Scoundrel With A Noble Heart (sequel of Disgraceful)

Chapter 85

To Marguerite's greater dismay, Jacob seemed completely unconcerned by her admonition. He met her furious gaze with an unwavering composure.
"Maybe I don't know much about you, but it doesn't take a genius to tell what you are feeling right now. You've been wandering aimlessly around and looking a bit lost."

The truth of the honest remarks stung, and she used anger to mask her desperation.
"Now you're being flippant!" She snapped, but he remained unaffected.
"I'm not. I just think it's not right to hold back what needs to be said."

"What makes you think that you have the right to meddle in my life?"

This time the rebuke struck home. It took Jacob a few moments to break the momentary silence that followed.

"I'm sorry if I have presumed. I just hate to see you hurting. You must know, you deserve to be happy."

It was just a simple apology, but Marguerite was struck by his earnestness. For whatever reasons, this man seemed to care about her, more than anyone else in her life. All this time, if she expressed just a slight disapproval of Matthew's behavior, Wagner, Mary, and Cook would leap to his defense. Maggie should always be more patient with him, Maggie should not give up on him, Maggie should wait until he eventually change, Maggie should be keeping the faith in him. Now for the first time, there was somebody who cared about how she really felt, while everyone else told her what she was supposed to do.

"I guess I'm leaving now. Good luck."
He spun around and made for the exit, but Marguerite stopped him,
"Jake."

He paused and turned towards her with a questioning look. Dropping her mask, for the first time, Marguerite let her true feelings show,
"You're right. I'm lost and I have no clue what to do. Matthew has been out for several days and I don't know where he is. What do I do now?"

*****

A few days ago, Marguerite wouldn't have believed that she could do something that reckless. No one would ever believe that she could be so demented, but she'd learned that a woman could do absolutely anything when the occasions called for it.

She couldn't believe Mannheim would come up with the crazy idea of pretending to run away with him to his country estate three days trip from London. Moreover, she couldn't believe that she said yes to it. But then she'd been beyond desperate, and it seemed sensible to give Matthew an ultimatum. Some kind of shock therapy. She must make him realize that she wouldn't always be there for him. That he might lose her if he kept treating her like this. So, without giving herself a chance to change her mind, she'd sneaked out and ran with Mannheim that very day, just a couple hours after their accidental meeting at the park.

While waiting for Jacob to pick her up, Marguerite had managed to push aside any doubts and strengthen her resolve for this, but one thing she hadn't anticipated was the prospect of having to be alone with him in a confined space for long hours.

It just occurred to her the moment she stepped into the carriage. Jacob had seated himself comfortably at the farthest corner of the opposite seat. He looked perfectly relaxed, not the slightest hint of tension in his face as he gave her an easy smile. Marguerite turned her gaze away and settled herself into the plush velvet seat, aware that she couldn't avoid looking at him for long. Meanwhile, the door swung closed, shutting out the outside world and the air seemed to grow taut. The low light in the carriage enclosed them in warm glows, and Marguerite started to doubt her decision because it just felt wrong to be this close to another man in an unexpectedly intimate setting.

The little voice inside her chided herself for the reckless act.
How could she run away from everything and everyone she'd ever known with this guy? A man she barely knew. She must be out of her mind.
Another part of her rebelled at the thought,
But how long must she wait for Matthew to change? If she keeps pretending she is okay with that, would she ever be heard or noticed?