by Lori Wick
“I love you, Aunt Lucy,” she heard Brandon say. She stared at their backs as they exited her bedroom with fast, long-legged strides.
“Miles talked about going to see Jordan and Holly,” Chelsea told her worried husband and her pacing brother. “I’m not sure where he is right now.”
“I’ll head to Jordan’s then,” Brandon said. “Fll stop here on my way back out to tell you what I learn.”
The words were no more out of Brandon’s mouth than Miles entered the room. He looked slightly uncomfortable, but he had decided when he watched Sunny’s carriage pull away that no one was going to bully him.
“Miles,” his father asked, cutting right to the point. “Do you know where Sunny has gone?”
“I know where she was planning to go,” he said evasively and fell silent.
His uncle and parents all stared at him, waiting for him to go on, but Miles only stared back. He was beginning to grow angry that they were putting him in this position.
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“I need to talk with Sunny,” Brandon told him quietly.
“You should have thought of that before you left her alone on that ship.”
Chelsea stifled a gasp, and Rand looked at his son as if he had taken leave of his senses.
“I had reasons for leaving that ship.” Brandon’s anger matched his nephew’s. “But I donotfeel I need to explain myself to my nephew.”
“Suit yourself,” Miles said and started for the door.
“Don’t open that door!” Rand commanded sternly. When Miles turned back, he saw just how upset his rather had become.
“I’m not sure what has made you turn on Brandon this way,” his rather said. “But I think you had better tell us where Sunny is, and now.”
“Why?” Miles asked baldly. “So he can do more controlling? She reels like a puppet on a string where Brandon is concerned. She wants to be alone, and she’s with faithful servants who’ll see that she comes to no harm. Brandon has hurt her terribly, and uncle or not, I’ll not betray Sunny’s trust in me. She’ll be here in a month; you can talk to her then.”
Rand opened his mouth to rebuke Miles, but Brandon interrupted.
“You’re right, Miles. I have handled things badly and hurt Sunny.” His voice was soft now, and Miles saw the pain in his eyes. “That’s why I must find her. I know you gave your word, but please, Miles, please forgive my anger with you and tell me where she’s gone.”
“She’ll never speak to me again.” Miles felt torn in two.
“Yes, Miles, she will, because before we come back, she’s going to know exactly how I fed. If you can’t tell me where she is, then please head me in the right direction.”
Miles couldn’t ignore the pain he saw in the older man’s eyes.
“She’s gone north,” Miles admitted painfully, only to have his uncle approach and surround him with his long arms. He spoke when Miles returned the embrace.
“I’ll explain everything to her, and please, Miles, just try and imagine how you’d feel to be kept from the woman you love.”
Brandon released Miles and moved toward the door. He turned back, and Rand caught his eyes.
“I’d head toward the Britons’ if I were you,” the older man
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advised. “I can’t be certain, but I think it’s a pretty good guess.”
Brandon thanked him and slipped out the door. Miles would not look at his parents, and when he tried to leave, Chelsea’s voice stopped him with the door partly open.
“I know you hurt, Miles, and you feel as though your father and uncle have ganged up on you when you were trying to do the right thing, but please stay. Please stay so we can talk.”
Miles hesitated. He turned to look at his mother and then his father.
“Please, Miles,” Rand added gently, and the younger man shut the door and came back into the room.
the ride to the britons’ estate was long, so the coach made several stops on the way. Sunny knew it was not the wisest decision on her part to travel with just a maid, but Tildy, Wilson, and her coachman, Kent, watched over her like fierce hens with a chick.
Sunny was beginning to think she would never reach the Britons’ estate when the coach came to a final stop. Armed with the letter of introduction Miles had given her, Sunny approached the door. It seemed that Lord and Lady Briton were not at home, but their spinster daughter, Maretta, greeted Sunny as if she were a long-lost friend, immediately seeing her into a warm bath and bed.
She had slept for almost 15 hours when she woke to find Tildy hovering near.
