Captain Amberton's Inherited Bride (Whitby Weddings 2)

‘Indeed I am, Mrs Gargrave. It’s good to see you again.’

‘Yes...’ The housekeeper raised a hand to her head as if she were struggling to remember something important. ‘I...came to tell you...about Mrs Amberton...’

‘What about her?’ Lance’s heart gave a painful lurch.

‘One of the grooms just came back from Whitby... She asked to be taken there first thing.’

‘She’s gone?’

‘Yes.’ Mrs Gargrave’s eyes settled on Arthur again before her whole body started to teeter unsteadily and then tumble to one side. Both brothers sprang forward, catching her a moment before she hit the floor.

‘I seem to be having a bad effect on women today.’ Arthur made a face. ‘They either run away or faint.’

‘Can you deal with this?’ Lance gave him a questioning look.

‘Of course.’ Arthur grabbed hold of his shoulder and then pushed him away. ‘Go and find your wife. Tell her you’re sorry and that you love her. Tell her to come home. Just don’t come back without her.’

Chapter Nineteen

‘What do you mean, she’s already gone?’

Lance felt as though Ianthe Felstone had just punched him hard in the stomach. Not that he would have been entirely surprised if she had. She looked very much as if she wanted to. She’d looked as if she hadn’t wanted to admit him to her house either, only Robert had intervened, letting him in when he’d turned up unannounced, hungover and distinctly the worse for wear on their doorstep. After Mrs Gargrave had fainted, he’d pulled on the first clothes he could find and charged straight out of the house, riding full tilt to Whitby without even waiting for Martin.

‘I mean that she’s already gone.’ Ianthe jutted her chin out angrily. ‘She left an hour ago.’

‘Where did she go?’

‘What does it matter if you want a divorce?’

‘I want to talk to her.’

‘Well, she doesn’t want to talk to you, not any more. She doesn’t want to be anywhere near you.’

‘Mrs Felstone.’ Lance ran a hand through his hair, wishing he’d made slightly more effort to look respectable. ‘It was a mistake to mention a divorce. In my defence, I was in shock at my brother’s return, but I was still a fool and I know it. I also know that I’m one of the most worthless rogues Whitby’s ever produced, but I love Violet. I don’t want a divorce. If you tell me where she is, I promise I’ll never hurt her again.’

‘Ianthe.’ Robert put a hand on his wife’s shoulder and her expression wavered.

‘All right, but this is your absolute last chance. If you do anything to upset her again—’

‘Then you can push me off Whitby pier yourself. I’ll even jump if you tell me to. Now, please, tell me where she is.’

‘She’s gone to York.’

‘York? On her own?’

‘Yes, Mr Rowlinson found out where her aunt lives and, no, my Aunt Sophoria went with her.’

‘Do you have the address?’

Ianthe sighed and walked across to a bureau, coming back with a slip of paper. ‘Here.’

‘What train did she catch?’

‘The ten o’clock.’ Robert spoke this time. ‘There’s another soon if you hurry.’

‘I’ll run if I have to.’ He was already limping towards the door. ‘Thank you.’

* * *