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His horse stamped in what he could only describe as agitation. He swung up into the saddle and kicked his horse into a canter out the gate. He had no idea where he was going, as long as it was far from here. He had to slow down as he hit the main road, as it was late afternoon and carriages of all sorts were making way to promenade. He was definitely not going to Hyde Park then, and he headed out of London.
Chapter Ten
Rose was watching Tony pace the parlor like a caged tiger. Every time a cry of pain floated down towards them, he flinched. He had refused any type of tea or cake. Finally, Rose stood and went to the pianoforte if for no other reason than to drown out the sounds above. Poor Lucinda. She played a tune she knew well that was neither too slow nor too lively. After a few songs, Marianne took over, and when it was time for dinner, the dowager insisted they go to the dining room.
Tony sat there looking at his food as if it might be poisoned. “I cannot stand it,” he said. “How much longer?”
His mother put down her spoon and took his hand in hers. “I’m sorry, dear. It may be hours yet.”
His face was all horror. “Hours? Is that normal?”
“I’m afraid so. If it is any consolation, your brothers were the same.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “What if…What if she…”
“She won’t,” Marianne assured him.
He looked miserable. Lucinda may be in physical pain, but Tony was obviously in a whole other world of pain. He loved Lucinda. This was their first child. Of course, he would be worried. Or was he thinking of what happened to Max’s mother? Probably both.
Edward was no doubt upstairs, foxed for the same reason. She had only told him so that he would be prepared for when he finally exited that room. She leaned over to Marianne.
“Should we check on the duke? He was not in a good way when I went to tell him Lucinda was in labor.”
“Yes. I will go up after dinner, take him a tray, though he will no doubt not eat anything. It is not at all good timing.”
Rose nodded. “Babies do not care for time.”
“Very true.”
“I wish there was something we could do to ease poor Tony’s mind.”
“Seeing Lucinda and their baby is what he needs, but he must wait.”
Rose went up with Marianne after dinner to check on her other brother. It would be a mercy if they found him in a drunken sleep, but when they reached the landing and saw the door open, she looked at Marianne in surprise.
They peeked inside, but he was not there. Instead, they found the room in a mess. His precious dispatches were strewn all over the floor, and there was glass on the hearth in front of the fire.
“Where would he have gone? To his room?”
“Let’s check with his valet,” Marianne said as they made their way down the hall to the duke’s bedroom.
Marianne knocked and his valet opened the door. “Lady Marianne. Can I be of service?”
“Jameson, is the duke in there?”
“No, my lady. He would be in his study.”
“He is not there and the door was left open,” Marianne supplied.
“Open?”
“Yes. And he had been drinking.”
The valet looked down the hall. “Ah, because of Lady Lucinda?”
“We think so.”
“He may be in the garden, if he wanted some peace and quiet,” he offered.
