in thedrawing room, sipping sherry. Samuel put his arm around her shoulder as they shared the settee and said, “Would you like to tell me about your nightmare? I didn’t push you earlier because dinner was ready, but I have this feeling it involves me.” He couldn’t explain why he had the feeling; he just did.
“There is something I’ve been wanting to tell you, but there’s never been a good time,” she sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. “First, let me tell you how truly sorry I am. I tried. I really did, but I was a prisoner, locked inside my chambers for eight months. Looked after by two dreadful servants. I was only allowed the freedom to roam the house and grounds after the night my... our son was born.”
He knew, somehow, he knew before she spoke the words. The moment she said she was sorry, deep inside where things cannot be explained, he knew what she had to say. His throat burned, and he struggled to breathe. His body shook from within. He wanted to scream, pull his hair out, and punch a wall. It wouldn’t solve anything, and from the soft crying sounds coming from Clarice, it would only make things worse. She needed him as much as he needed her.
“I could never blame you.Hedid this to you, to us. I’m sorry for what you went through.” Tears streamed down his cheeks, and he didn’t bother wiping them away. Both of them could use a good cry over losing their son. Then it occurred to him, “What happened to him?”
A sob tore from Clarice. She shifted her position so her head rested on his lap, and her legs curled up on the settee. “I don’t know. I don’t know if he’s alive or dead.”
He stroked her hair, his heart pounding with excruciating pain. Pain he didn’t believe would ease until he’d learned what happened to his son. Christ, what Clarice had endured all on her own. What that cruel, blackguard of a husband did to her, all because of her vengeful father. He had started the chain of events that had led them here. Hispoor Clarice, having her baby taken away. How had she survived?
“I love you. And I promise we will find out what happened to our son. I will hire an investigator to locate the two servants, bribe them for the answers we seek, and threaten them with kidnapping charges. I swear, we will find him.”
“Th-thank you. I just want to know that he’s safe. Perhaps he’s living in a loving home.”
“We will. Meanwhile, if you’re ready, I should take you back to the inn.”
The ride to the Red Lion Inn was quiet, each lost in their own thoughts. Samuel held Clarice’s hand, trying to comfort her heartbreak as best he could. No doubt, it had broken her the day she’d brought the baby into the world and only worsened year after year. How did she manage to carry on with all the uncertainty and unknowing? He had always known she was strong and brave, and thank God she was. A lesser person might not have endured the loss.
He saw her safely to her room and kissed her on the cheek. Now that he knew about her loss, she wasn’t hiding her sadness, and it tore at his insides. “My schedule is brutal for the next two days until the race.” He brushed his lips lightly against hers. “I’ll find you at the racecourse. Goodnight.”
After she entered her room and closed the door, Samuel leaned against the wall to steady himself. He didn’t want to fall apart in front of Clarice. Not because he wasn’t devastated by the news of a son, but because he didn’t want to cause her any more pain or guilt. Not that she had any reason to feel guilty, but he could see it in her eyes that she did. He could hear it in her voice when she’d talked about the birth. As footsteps approached, he composed himself, so no one seeing him would ever know what he was going through.
