He drummed his fingers on his legs as he glanced out the window, to find they had finally reached his street. If he had any luck left, then his wife would be home. Unless she had left again. She could have taken the entire household with her to go anywhere she liked.
“She isn’t here,” her father had said when Owen turned up at his doorstep an hour ago, after finishing his conversation with his uncle.
“Where is she?” Owen had demanded.
The Earl had raised an eyebrow and looked him over. “She’s a hothead, is she not?”
“She’s my wife,” Owen had corrected him. “If you have hurt her––”
But the man’s brow had furrowed. “You may be a duke, but you shall not insult me. I would never raise my hand to my children. I am not a coward. Nor is your wife. My daughter may have stopped by, but…” he trailed off as he took his time pulling out his pocket watch. “Her Grace should have reached home exactly one hour and forty-two minutes ago.”
Owen had cursed before hurrying back to his carriage. He’d used it, since Jean had the horses ready. He had also expected that he might need to sit in there with Georgiana and argue everything out on the ride home—that she would not come back with him willingly.
And then he was being told she was already on her way back. All that time meant she could have left again and gone anywhere. Owen wouldn’t fault her for that. However, this was exactly why he needed to get to her before she could do anything rash, like disappear or leave him forever.
The thought made his heart stutter. He couldn’t lose Georgiana. Not like this, not after everything they had been through.
Had he not lost enough?
Owen dropped his head in his hands to focus on steadying his breathing. If he let his mind wander, he might start thinking about everything he didn’t want to ponder. Like how he had lost his parents.
It had been his fault. Yes, he was only a child. But he should have listened to them that morning and not gone near the water. Then he had gone to live with his uncle, but the man had always hated him. He had lived his whole childhood in fear.
After having Georgiana in his life, Owen couldn’t imagine reverting to the quiet way he had lived before. She had ruptured the peace into her own version of tranquility. His life had become busier certainly, but it was full of color.
All I ever did was search for life in plants. I traveled to explore roses and herbs, never thinking about the people. How much have I missed out on because of this?
The carriage rumbled up toward the house. He jumped out before it came to a stop, stumbling as he watched his wife sliding down from her saddle.
“Georgiana!” Owen raced over to her before she could disappear again.
He felt the desperation clawing up his throat. As she turned with a clouded expression, he grabbed her by the elbows before forcing himself to let go. He couldn’t make her do anything, not really. They both knew he would not order her to obey.
At least, I hope she knows.
All he could do was hope she would hear him out. Listening to the thumping of his heart, he brushed back his hair from his eyes and begged her, “I need to talk with you.”
“I suppose we can,” she relented while handing over her horse’s reins to their groom.
Catching himself, Owen nodded and led her to the shade of a tree on the edge of their garden. It was a warm day, but the temperature was lower beneath the branches. Tugging restlessly at his coat, he cleared his throat and tried to hastily put his words together.
This could be his last chance to talk with her. To say what needed to be said. Their future depended on him now.
“I read the letter,” he blurted out. “It wasn’t the truth.”
“It wasn’t. Owen, I––”
“No, please, let me speak. You must let me explain myself. I need to say this to you, Georgiana. There are a hundred things I should have said to you before. All this time, you have deserved better from me. I should have been honest from the beginning with you, but I wasn’t even honest with myself.”
Letting out a slow breath, she looked away. “There has been a lot unsaid, hasn’t there?”
His heart clenched. Those beautiful eyes of hers seemed so far away. He feared what she might be thinking. Was she already set in her decision to leave him?
He opened his mouth to ask where she would go before he caught himself and decided on another question.
“What more can I say? Yes, I knew about my cousin’s love. He had mentioned that there was a young woman he adored, but he never told me he would leave. The plan had never been to marry you, Georgiana. I shall admit to that. But I must also admit in the same breath that I believe we were brought together for a purpose. Call it fate or God, I don’t care. After everything I have been through, I know I was meant to find you.”
She turned toward him without meeting his gaze. “How can you say such a thing?”
