They were each nursing a second glass of whiskey when Harm leaned across the desk and finally broke the brooding silence. “All right, woodcarver. Let’s have it.”
Caleb paused with his glass halfway to his lips. The way Harm had said woodcarver, the arrogant greenhorn might as well have said jackass. But Caleb refused to be baited. “Have what?”
“Your excuses.” Harm pointed with his glass. “It’s obvious you still care for Elly. And it seems she still wants you—why is beyond me. So why the devil did you send her away?”
Caleb set his glass down and twisted it between his hands. “What did she tell you?” he asked without looking up.
“To mind my own business.”
Caleb smiled. That was his Elthia. “Seems good advice.”
“Shall we step back outside, woodcarver?”
There was that dig again. Again, he ignored it. “Look, Elthia has no business out here. You should know that better than anyone. She shouldn’t have to sweat over household chores or deny herself the little gewgaws that catch her eye simply because such purchases don’t fit my budget.”
“And did she complain about those things?”
Caleb shrugged. “No. But in time she would’ve resented it.”
“Didn’t know you counted seeing into the future as one of your talents.”
“Cut the sarcasm,” Caleb growled. Why was Harm being so ornery? Surely he could see that Caleb had done the right thing?
Caleb downed another gulp of whiskey. “We both know she deserves more than I could ever give her.”
“Shouldn’t you let her decide that?”
“I thought we made it clear this was none of your business.”
“I’m making it my business.” Harm leaned forward. “Because I don’t really believe you do have her best interests at heart.”
Caleb slammed his glass down, ignoring the liquid that sloshed onto his desk. If this blasted rich boy was so set on starting another fight, Caleb might just accommodate him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that if you really cared as much about her as you claim, you’d find a compromise you could both live with.”
“Compromise?”
“You didn’t even try to work something out, did you? Tell me, woodcarver, do you enjoy the role of martyr so much you’re willing to destroy her happiness to pursue it?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Hang it all, did Harm think he was enjoying this wretched isolation he’d sentenced himself to?
“Don’t I? Well, from where I’m sitting, it looks like you’re more interested in seeing Elly get the life you think she deserves than the life that would make her happy.”
Caleb felt the first twinges of doubt. The man could be arrogant and smug, but there was no doubt he was protective of his sister. “You really think she would be better off here?”
“The point is, she thinks she would.” Harm grimaced. “Elly isn’t always as discriminating as she should be when she gives a piece of her heart away.”
Caleb resolutely tamped down the hope Harm’s words inspired. “Even if you’re right, it’s too late to do anything now.”
“I didn’t have you pegged for a quitter, woodcarver.”
At the contempt in Harm’s voice, Caleb came out of his chair, bracing his fists against the desk. “I’ve had just about all the jibes and sneers I’m gonna take, rich boy.”
Harm didn’t seem overly concerned. “Is that a fact?”
“Yeah, that’s a fact.” Caleb sat, deciding he’d had enough whiskey. When had he last eaten? “You saying it’s not too late?” That flicker of hope had more spunk than he thought.
Harm shrugged. “Only one way to find out. Come back with me.”
Caleb straightened. The surge of desire to see her again nearly unmanned him. “You can’t be serious.”
Harm’s brow arched in challenge. “Afraid to face her?”
More afraid than I’ve ever been before in my life. “Of course not. But—”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Caleb stroked his jaw, and he decided it was time for a shave. His spirits rose. “I suppose a visit wouldn’t hurt. After all, I can take the opportunity to return her mutt to her.”
CHAPTER 26
Bored to the point of tears, Elthia stood near a window in Sinclare Hall’s music room, arranging flowers in a large crystal vase. Seems she often found herself near the point of tears these days.
When she’d first moved back here, she shocked the kitchen staff by announcing she wanted to learn all about preparing meals. She’d not only needed the distraction but was determined to be armed with new domestic skills when she returned to Texas. Because surely Caleb would come to his senses and send for her.
