But as he sat, letter in hand, a splinter of doubt lodged itself, and he opened his mind to the idea that something could be amiss. He questioned the one thing he had been sure of—her affection. With all my love, she’d signed the letter. But had he spoken too soon? Declared his love, proposed, and then scared her away? And perhaps she still held strong feelings for Rupert. Of course she always would, he assumed. Or worse, what if she was free with her attentions to many? He thought over her behavior at the prince’s ball.

The most maddening realization, that he couldn’t see her, look into her face to judge for himself, drove him to restlessness. Her sudden disappearance represented only another test of his patience to endure before he saw her again and could ask her himself. With that, he called for Edwards. “Let’s get me on a horse, man. I will be out for several hours at least.”

Edwards nodded. “Very good, sir.”

After a good long ride, Matteo walked back to the dowager house, wiping sweat from his brow. At a distance, dust from carriage wheels rose above the bushes that lined the lane. He groaned. With any luck, they were come to visit Scarlet and upon discovering her absence, would leave straight away.

But the carriage did not stop in front of the main house. It continued on instead down the drive toward his own. He picked up his pace and arrived around the side gardens just as the carriage door opened. His feet stopped midstride, though, when he saw Éléonore’s hand and leg exit. He considered turning and running toward the back of the house, but her voice stopped him.

“Oh, Matteo. I am so glad I caught you.”

The irony of her word choice not lost on him, he stepped forward and bowed crisply to her. “What are you doing here, Éléonore?”

“Always my greeting from you. Tsk tsk, Matteo. One would think you’ve forgotten your manners.”

“I could say the same of you, showing up continually where you are not wanted.”

“Oh, come now, must we be so antagonistic? Can we not simply sit and drink tea as old friends do?”

He considered her for a moment, feeling no small amount of curiosity about why she was here in England, so he decided to play her game. “I apologize for my state, but if you don’t mind a bit of horse on a person, we may sit together outside on the terrace.” He gestured for her to walk with him around to the back of the house.

After a moment she said, “You have done well for yourself here in England.”

Matteo clenched his teeth. “It is hardly my home or my land or my own estate, but I am comfortable, yes.”

“France is still home to all its loyal citizens. You could be numbered among us if you wish.”