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Dallis entertained their guests with a smile pressed to her face. A smile forced, because her husband was a fool. He stayed away throughout the night and into the following day. She'd only expected Lord Holdenburg to arrive for tea, but soon their small parlor overflowed. Her grandmother arrived, as well as Sidney and Sophia. Dallis played the gracious hostess. Lord Holdenburg, the only gentleman in the room, charmed the ladies with his wit. Even Kathleen laughed at a few of his jokes. He'd noticed Dallis’s worried expression and attempted to make her happy.
The long day continued with no sign of Rory, and she moved past concern to annoyance. How dare he not come home? Dallis would have been more worried, but Rory had sent a note to his mother of his delay. Not to her, but to his mother—as if he didn’t have a wife.
It was time he shared his secrets with her, and a good explanation for his disappearance. Dallis wouldn’t stand by and not take notice any longer. She had more than enough ample funds for them to live a comfortable life. When she wed Rory, her father endowed a small inheritance. If Rory wouldn’t say which shopkeepers needed paid, then Dallis would enlist his mother’s help. It was time for them to be husband and wife in the true sense, where it mattered the most. And that was with honesty.
She understood, too, that if she wanted Rory to confide his money troubles, then Dallis must say how much she loved him.
Lord Holdenburg departed and it was only a room full of ladies, gossiping and drinking tea. Dallis wished she could relax, but an uneasiness settled over her. When the door knocker echoed through the house over and over, Dallis realized she must answer it. She excused herself.
Not one but two gentlemen who appeared to be shopkeepers stood on her doorstep. When she inquired to their needs, they thrust receipts into her face demanding payment.
Dallis offered promises that Rory would call on them as soon as he returned home. Her excuses only caused them to bellow louder. When they still wouldn’t leave, Dallis reached for her reticule and withdrew some bills, paying enough to appease them with a further promise that on the morrow, after she made a call to the bank, she would stop at their shops to clear any unsettled bills. Both the men, satisfied with this, changed their attitudes swiftly and treated her with the respect of the highest regard.
After she ushered them away, she turned and found Rory glaring at her from the foot of the stairs.
It would appear he had returned home without her knowledge, sneaking up the stairs to change his clothes. Now he stood angry, his fists folded tight and his mouth pressed closed. He narrowed his eyes at the purse, furious with her actions. Well good. Both of them could be angry for all that she cared. His pride was foolish. They were a family and if he was too knuckle-headed to realize that, then she no longer cared. She lifted her head regally and moved to return to the parlor. However, he stopped her progress before she could move past him. Rory reached out and gripped her arm. It wasn’t painful, but enough pressure for her to take notice.
“Madam, what did I just witness?”
“I paid off your bill collectors.”
“Why?”
“Because they were causing a scene and needed to be paid.”
“I will take care of my own debt.”
“Your debt is mine, Rory.”
“No, my debt is only mine.”
“Rory, we are a family now. Families carry each other’s burdens,” Dallis pleaded.
“This was the very reason why I did not pursue you. I had no means to provide for you in the way you deserved.”
“So instead it was all right to trifle with my affections and ruin me?”
“Your grandmother forced my hand before I was ready.”
Dallis tried to pull out of his grasp, his hurtful words bruising her heart. Rory never meant to marry her.
“Well, consider yourself unforced.”
“Dallis, you do not understand.”
“No, I understand very well. I married a man who held no intention to wed me, only to bed me. Then when he became trapped, he toyed with my emotions by creating a bond so powerful I could never leave him, even if I wanted to.”
“Dallis,” he growled.
“Rory,” her voice softened. Dallis was aware her anger would solve nothing and tried gentle words. “Let me help ease your burden. I have a small savings. We can pay off your debts and fix the house.”
“No.” Rory’s voice grew louder. “I am the man, and I will provide for my family. We will not spend your money on another item going forward. By all rights, your money is mine and I will put it into a trust for our children. If I hear or see you paying off any debts, I will make sure you never have another coin to carry.” With those words he stomped away and slammed the front door on his way out.
Dallis sunk to the bottom stair, tears streaming down her face. His anger was so unexpected. She'd tried to show that she cared by offering to help his family, and he responded with cruelty. Rory’s touch was what hurt the most. It was impersonal, as if she meant nothing to him at all.
“Dallis?” Lady Beckwith spoke softly at her side.
When Dallis raised her head, she saw her guests standing in the open doorway to the parlor. Rory’s shouts had echoed throughout the entire house. The looks of pity were more than she could bear.
“I only wanted to help.”
“I know, my dear.” She urged Dallis to her feet, guiding her into the parlor. Once Dallis settled on the sofa, they attempted to ease her despair. The more she heard their excuses, the more depressed Dallis became. She cried on Lady Beckwith’s shoulder, pouring out her love for Rory. Each lady held her hand offering advice. When the afternoon turned into evening, Rory still hadn’t returned. Sheffield and Wildeburg arrived to escort their wives’ home, and said they would search for him. Everybody tried to reassure Dallis that this behavior was normal, and it was usual for husbands and wives to fight. The making-up was the best part.
Lady Beckwith assisted Dallis to her bedroom, helped her undress and settle in bed for the night. She reached for Dallis’s hand.
“Dallis, my son is a proud man who is also a fool. I only ask for you to find it in your heart to forgive him. Rory has carried an enormous burden since his father died. He wants to be a better man than his father ever was. In doing so, he has forgotten how to ask for help. I know he feels deep sorrow for shouting at you. Give him time, my dear.”
Dallis couldn’t answer her. She already forgave him. Only, Rory would never forgive himself. It was another thing he would let hang over his head. Until Rory opened himself to her they would always have this distance between them. When Lady Beckwith left the room, Dallis curled on her side, bringing Rory’s pillow into her arms. Her tears started again and continued to flow until she fell into an exhausted sleep.
~~~~~
RORY SAT IN HIS FAVORITE chair and watched how peaceful Dallis rested. His anger still boiled to the surface. Not at her, never at her. Only at himself. He was more of a fool than he thought. He let his pride ruin a beautiful thing. Shame settled over him from the way he'd spoken to Dallis. What made it even worse, the parlor was full of their family and friends. So not only did he leave speaking such hateful words, they were all witness to overhear him spout off like an idiot. He would endure a lecture from every single lady. Especially from her grandmother—he could expect to be burnt to a crisp from the fire she would unleash on him. Lady Ratcliff had warned him to treat his granddaughter with care. He had failed on all accounts.
He wanted to reach out and wipe away the tears left on her cheeks, but didn’t want to wake Dallis. Disgust set heavy in his soul. Rory had only returned home long enough to make sure she hadn’t left him. If she had left, he didn’t know what he would do. He was a selfish bastard. With one last glance in her direction he snuck out of the house again. This time he needed to lick his wounds. When he left earlier, Rory had an appointment with the family lawyer to discuss his options. With a heavy heart, he would need to sell their home. Rory found a small house on the edge of the respectable side of London for them to move into. With a tight budget, and some extra hours from Lord Hartridge, his family would survive.
He headed to Belle’s. Rory no longer planned to fight, but he felt the need for a drink or two. He wanted to stay away from his club. By now Sheffield would have heard how he treated Dallis and would take him to task. He cringed knowing he deserved the lecture and probably a punch or two, but Rory wanted to avoid any such confrontation.
So instead Rory went to where everybody else escaped to. Nobody asked questions at Belle’s because they were usually there to escape too.