When working in the kitchen left her feeling queasy, she had resolutely turned to learning other domestic skills. She’d hounded Mrs. McGinty, the housekeeper, asking questions on everything from how best to polish woodwork to how to starch lace doilies. Yesterday the stoically patient housekeeper had suggested Elthia take over the flower arranging.
This morning Elthia had finally decided to face the truth. Caleb wouldn’t be coming for her. Tonight she’d write him a letter and tell him about the baby. She wouldn’t be able to hide her condition much longer, and he deserved to know before anyone else. It was bad enough Harm had already guessed.
Her hand fluttered to her abdomen. “Don’t worry little one,” she whispered, “we will work this out. And whether your father and I are together or not, you’ll always know you are loved.”
Elthia added a final rose to the arrangement and winced when a thorn pricked her. She put the finger in her mouth, stepping back to study her work.
She’d told her brother to stop worrying about her and return to New York, but she was almost sorry he’d taken her advice. Her father was off on another business trip, and the house seemed empty without him and Harm.
“There you are.”
Elthia spun around. “Harm! What are you doing back so soon? I thought—” She halted when she saw who he’d brought with him.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
There was that wonderfully toe-curling, endearingly vulnerable crooked smile that had haunted her dreams for weeks.
This had been a mistake.
Caleb had known it from the moment he saw the lush, well-tended grounds. The mansion itself looked big enough to house every man, woman, and child in Foxberry, with room to spare. The princesses in those fairy tales she’d told the kids didn’t have palaces so fine.
He should have told Harm to turn around and bring him back to the rail station right then. But he hadn’t been able to resist the temptation to see her. After all, he’d come this far.
Heaven help him, there she stood, even more tempting than he remembered. She glowed with health—no trace of the pining Harm had mentioned. If she lacked something in spirit, it was compensated for by a newly acquired confidence.
Seeing her again brought home to him that he’d never met a woman to match his Elthia. And he didn’t expect to meet another like her again. With painful certainty he knew that the long, lonely nightmare he’d lived through these past months was just a foretaste of the future without her.
There was no getting around it. Here, in this setting, she was a fairy-tale princess. His own role was closer to that of a peasant laborer than a Prince Charming.
Trying to maintain a relaxed pose, Caleb forced himself not to fidget with the hat he held. Harm had been wrong. There was no possible compromise for them. He’d never fit in her world, and she deserved so much more than to be condemned to life in his. If he could make it through this visit without getting down on his knees and begging her to return to Texas, he could go home with his pride intact.
But not his heart.
“Caleb!”
Breathless joy, rebuke, uncertainty—how had she managed to pack such a wealth of conflicting emotions in that one word?
She spared a quick glance at Harm,
and her expressive face registered accusation, question, and maybe a touch of gratitude. Then all her attention focused back on him.
They stood less than twelve feet apart, yet like their first night together, it was an impossible distance to bridge.
An insistent tug on his wrist broke the spell. Remembering his supposed reason for coming, he took firmer hold of the leash. “I’m here to return your hairy menace. I couldn’t stand the sight of all his moping for you.” He let Poppy drag him forward.
Elthia stooped to welcome her pet. The pea-brained mutt greeted her with all the noisy, tail-wagging enthusiasm Caleb didn’t dare show. He actually envied the little beast when Elthia let him cover her chin with wet kisses.
“Oooh, yes, all right. Good boy, Poppy. I missed you too.” She stood, clutching Poppy at shoulder level. “And is bringing Poppy here the only reason you had for coming?”
Not by a long shot. I’d storm castles, fight fearsome beasts, just for the chance to get a glimpse of you. He managed a shrug. “Mostly.” Caleb dusted his hat brim, avoiding her gaze. “I also wanted to see if there were any papers you wanted me to sign.”
“I see.” Her expression turned brittle. “I told you before, I will not pursue legal action.”
Caleb stared, at a loss for what to say next. He shouldn’t have come. How could he survive another parting?
