Lord Grenville's Choice by G.G. Vandagriff Page B

sleep.”
    “He speaks?”
    “Yes. He calls me ‘Flis.’ But I am encouraged.”
    Alex resumed his pacing. He had forgotten his original motivations for taking Felicity to the ball. So caught up had he been in the news of the new child, Elizabeth had gone completely out of his mind.
    “My lord, I wish you would leave.”
    Her cold words smote him like nothing he had ever felt before. Where was the warm, pliant wife he had waltzed with that evening? Why had she become difficult once more? Suddenly, he was angry with her moods. There had been nothing amiss in his treatment of her tonight.
    He gave her a short bow. “I am very glad the baby is all right. I will wish you good night.”
    Emotion swamped him as he left the bedchamber and made his way back home. Anger gave way to an unfamiliar melancholy. He found himself wishing profoundly that things could be different, as he recalled each part of the evening and their shared jubilation. Something had happened to alter Felicity’s feelings toward him at a deep level, but he despaired of finding what that something was.

{ 10 }
     
    O nce Alex closed the door behind him, Felicity finally gave way to tears. For a time that evening, they had been more of one mind than any time she could remember.
    But I have always known Alex loved someone else.
    Now that Elizabeth was free, Felicity would have to live with the knowledge every day. If they did not live apart, she would always be wondering where he was, what he was thinking. Her only option was to wrench herself away from Grenville House first, before he could further tear their marriage apart. Nothing could induce her to live with a man who belonged body and soul to another woman—the woman who had always been his choice.
    Near dawn, she realized Alex did yet not know of her decision to live with her father. She had been too intent on not letting him see how he had hurt her to make her decision plain.
    Getting out of her bed, she lit a candle and sat at her dressing table to write to her husband.
My lord-
     
I have come to the realization that both of us would be happier if I remain in my father’s house indefinitely. However, my choosing to live with Papa does not mean that you will see Jack any less. You may see him any time you like. I only ask that you let me know beforehand when you will be here, so I can arrange to be elsewhere.
     
I pray you will honor my wishes.
     
Felicity
     
    After addressing the note and sealing it with a wafer, she felt slightly more composed. However, she could not imagine what she was going to do with her days. Gossip would follow her wherever she went and she would be the poor, scorned wife. She would have to look into the faces of the ton , pretending indifference to the fact that her husband preferred another.
    Becoming an object of pity was abhorrent to her. But not nearly as painful as knowing that her husband loved another woman.
    And when the new baby arrived in the autumn, what then? Alex would want to be included in the event. He would surely want to see the child frequently, as he had adored Jack even in his infancy.
    She tried to put that time out of her mind. She would just have to deal with it when the time came.
    Oh, why had she ever thought that Papa’s money could buy her love? What terrible folly.
    Felicity finally fell asleep at dawn, awakening when the clock in the hall struck ten o’clock. She had an outsized headache and knew Papa must be wondering where she was. The physician would make his appearance at any moment. Ringing for Martha, she struggled into her wrapper and slippers, realizing she had not seen Jack since the morning before. She did not know what to do first.
    Before she could decide, she heard the unmistakable sound of Alex’s footsteps running up the stairs to the nursery. The note . She had fallen asleep and had forgotten to take it downstairs for the footman to deliver. Alex still did not know of her decision.
    While Martha was combing out her hair,