“You’ve eaten so little, my lady. Please get up and try something. I swear you’re wasting away.”
Sunny hated the look of distress in the elder servant’s eyes, so she rose to dean up and dress. She found, as she sat before the mirror so Tildy could fix her hair, that Tildy was right. In just two days’ time, Sunny’s cheeks had begun to have a hollow look about them. She examined her wrist and hands and thought they looked bonier too.
Never one to carry surplus flesh, the scant bit of food she’d had on Dallas’ ship and the last two grueling days were beginning to take their toll.
Knowing this still did nothing for Sunny’s appetite when a sumptuous tea was placed before her. She nibbled a bit, but with die
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emotional turmoil and sleeping until after noon, she felt disoriented and listless. Tildy held her tongue when she saw how little Sunny had eaten, but inwardly she fretted terribly over her mistress.
Since she planned to be out that day, Maretta had left word for Sunny to make herself at home. Simply loving the rambling old castle, built in the early 1600*$, Sunny was only too happy to oblige. She had no desire to ride. Instead she roamed the grounds, watching the birds and praying, giving all her heart over to her heavenly Father.
Sunny lifted her heart in thanksgiving that the whole affair with the emir had come to an end. She didn’t try to deny that his treatment of her hurt, but if she had been afraid that seeing him again would make her long for Darhabar, she was wrong.
Greedy and self-seeking, Ahmad Khan was a wicked man in many ways. Although Sunny grieved for his soul, she knew he would not have had a positive influence on her. Her only regret was that she hadn’t asked after Indira.
The image of Brandon’s handsome face interrupted Sunny’s prayers. Her eyes closed in pain, and she again told God that she would need His strength, and His strength alone, to go on. She believed with all of her heart that she could live as a mere friend to Brandon. And as soon as she’d rested up for the encounter, she would see him and apologize for the way she had acted on ship.
**Fm sure he didn’t mean it when he said I love you. It’s really too bad,” she spoke softly to the empty library where she had finally wandered to read and rest. “I think I would have made him a wonderful wife.”
Sunny prayed then that she would be able to handle Brandon’s marriage someday, for it was sure to happen. Her Bible lay neglected in her lap as the sun flooding through the windows made Sunny feel drowsy. She fell asleep again, this time with a frown on her face as she pictured living at Ravenscroft, all alone, until she was Aunt Lucy’s age.
$
An hour later Brandon quietly entered the Britons’ library and stood looking at Sunny. He felt every muscle of his body tremble with relief and fatigue. Moving silently, he sat down in the chair across from hers and just stared. Her face was pale, her hair was coming
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down, and her body looked frightfully thin, but Brandon saw past all of this. She was still the most beautiful woman he had ever known.
Sorely tempted to join her in sleep, he fought the urge, certain she would awaken and be gone again before he could stop her. As it was, not many minutes passed before two groundsmen walked by, their voices floating through the window, and Sunny awakened. Brandon watched her head come up and her eyes blink at him as if she were seeing a vision.
A vision was exactly what Sunny thought she saw. She
felt a bit tormented that Brandon was the vision, but then the vision moved and Sunny’s heart plummeted to her toes.
“Oh no, Brandon,” she whispered, and he had to force himself to stay where he was.
“I’m not ready to see you yet.” Her voice held an edge of panic. “I’m really not ready. How did you find me?” she asked suddenly.
“Your eyes,” he told her gently. “No one can forget your eyes. You made three stops on the way here, and each and every innkeeper told me a beautiful lady had been in, a lady with lavender eyes.”
Sunny came out of her chair, her Bible dropping to the floor. Her fatigue and confusion made her movements clumsy as she moved to put her chair between them. Brandon moved to the edge of his own chair, but with great effort remained seated.
“I’m sorry for the way I acted on the ship, Brandon.”
She sounded near to tears, and Brandon knew he wouldn’t be able to take much more.
“Sunny,” he began but she shook her head.
“It was just so silly of me to make you say that. I’m horribly embarrassed. I realize we’ll only always be friends, and that’s fine.”
