The Unclaimed Duchess Read Online Free PDF Page B

devastation in his eyes that reflected her own so perfectly that she felt it even more keenly. It burned in her, searing every part of her like a fire, only there was no way to put it out. No way to end it.
    Not unless she found her husband. Because in the end, as much as she cried out to Simon to tell her the truth, as much as she resented him for saying he couldn’t…it was Rhys who had left her. It was Rhys who owed her explanations for why. And transferring her feelings onto Simon as a surrogate was not satisfying.
    Although she feared confronting Rhys would be no more so.
    With a great shuddering breath, Anne removed herself from Lillian’s embrace. She touched the other woman’s arm briefly, a gesture of thanks.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she whispered, her comments directed to both the Billinghams. “I realize it must be quite shocking to have me arrive here in such a state, not to mention to have me tell you that a friend has vanished.”
    Lillian shook her head, even as she stepped back to stand beside her husband. “You deserve those feelings, Anne. I cannot imagine how I would behave if Simon disappeared.”
    Lillian shivered, and Anne nodded. “Then youunderstand why I’m desperate to know why he did this. Any inkling of what set Rhys off could help me determine where he might have gone.”
    It was Simon who stepped forward this time, and Anne allowed him to gently place a hand on each shoulder. He looked down at her, his gaze kind.
    â€œI do understand. But I have been friends with Rhys for so long, Anne. You must know I cannot betray a confidence between us.”
    Anne’s chin dipped down, and when a pained moan filled the air, she was shocked to discover it was her own.
    â€œI can tell you that I do think what we spoke of likely did bring this situation to pass,” Simon continued. “And that…”
    He hesitated, and the uncertain tone of his voice made Anne jerk her gaze back to his face. Simon’s expression was torn, as if he was trying to make a difficult decision.
    â€œWhat is it?” Anne whispered, trying not to hope too much that he might give her some glimmer of information.
    He cleared his throat. “When he was a very young boy, Rhys’s mother used to take him and his sisters to a cottage by the sea. While deep in his cups, he once confided to me it was the one place in which he was most happy.”
    Anne drew back. Rhys must have been deep in his cups indeed to confess something about his happiness. Her husband often dismissed all emotion as weakness in one broad stroke.
    â€œDo you think he might have gone there?” she asked, her voice hoarse and cracking.
    Simon nodded. “If you have made inquiry at all his estates and with his clubs, then it is possible. Few know of this cottage. If Rhys was hiding to lick his wounds, I think it’s a good guess as to his whereabouts.”
    Anne let out a gasp of hope and relief. “Then I must go there. Tell me its exact location and I will depart today!”
    Simon’s eyes widened. “Anne, it is three days’ travel, two of them quite hard. You will need an escort and—”
    She shook her head. “No, Simon. You cannot deter me, though I appreciate your reasons for doing so. I must go to Rhys. And I shall do it whether you assist me or not. Ultimately I will find out where this cottage is and I’ll go there. But I’m asking you this one thing, to make my search easier.”
    Simon shut his eyes briefly and let out a low sigh. “Anne—”
    Before he could finish what was clearly going tobe a statement of protest, Lillian quietly touched his arm. “Simon, tell her.”
    He shot a glance at his wife. “What?”
    Lillian nodded. “This is between them now, Simon, and I think you can see in Anne’s eyes that she is telling the truth about her determination to uncover the location of this place in one way or