Harm placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “Well, now that that’s out of the way, why don’t you take your husband out on the terrace. I’ll ask Mrs. McGinty to find us some refreshments.”
Elthia gave Caleb a pointed look. “Perhaps our guest would prefer to go upstairs and freshen up after his trip.”
So, she’d relegated him to the status of guest, had she? “Not at all,” Caleb said in a sudden fit of contrariness. “Let’s have a look at this terrace of yours.”
Elthia’s brows drew down, and she pushed at her glasses. Then she tossed her head. “Very well, this way.”
He followed her through a pair of tall glass doors, deciding it was still fun to watch her get riled up. And a riled Elthia was definitely easier for him to face than a hurt one.
She sat on a wrought iron chair as if it were a throne, tucking the dog regally on her lap.
Caleb indolently hitched his hip up on the low terrace wall.
“How was your trip?” she asked primly.
He picked a bit of lint from his pants leg. “Uneventful.” Endlessly long knowing you were there at the end.
“And are you planning to stay long?”
“I’ll be heading back tomorrow.” He wasn’t sure he could take being in the same house with her for even that long, knowing she was forbidden fruit.
Elthia smiled politely. “A shame you won’t have more time to rest.” Was it wishful thinking, or did he sense disappointment beneath that polite-hostess demeanor?
She looked down at her four-legged lap warmer. “I got a letter from Zoe this week.”
He should have known she’d kept in touch with the kids. “I guess they’re settling in with Aunt Dorothy okay.”
“So it seems. Zoe writes that your aunt is teaching her to play the church organ, and there are neighbors close by with children for the younger ones to play with.”
“Sounds ideal.” It was what he’d hoped for. Wasn’t it?
Elthia frowned accusingly at him. “She also says she misses Texas and wishes we were all back together again.”
Harm joined them, inadvertently rescuing Caleb. “Mrs. McGinty’s promised to send out some of her spiced raspberry tart. And she’s having a room made ready for you now, woodcarver.”
Caleb wasn’t fooled by Harm’s smile. He’d tolerate Caleb only so long as he thought it in his sister’s best interest to do so.
Harm turned to Elthia. “And don’t worry. I told the servants to put him over in the south wing so you won’t bump into each other if you happen to want a late-night stroll.”
Elthia lowered her head to check on Poppy but not before Caleb saw the red creep into her cheeks. Hang his brother-in-law for that perverse sense of humor.
Harm looked from Caleb to Elthia’s bent head. “You know,” he mused, “since Caleb’s only going to be here for the one day, we ought to take him on a tour of the place. Maybe we could even sail out to the island this afternoon.”
Caleb raised a brow. “So you have your own island too?”
Elthia’s head snapped up. “Actually, we have several.” Her expression challenged him to make something of it. “The one Harm is referring to is a small one in a lake on this property.”
She turned to her brother. “I’m sure Caleb would prefer to do something less tiring than hike across the island. A quiet evening close to the house might be more appropriate.”
Harm cast Caleb a challenging look. “That true, woodcarver? You prefer a tame walk in the garden to a trip to our island?”
Caleb didn’t like Harm’s attitude, but the arrogant rich boy had his uses. Any activity that included Mr. Rich Boy was guaranteed to keep things from heating up between himself and Elthia.
“I’m game,” he said with a shrug.
Elthia flashed them an I’m-only-doing-this-cause-I-have-to smile. “Then a trip to the island for the three of us it is.”
Caleb slipped from his perch. “In that case, I think I will go up to my room for a bit.”
Harm’s raised brow mocked him for the coward he was. “Not a fan of raspberry tarts, are you?”
Caleb shook his head. “Just need to change out of these travel clothes and clean up a little.”
Harm leaned back. “Elly, why don’t you show your husband to his room? The Green Room, I believe.”
