The Duke's Dilemma (The Wolf Deceivers Series Book 2)
Page 27
“Of course. Come in, George. I could have received visitors earlier but for that dratted doctor and my over-protective wife.”
Cassandra caught Edward’s teasing wink.
“Pray sit down.” Edward dropped the peach onto the serving platter and wiped his hands with a napkin. “I prefer standing, if you don’t mind.”
George seated himself in one of the pair of wing chairs that flanked the table and Cassandra took the other.
Silence grew to an uncomfortable level as George stared at the floor. Cassandra and Edward exchanged glances
Edward clasped his hands at his back. “Cassandra and I have kept you in our prayers, George. How may we help you?”
George held his hands in a fisted grip, keeping his head down. “They ruled Millicent to be insane and wanted her sent to Bedlam, but I found a private sanatorium in the south of France.” He lifted his head to glance at Edward. “It’s quite expensive. If I might impose upon you to buy Waytefield in its entirety—at a fair price, of course.”
Cassandra gasped. Here was her opportunity to rail at George. He’d brought this on himself. How could he not have noticed his wife was unstable?
At the moment all she could feel was compassion. She even admired him for wanting to take care of Millicent—save her from that torture chamber called Bedlam.
She studied Edward’s features. Would he buy Waytefield? Could he afford to? They’d not discussed finances, but she assumed he was deep in the pockets.
Edward drew in a deep breath. “What are you going to do?”
“After settling Millicent, I intend to sail to Canada. The land is rich in the fur trade. Who knows? I might make my fortune.”
That George would become an adventurer surprised Cassandra. He’d been a ner’do’well, intent on gambling away fortunes instead of making them. She could hardly credit the change in him, but maybe it had taken this tragedy to reach him.
“What think you, my dear?” Edward asked. “Would you like to have Waytefield?”
“I don’t know what to think. Whatever you decide is pleasing to me.”
Edward took the newspaper that lay on the table. “The Times reports that they’ve charged Jane Vernon with kidnapping and extortion, but the investigation into her schemes has revealed the difficulties of women trapped in the brothels. They can escape, but finding a decent life afterward is near impossible.”
No one knew better than she how impossible that was, but she wondered what it had to do with Waytefield. Evidently, Edward confused George, too. He threw her a questioning look.
Edward laid the paper down and paced around the table. “It’s a problem I’ve been pondering as I’ve lain in bed the past week. We might turn Waytefield Hall into a refuge, an extension of Lord Wayte’s charities. Perhaps build a textile mill away from the dangers and temptations of the city, and turn more land in growing flax to feed the mill.”
Cassandra went to her husband and squeezed his arm. “That would be a perfect solution, darling, if it’s possible.”
“Nothing’s impossible.”
She reached up to plant a kiss on his cheek. “Then Waytefield will be a refuge and a monument to Lord Wayte. That pleases me greatly. Geoffrey worked so hard to bring his dream to fruition.”
“Then it shall be done.” Edward’s voice carried all the authority of the duke he was.
George stood, looking more hopeful. “Does that mean you will purchase the estate? I shall need the money forthwith, you understand.”
Edward reached out to shake George’s hand. “Get with my man of business as soon as you leave here, if you wish.”
George’s mouth quivered, and Cassandra caught the glitter of unshed tears in his eyes. “When I came, I held only scant belief you might agree.”
Edward laid his hand over Cassandra’s. “Your belief was correct, as it seems, and gives you the opportunity to make your father’s dreams come true…not only by providing the estate for his mission, but by going out to earn your own fortune.”
“He would have been proud of you, George.” Cassandra knew she spoke the truth.
George sniffed. “I haven’t accomplished anything yet, but I’m actually looking forward to the adventure.”
Cassandra walked with him to the door. George tuned on the threshold. “Cassandra, I beg your forgiveness for misjudging you…for the cruelty you endured. I knew better, but let Millicent—”
There had been a time she wouldn’t have been able to forgive, but now— Perhaps for Geoffrey’s sake. Perhaps because God had been so generous with her.
