Chapter 43

London, a few weeks later

Augusta was exhausted.
As soon as Betsy, her new lady's maid, finished unlacing her stays, she dismissed the girl and flopped down on her bed, still in her shift and stockings. She had an hour before she needed to dress for this evening's entertainment and she intended to spend it napping. London was magnificent, but even managing Cairnwyck Castle alone had never seemed so daunting. When was a woman supposed to sleep? After a two-week stay at Fordyce Hall, with which she'd already fallen utterly in love - they'd moved on to the Capitol and Augusta wasn't sure she'd had more then ten minutes off her feet since they'd arrived ten days earlier.
They'd been invited to parties every night since they'd reached London, even though Augusta had only been presented at court, with Colin's mother as her sponsor, the day before. Lady Helena was a lovely woman and her knowledge of the ton was invaluable, but she was something of a slave-driver. So far, she hadn't allowed Augusta even one night free from balls or a single day's rest from shopping, or strolling in the Park, or making afternoon calls.
Eventually, Augusta was going to have to tell her mother-in-law that she was pregnant. She'd been married more than six weeks now and her courses were three weeks past due. Augusta had never been late before, so she was fairly sure that she'd conceived. Adding in her constant fatigue made it a near-certainty. She remembered her stepmother's last pregnancy and for the first few months, all Louisa had done, it seemed, was sleep. Augusta had wanted to be absolutely sure, however, before she told Colin and she wanted to tell him before anyone else. Since she'd barely seen him in the last three days, however, she hadn't had the opportunity. Maybe tonight. He was attending Lady Merriweather's ball with Augusta and his mother. Surely she could manage to talk to him when they got home, before she dropped off again. Last night, she'd fallen asleep before he'd even come home and Colin had slept in the adjoining bedroom. It had been the first time they'd slept apart since they day they were married and Augusta wasn't pleased about it at all.
Colin sipped champagne and looked out at the dance floor where his wife was dancing with some young pup barely out of leading strings. She'd been a smashing success so far, despite her rural upbringing and impoverished recent years. Regardless of circumstances, she'd certainly been trained to be a lady and as her husband, he couldn't have been prouder.
Still, it would have been nice to have a chance to actually talk to her on occasion. Since they'd reached London, they'd barely had the opportunity to nod at one another in passing. The social whirl was wearing her down, too. There were shadows under her eyes, just like there had been when he'd met her. Last night, he'd even gone so far as to sleep in his own room, just to make sure she got a little rest. Colin was going to have to put his foot down with his mother. It was nice to see the Ton so taken with Augusta, but it couldn't be allowed to devour her whole. He set down his empty glass and strode across the room toward his mother. As soon as this dance was over, he was taking Augusta home. His mother could come with them or not.
"Lord Hutton needs to speak with you." Darius's voice whispered low in Colin's ear. "Out on the terrace."
"Blast it." In the last few days there had been some rumors of problems with one of Colin's old contacts in France. He'd been spending far too much time consulting with his former spymaster, time he'd meant to spend with his bride.
Colin made his way out to the shadowed terrace of Lord Merriweather's mansion, lit a cheroot and waited beneath an ornamental maple tree. A few moments later, his former mentor was by his side.
"I need you to go to Dover tonight," Hutton whispered. "Langston will explain en route. There are too many people here."
"I was about to leave," Colin replied. "My wife isn't feeling well."
"Then send her home with your mother," the older man ordered. "This is important, damn it."
"Very well." Colin waited while the other man slipped away, then ground his half-smoked cheroot out under his heel. As he moved back to the path, though, a familiar and annoying giggle brought him up short.
"There you are, darling. I've been trying to get you to myself for positively ages."
Colin gritted his teeth and tried to step around the woman blocking his path. "I'm married, Celia, in case you hadn't heard. Not in the market for your services any longer." Actually, the widow's overblown charms had bored him after the first two weeks, but he'd let the affair continue through most of the previous season before presenting her with a diamond brooch and taking his leave.
"Married? To that little county bumpkin? Oh please. You must be bored senseless trying to do your husbandly duty." She moved up closer to Colin and brushed her lips against his ear. "Come by my house later tonight and I'll show you a good time. We were always so very good together."
Her heavy perfume and affected laugh made his stomach clench. But it was the gasp he heard from behind her that struck him like a falling tree, nearly knocking the breath from his chest.
"Augusta." He caught the sight of her yellow gown as she dashed back into the house. Pushing Celia aside, he gave chase, only to be caught by Darius the moment he reentered the ballroom.
"My carriage is waiting," Dare said. "I've told your mother you won't be leaving with them. We need to go, now. There's a ship arriving in Dover tonight and your man is supposedly on it."
"Oh, hell." Colin prayed that Augusta would let him explain when he arrived home. "Let's go."