Chapter Text
PART ONE
You’d expect everything to be going well, what with his and Susan’s partnership finally cemented and her brother Jack finally out of hospital, but the truth was that His Grace the Duke simply wasn’t sure.
Susan was oddly quiet the past few days and personally, no one in Halstead (not even Jimmy) had seen her in three whole days. Even his mother had questioned him about it earlier that day, which was in part why he felt so bloody anxious, smoking cigar after cigar locked up in his study.
“Have you heard of Susan, darling?” His mother had asked, eyes peeking curiously at him from over her cup of tea. They’d been sitting on the patio, basking in the sunshine, enjoying a little peace and quiet with Freddy and Tamsin away for the weekend and Charlotte and her baby resting upstairs.
“No, and to be honest, a quiet Susie is more dangerous than an armed one.”
Lady Sabrina examined him for a moment, slowly setting her cup on its matching fine porcelain saucer. He knew his mother was itching to say something, but as sly as a fox as she was, her ladyship was probably taking her time to find the right words.
“You both had a tumultuous couple of weeks, Edward, but the stress and hardships you went through were nothing compared to how shaken up Ms. Glass was, and you know it. Her father away at prison; her brother in a coma, her Marijuana empire under attack…” His mother made a face and shuddered.
“She’s a strong lady, mother.”
“Yes, but even the strong need some respite.” Edward watched as his mother set the teacup down on the little wicker table between them, turning legs-crossed in her seat to face him. “Darling, a little food for thought: if Susan takes care of everything and everyone, who takes care of Susan?”
“And why are you saying this to me?”
His mother all but rolled her eyes at him, emoting all of her exasperation.
Despite the fact that Edward was usually rational and tended to keep composure at all times, he was also terribly stubborn and proud. Eddie still hadn’t gotten over what he believed was betrayal from Susan and her lot’s side, but mainly Susan, in all likelihood because he deeply admired her.
“I think you should pay her a visit… You are, after all, the only one of us who knows her address.”
It was nine at night and too late to make a house call, nevermind an impromptu one, but fuck it. He stormed out of his study, slipping on his wool coat, crossing the courtyard to the garages in the dark, his shoes hitting forcefully against the gravel, in his fast and determined stride. Edward got into his father’s Aston Martin and seconds later was driving off, cursing himself, his mother and Susan under his breath.
He was halfway into London when an idea occurred to him once the resentment ebbed over and the true meaning behind his mother’s words set in.
Even the strong need respite.