Sympathy made her smile. She touched his hand. “Of course I forgive you. I understand perfectly, and…please know that we shall be praying for you. Send us word on how you get on.”
George cleared his throat. “Thank you…thank you, both. I’m not deserving—but…thank you.”
She waited a moment, listening to George’s footsteps until they disappeared. After pulling the door closed, she turned, and headed across the room into her husband’s arms. The spicy scent of his shaving soap clung to him, along with the faint musty odor of the books he read.
She peered into his dark green eyes, the shade of a forest at dusk, and desire sprang from deep within her breast. That happened every time she gazed into those eyes.
“Why have you not dressed? Dr. Blackstone said you intended to go riding, and I thought I might accompany you.”
“I decided to delay our ride.”
She gave him a mock pout. “Verity spent half an hour pinning my hair so I might ride without it flying away.”
A backward step took him out of her embrace, and a critical glance swept from one side of her head to the other. “A shame I’m going to undo her work.”
He pulled the pins out one by one, tossing them on the table. They fell. Ping. Ping. Ping. Loosened hair draped around her shoulders.
She waited, mesmerized, while his fingers worked through the coils until they fell to her waist. Passion such as she’d never dreamed possible held her, heating the air. She tilted her head to meet his kiss.
They had kissed many times over the past two weeks, but nothing like this. Her arms went around him, seemingly of their own accord, in an urgent need to hold him closer.
His lips moved from her mouth to her ear. “I love you, Cassandra.”
He didn’t have to say the words. She saw it in his look. In his warm breath, sending waves of pleasure to her core.
She drifted somewhere up along the ceiling, and would have assured him she loved him, too, but could manage nothing more than a soft moan.
Concern finally penetrated her brain. “Are you certain you’re well enough? Strong enough?”
The wrong thing to say. He stiffened and she bit her lip. By questioning his strength had she insulted his male ego?
His smile teased. “Let’s see, shall we?”
Before she could voice her worry, he bent over her, and she felt his arm behind her knees. He lifted and cradled her as if she weighed nothing.
With their faces a hair’s breadth apart, his eyes caressed her. “What think you? Am I strong enough?”
Her cheek rested on his. “More than enough, darling.”
The rumble of his soft chuckle made her quiver as he carried her across the room. Now she was floating, an exquisite sensation of weightlessness. Resting on him, she released all concern, trusting him to care for her. This was what it felt like to be cherished.
Even with her in his arms, he managed to open the door to his bedroom. She took her gaze off from his face only long enough to catch a flash of gold and burgundy room furnishings.
He paused on the threshold, and she searched his eyes for the reason. “Cassandra, this is nothing like what you saw when forced to witness that—”
She pressed her hand against his lips. “Nothing like that at all. Whatever existed behind the curtain of red is gone. My mind is seared by your touch—only your touch—and your love.”
In the silence that followed she hear
d the door’s bolt shoot home. Then they were alone, the only two people in their world.
And soon they would be one.
Author’s Note
Thank you, dear reader, for reading The Duke’s Dilemma, the second in my The Wolf Deceivers series. If you enjoyed this book, and even if you didn’t, please leave a review at Amazon.com and Goodreads. I write only for the Lord’s glory and the reader’s pleasure, so I would much appreciate your opinion.
Other Books by this Author
The Annex Mail Order Brides series:
Adela’s Prairie Suitor
Ramee’s Fugitive Cowboy
Prudie’s Mountain Man
The Annex Mail-Order Brides Boxset
Intrigue under Western Skies series:
Book 1, Pursued
Book 2, Surrendered
The Wolf Deceivers series:
Book 1, The Chieftain’s Choice
Also:
The Perfect Gift, a Christmas Novella
Cloaked in Love
About the Author
Elaine Manders writes wholesome, Christian romance about the strong, capable women of history and the men who love them. She lives in Central Georgia with a happy bichon-poodle mix. When not writing, she enjoys reading, sewing, crafts, and spending time with her daughter and grandchildren. Y0u may contact the author at any of the following.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elaine.manders.35
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ehmanders
Blog: https://elainemanders.wordpress.com
Email: elainehmanders@gmail.com