Brandon came to his feet then; he’d heard enough. Sunny saw the determined look in his eyes and backed away from him, but he moved toward her with resolve. He was thankful he had found her indoors since she was flat against the bookshelves before she stopped.
Brandon didn’t touch her, but placed his hands on the shelves on either side of her and bent low to speak into her upturned face.
“Do you love me, Sunny?”
Great tears puddled in her eyes, and she shook her head yes. “I couldn’t help myself,” she said and gave a small hiccup.
Brandon’s smile was tenderness itself. “I thought a lady always knew when a man was in love with her.”
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“But I forced you to say that. I-” Sunny protested, but stopped when Brandon smiled and shook his head.
“Oh, Brandon,** Sunny whispered. “I’ve been in such pain.”
“I’m sorry,” he told her, still not moving to touch her. “Much of your pain is my fault. When I left the ship you were sound asleep. It never once occurred to me that you would wake before morning. I went to get Heather so you could leave the ship in the morning and salvage your reputation.
“I had no idea Rand and Chelsea were in London, or I would have sent them to you immediately. I also never dreamed that you would leave the ship so late at night.”
“I didn’t think about how dangerous that was until we were headed out of London,” Sunny admitted. “If Wilson hadn’t arrived, I’d have gone back on board with Dallas, but there he was when I felt like my world had fallen apart and I just-” Sunny shrugged helplessly, and Brandon filled the breach.
“There you were, loving me, thinking I didn’t love you. You were also bruised over the emir’s actions as well as my own. I’ve been highhanded and a fool at regular intervals. Can you ever forgive me, my love?”
“Oh, Brandon,” Sunny spoke painfully. “Why couldn’t I see how you felt? Why was I so blind to your true feelings?”
“I was equally blind to yours. Of course,” Brandon added dryly, “you’re a master at hiding your feelings, and I simply hid mine behind a mask of anger.”
Sunny chuckled softly. “I’m certainly able to get under your skin.” She looked doubtful then. “We will quarrel, you know.”
“Why Sunny, you’re acting as if we’re going to be married.” Brandon teased her with a smile.
He felt panic when she failed to return his smile, her lovely face frozen with uncertainty.
“We are going to be married, Sunny. Do you hear me?” At the moment he didn’t care if he sounded highhanded or not.
“Yes,” she still looked uncertain. “I hoped we would, but after Dinah, I wasn’t sure how you would feel.”
Brandon took her hand then and led her to the davenport. When they were seated, he spoke.
“I cared for Dinah very much, and I was tremendously hurt when she broke off with me, but I’m thankful for her because she was the one to tell me I loved you.”
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“Oh, Brandon, no,” Sunny said. “I was the reason?” “Yes. She believed I loved her, but not until your name was mentioned did she ever see even a fraction of the passion I had within
me.”
Sunny frowned again, and Brandon, watching her face so closely,
questioned her.
“What is it, sweetheart?”
“Nothing really. It’s just that I only see and hear your passion.”
Brandon’s brows flew to his hairline on this statement, and Sunny, to her credit, did not blush.
“Oh, Hawk,” she went on, using his nickname for the first time. “Do I really have to ask? Will you please kiss me the way you did on board ship?”
Brandon gave a great laugh of relief then, even as he reached for Sunny. In truth he had been afraid of moving too fast. She was such a lovely fit in his arms, and Brandon wanted to laugh all over again that she’d had to ask.
Sunny, on the other hand, couldn’t laugh or even think at that moment. Her senses swam as Brandon’s lips held her own. When she could talk again, her voice was so content that Brandon could only smile.
“I’m so glad we’re going to be more than friends.”
Brandon laughed at the direction of her thoughts. “Friends,” he said, “lovers, husband and wife, and Lord willing, mother and father.”
“Ummm,” Sunny sighed contentedly, only to have Brandon kiss her again.
Outside the door, Wilson found Tildy listening, her head tilted to hear every sound.
“Afraid he’s going to eat her alive?” Wilson teased the old woman, who sniffed indignantly.
