Her Secondhand Groom(97)

Just like Juliet.

He shoved his hands into his pockets. They were safer there where he could fist his hands around his change and keys and squeeze them until the insides of his hands bled rather than out where his hands would be free to tear the room apart like he was tempted to do.

What was it about him that drove everyone to give up on him? First his father, then Abigail, and now Juliet.

At least he still had his girls. His brow furrowed. The memory of the way Marcus flinched earlier when Patrick mentioned his girls flashed in his mind. Blinking off the thought, he pulled out his pocket watch. He had just enough time to go see the girls for a bit before dinner. Slipping his watch back into his pocket, a slip of paper on the floor caught his eye. He’d felt something fall out when he’d removed his watch, but hadn’t paid it too much mind. Snatching it up between his thumb and forefinger, Drake quit the room.

“What are you girls doing?”

“Painting,” Kate said, extending her masterpiece in his direction.

He squinted and nodded. “Looks great, Katie. What have you painted, Helena?”

“You,” she said. She turned the canvas in his direction and he did his best not to cringe. She’d once again painted an image that better resembled an angry bear than him.

“And you, Celia?”

She shrugged, and moved the canvas away from him.

He stepped closer, curious.

“Why do you have a letter from Juliet in your hand?”

Four sets of eyes went down to where his right hand held a small folded piece of paper.

Patrick’s heart hammered in his chest. What had she written? When had she written it? How long had he been carrying it around?

Swallowing convulsively, Patrick’s trembling hands worked to unfold the missive, his eyes frantic to read the words, whatever they may say, scrolled across it.





Drake,

Forgive my leaving this way, I tried to find you, but couldn’t. It’s most urgent that I leave at once. My mother has begun experiencing early labor pains. As it would happen, she will not let the village physician assist her after the debacle with Lucas and has requested I attend her.

I shall return later today or tomorrow at latest.

Yrs,

Juliet

PS This changes nothing between us. When I return we shall resume our argument precisely where we left off. I’m not close to being satisfied with the outcome. Be warned.





The note slipped from his fingers and fluttered to his feet. Simultaneously the blood in his face made the exact same journey. She’d had every intention to come back that day. She hadn’t given up on him. She’d intended to come back, and he...and he...he told her she couldn’t. “Oh, what a bloody ass I’ve been,” he muttered to himself, raking his hand through his hair.

“I told you to go after her,” Celia informed him matter-of-factly.

He frowned. She was right, of course. It was he who had done wrong, and now he needed to go claim the woman he loved and bring her back to where she belonged.

Planting a kiss on the top of each of the girls’ heads, Patrick finally understood what Marcus meant, and knew exactly what he needed to do.





Chapter 27





Juliet sighed. She might love spending time with Caroline, but coming downstairs to her dinner tonight had been a mistake. Spotting an empty chair in the corner, she sat down and let her eyes travel from one dancing couple to another. She should have known Caroline’s dinner would end with another impromptu dancing session. Perhaps she could just plead a headache and leave. She frowned. She couldn’t leave. As of earlier this afternoon, she was now a permanent guest of Watson Estate for who knew how long.

Too mortified to explain the situation to her parents and ask them to make room for yet another person in their already cramped cottage, Juliet sought out other lodgings. But all her efforts were to no avail. Everything there was to be rented in the village was owned by one person: Drake. She’d already lived with him as his wife. She could only imagine how beastly he’d be as her landlord. She’d then dressed in the nicest gown at her disposal and had gone to see Mr. Sayas, the owner of the cottage she’d always dreamt of. She’d brought along her bank statement from London, promising to give him that much in cash, then had promised to pay him the rest on a monthly basis. How she’d get the money she wasn’t sure, but she’d get it. Even if she had to sew a dozen dresses a month, she’d get it. She thought Mr. Sayas was actually going to sell it to her, but earlier this afternoon, he sent a note saying unless she could come up with the full amount, he wasn’t interested.

That only left living off the generosity of her friends. And since Drake was more likely to visit Lord Sinclair, the obvious choice was Caroline. Thus her reason for being trapped at another dinner and dancing event hosted by Caroline. Quite frankly, Juliet had no idea why Caroline enjoyed hosting these things so much other than to dance with her own husband. But even that could be done without the guests.