Page 41 of A Duke in Her Fate
“I didn’t want to disturb the party.”
His gaze strayed from the crowded tents toward the children. What an obnoxiously large party. Isabel had said it was a treat for her eldest child, but that hardly stood to reason to have allthese strangers around. There were presents somewhere. And children. Where had the children gone?
While Isabel talked about something, he turned in a circle from the tree where he was enjoying the shade. But like she had noted, he had cornered himself near a small apple grove.
What should have been a refuge has become a trap. Why wasn’t I more mindful?
The grin on Isabel’s face told Ronan she had caught his mistake and meant to take full advantage of it.
“I remember when we met, Ronan. Your idea of disturbing a party was singing the most inappropriate ditty imaginable.”
“Those were different days.”
She nodded gracefully. “So they were. It doesn’t mean you aren’t still your charming self. Don’t you wish to enjoy yourself? The children are going to play a game before we turn them inside for the rest of the party. Perhaps you would like to join Oliver?”
“He’s too young to play games.”
Isabel’s loud laugh surprised him. Feeling eyes fall on him, he shifted uncomfortably in the shade. He glanced up warily to see who looked their way.
There stood Isabel near the back gravel path. It led to the stables where the carriages and horses were being held during today’s festivities. He could see her over the hedges. Their eyes met. An electric current surged through his spine like lightning, holding him captive.
“Isn’t there anything I can say to convince you to join everyone else?” Isabel asked. She prodded him in the shoulder, and it forced his attention from Isla. Irritation simmered while the duchess cheerfully chattered on. “Once the children go in, we’ll play a game of bowls. Perhaps you would like to join us?”
He thought about leaving early. “I highly doubt it.”
“Now you’re just acting ornery.”
His eyes widened. “What the devil did you just call me?”
“You heard me.”
“If you cannot manage polite conversation, then I have nothing to say to you,” was all Ronan could think and he started off. The gall of it all. He could tell Isabel was watching him, smiling like this was all in jest. The woman thought everything was a jest. How had he become the tail-end of a joke? The very thought bothered him most of all, for it was he who used to make everyone laugh. He truly had changed.
It was necessary, blast it. People change over time, do they not?
Frustration bloomed so thickly in Ronan’s mind as he started toward the house that he almost didn’t hear the shrieks.
The first was a shout. “No, hold, please!”
The second was a child’s screech.
“No!” The third came from Isla and Ronan twisted, running before he was even thinking.
Everyone else was turning in the same direction. A few moved but he was faster. His eyes spotted the gravel trail between the party set up and the low hedges that did little to create a separation. Ronan took it all in.
He saw the horse, nervous and jumpy as an equally scared stableboy tugged the beast away. Isla had been there moments ago. She was gone now. Then he spotted the uniformed nurses running about, collecting their charges. A few he recognized and others he didn’t. The one he searched for wasn’t there.
Oliver. No. No! Where is Oliver?
Ronan stumbled as horror shook him like a rag doll, his bones loose and his eyes wild. His boy. Where was the boy? He couldn’t shout. He couldn’t breathe. Picking up speed, he searched the children amongst the three nurses as he felt the blood draining from his face.
“Are you certain? Are you well?”
He twisted around the next hedge at the sound of her voice. Crouching down in her skirts, Isla held the arms of little Oliver who was wide-eyed and speechless.
“Oliver!” Ronan snatched the boy into his arms.
Flesh and blood. The boy was real. He was right there. The pounding in Ronan’s heart was a dizzying sensation as he clutched the boy close. One arm held Oliver close and the other checked his extremities for harm.
