“I take it you are here to see Leonard?” she asked, an edge in her voice.
“Sally, my dear, I am. And I sense from your tone that there is something the matter?” Kenneth inquired, concern etched into his features as he approached her.
Sally sighed, feeling her frustration pressing down on her. “I had hoped to see Leonard. We were meant to see the tenants today and make a bit of a show of our new union, but he’s been shut up in his study all day,” she admitted with disappointment. “It’s as if he’s avoiding me and our obligations despite the plans we made.” She had shared their plans with Joanna and thus assumed Kenneth was well aware, even if Leonard hadn’t told him.
Kenneth’s brow furrowed in understanding as he listened to her concerns. “Perhaps he’s preoccupied with estate matters. I’m sure he didn’t mean to neglect your plans. I do know you decided to be seen together as often as possible these next few weeks.”
“We hardly saw one another before the wedding to make plans because he said he had to work so we could enact our plans during our honeymoon, Kenneth. And now the honeymoon is here, and … he is not.” Her voice rose as she spoke, exasperation evident to all within earshot. “He can ignore me all he wants after the honeymoon once we are established as a couple, but not now.”
Kenneth offered her a sympathetic smile, attempting to ease her worries. “This has been a shock to him. Leonard always wanted to be married but then his parents died and his objectives changed. This was unexpected for him as well. Give him time to come around. I’m confident things will improve.”
“You sound as though this is hard only for him. This is not my dream either, Kenneth. I am beginning to think that I might have been better of an old maid,” she said and crossed her arms.
“Sally …” Kenneth said in a tone she knew was meant to appease her but it only upset her.
She raised a hand. “You need not lecture me. I know being a Duchess is something most ladies want desperately. I do not really wish to be an old maid. I am simply frustrated. The point of having a honeymoon at home was to present a united front to the world, to show that we are a happy couple. If he continues to shut himself away, people will continue to talk and my time as Duchess will be marred by idle gossip.”
Kenneth nodded sympathetically, and she knew he had been in a similar situation when he first met Joanna. “I will speak to Leonard on your behalf, Sally. I’m sure he didn’t mean to upset you.”
Sally shook her head, her resolve firm. “No, Kenneth. I don’t need an intermediary. What I need is for Leonard to honor his promises. That’s all.”
As if on cue, the heavy oak door of Leonard’s study swung open, and he emerged, his expression one of confusion as he beheld Sally and Kenneth in conversation.
“Kenneth, I didn’t know you’d arrived. And Sally,” he stopped and looked from one to the other as if uncertain what to do now. Sally’s eyes rested on him, and for a split second, she was taken aback at how handsome he looked as the sunlight cascaded down on him through the stained glass windows. His chin looked sharper and his nose more defined, although what struck her the most was the look in his eyes. There was such darkness in them as if he had seen something horrible that haunted him even in his waking hours.
She’d seen that look in Rosy’s eyes after finding out their parent’s picture-perfect marriage had been a lie. Rosy had cried every night and sat sullenly in the daytime as the truth troubled her. She’d come out of it at last, but would Leonard? And what was it that troubled him? His parents deaths? Or was there more to it?
“…. Take the air,” Leonard said, drawing her back to the present.
“Yes, I agree,” Kenneth said, then glanced at Sally. “Ordinarily I would, but I am afraid I cannot. I wanted to tell you in person that I must postpone our meeting today. Louisa is a little under the weather.”
Under the weather? Hadn’t he told her that Louisa was at the Dower House with Joanna and Peter just earlier? Her eyes widened as she understood – he was creating time for Sally to be alone with Leonard. Sally was at once grateful and upset, for while it was kind, she should not need Kenneth’s assistance to spend time with her husband.
Still, she decided to take this opportunity to get off her chest everything that had troubled her – once and for all.
CHAPTER13
Leonard
“Under the weather?” Leonard parroted, and Kenneth nodded.
“Yes, I would have sent a messenger but I was passing by as I said. In any case, I should be on my way. Good day to you both,” he said and bowed.
Leonard blinked, feeling like he’d just had a rug pulled out from under him. He’d planned on spending the afternoon with Kenneth, a way to avoid Sally - but now that was all taken away. He watched as Kenneth turned and exited the door when his feet sprang into motion.
“Kenny,” he called, perplexed by his friend’s behavior.
“Leonard, please wait. I must speak to you,” he heard Sally call. There was an urgent note in the melody that carried her words that gave him pause. He turned back to her while the front door shut behind his friend. “I’ll be back in a moment, Sally,” he called over his shoulder before hurrying after Kenneth. He had to find out what was truly the matter with his friend because he knew a sick child was not it. He knew Kenneth too well to buy that excuse. And if he were somehow banking on forcing Leonard to spend more time with Sally, he’d have to set him straight. And now.
“Kenny!” He called outside, catching his friend just as he was about to pull himself into his carriage. “Why are you leaving so suddenly?” he asked with uncertainty.
Kenneth paused one foot on the step already.
“I told you. Louisa is unwell,” he said.
“No, no. I doubt that. You’d never have left your home if she was ill and you were not in town. I saw your carriage arrive; it came from your house, not town,” he tapped his right foot on the sandy ground. “The truth, Kenny.”
He crossed his arms and drummed his fingers on his upper arm, waiting for an answer. Finally, his friend took a deep breath.