“They’re not married; I ought to go in.”
“Well do, by all means, but give them a few moments. They’ve just come together. Something tells me that when Lady Sunny comes out, she’ll finally be ready to eat.”
“That’s right,” Tildy straightened quickly. “I best see that cook has a decent meal prepared for my lady.”
Wilson stood and chuckled at how easily she had been distracted.
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His gaze swung to the closed door when he heard Sunny’s light laugh. He wasn’t worried about her being alone with Lord Brandon, because he was a man in love. And in Wilson’s experience, there wasn’t a more gentle creature in all the earth than a man in love.
November 1849
lady andrea stood at the window of her bedroom at Bracken and watched Brandon and Sunny below. The Duke and Duchess of Briscoe had been home from their honeymoon, a European tour, for about two months and had asked her to come for a visit.
Andrea had arrived some 40 minutes ago, only to be told that the lord and lady had gone for a walk. She didn’t know what noise had made her move to the window, but as she watched her son’s and daughter-in-law’s antics, she was certainly glad she had.
Sunny was moving around the base of a tree, and Brandon was stalking her. Even with the window shut she heard Sunny’s laugh and laughed herself. A moment later Sunny called something to her new husband; Brandon roared and charged.
Andrea watched as Brandon swung Sunny up into his arms in a swirl of petticoats. When his lips came down on hers, Andrea let the curtain fall back into place.
Twenty minutes later Andrea sat next to Sunny on the davenport and listened to her animated account of their honeymoon. Andrea had been to all the places they had visited, and Sunny was thrilled to have such a captive audience.
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From time to time Andrea’s gaze would flicker to her son, who had said little during Sunny’s monologue but was certainly enjoying himself. Brandon’s eyes rarely left his lovely bride, and it was easy to see he found Sunny thoroughly captivating as her eyes sparkled with excitement and her soft laugh sounded in the room. The older woman watched with amusement when Sunny kicked her shoes off and tucked her feet beneath her.
When Andrea was
able to get a word in, she informed them that Holly and Jordan were expecting. One would have thought the news was Sunny’s own, so excited was she. Andrea and the newlyweds went on to speak of Miles’ forthcoming marriage and the family’s plans to be at Heather’s for Foster’s fortieth birthday party the next week.
Andrea’s visit made Sunny feel ten years old all over again. In feet, she was still talking late that night when Brandon came into her room, dismissed her maid who had been brushing Sunny’s hair, scooped Sunny up, and carried her to his own bed.
Minutes later Sunny sat before her husband on his huge bed and chattered as he brushed her thick chestnut curls.
“It’s so lovely to have Andrea here. She’s going to be a great-grandmother! Isn’t that something? She doesn’t look at all old. I can’t wait to see Holly. Jordan must be thrilled. I hope she isn’t feeling ill.”
Sunny shifted so Brandon could better reach her hair and fell silent. Brandon, who had been enjoying Sunny’s easy banter, wondered at her quiet.
“You’ve fallen awfully still,” he said softly.
“I was just thinking about the past,” she admitted.
“Want to share?”
Sunny gave a low laugh. “I was just thinking about the little 13-year-old girl who sat on theFlying Surprise,demanding a maid, while Captain Brandon Hawkesbury tried to brush her hair. I was so self-centered, wasn’t I, Brandon?”
Sunny found herself hugged and hauled carefully backward to lay across Brandon’s lap. His face was so dose to her own that she could feel his warm breath on her cheek when he spoke.
“No, you weren’t.”
“Oh, Hawk,” Sunny spoke, shaking her head in disbelief.
“You were young and frightened, and you melted my heart the first time I laid eyes on you,” Brandon responded, ignoring her doubt.
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ais that true?” Sunny loved his words.
“Yes, and even though my love has grown into something entirely different from what is was in those days, one thing has never changed: My heart still melts every time I look at you.**
“Oh, Hawk, I love you so,” Sunny whispered as her hand at the back of his head brought his lips down to her own.