Elthia didn’t look any too pleased with her brother. “I think maybe—” She flashed a relieved smile as a footman appeared carrying a crystal pitcher and glasses. “Oh, Jeffrey,” she said, “would you please show Mr. Tanner to his room.”
The footman set the tray on the table and bowed. “Of course, madam.” He turned to Caleb. “If you’ll follow me, sir.”
Elthia’s shoulders slumped as Caleb disappeared inside. Where was the arrogant, take-charge, no-time-for-small-talk man she’d married? More importantly, where was the warm, tender lover? Had he really only come to deliver Poppy? Didn’t he have any feeling left for her?
He’d looked so strong and wonderful and right when he walked in. It had taken all her control not to dive into his arms. If only he’d given the slightest hint she’d be welcomed there.
Needing a target, she rounded on her brother. “You forced him to come here, didn’t you?”
Harm held his palms up. “Surely you know the woodcarver better than that.”
“But his coming here was at your suggestion, wasn’t it?”
“The point is,” Harm said, sidestepping her question, “your Romeo is here now. When are you going to tell him?”
She fidgeted with Poppy’s collar. “He isn’t leaving until tomorrow.” A part of her refused to abandon hope. She met Harm’s knowing look. “I will tell him before he leaves. I just need to do it in my own time.”
Harm stood and kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry, Elly. I have faith in you and your woodcarver. I have a feeling you will get this business settled, one way or the other, before he leaves.”
Caleb helped Elthia climb onto the small pier while Harm tied up the boat. When she stumbled and landed against his chest, his body responded immediately. Their gazes locked, then Elthia abruptly pushed herself away.
She marched to the shore, and Caleb frowned at her hasty retreat. Harm had led him to believe she still wanted him, but she sure hadn’t been pleased by that near embrace. Had seeing him in her home made her finally realize her mistake?
“There’s a great view from the top of that rise,” Harm said. “It’s an easy twenty-minute walk if you’re up to it, woodcarver.”
Caleb bared his teeth in an almost smile. “Lead on.”
As they started off, Harm assumed the role of guide. He kept up a ste
ady stream of chatter, pointing out places of interest and giving an uninterested Caleb a history lesson on the region.
Harm also kept himself physically between Caleb and Elthia. Each time Caleb moved to help Elthia over a rough patch or move a branch from her path, Harm was there, a half step ahead of him.
Caleb had wanted someone around to keep things from heating up. So why, after the first five minutes, did he want to grab Harm by the collar and hang him from the nearest tree branch?
They came to a shallow creek, and again, Elthia’s brother offered her his arm before Caleb could step forward.
Harm glanced solicitously over his shoulder. “It’s only a few inches deep. You won’t even get your shoes wet if you’ll use the stepping-stones. Just follow Elly and me.”
Mumbling imprecations under his breath, Caleb let them get a short lead before he stepped onto the first of the rocks protruding from the water. While not deep, the stream was at least twelve feet wide. Harm and Elthia had reached the halfway point when Harm’s foot slipped and landed with a splash in the gurgling water.
Harm had half turned, and Caleb took a great deal of pleasure from the disgruntled look on his usually cool brother-in-law’s face. Too bad it was only his foot that got a dunking.
Then his smile fled as he realized Elthia was floundering. Harm’s stumble had overset her balance as well. Harm grabbed her hands but only succeeded in easing her fall, not preventing it. With a startled squeak and a loud splash, she landed on her rump.
Harm leaned down. “Elly, are you all right?”
Caleb charged forward. “Out of the way, rich boy. I think she’s had enough of your help.”
Harm released Elthia’s hand. “Now look here, woodcarver—”
“No, you look here. I’ve had just about—”
Elthia’s palm slapped the water. “Will you stop acting like two dogs arguing over a bone and help me up.”
Caleb took her left arm while Harm stepped around to take her right. They exchanged glares over Elthia’s head but succeeded in getting her upright without further incident.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Caleb checked the hand he was holding for cuts and worriedly eyed her stance for steadiness.
The Unexpected Bride Page 30
