A Proper Guardian by Carolyn R. Scheidies

Author:Carolyn R. Scheidies
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-08-17T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

The next morning, Winter decided to have breakfast in the informal dining hall only to find Alistair already filling his plate at the sideboard. After his exit the night before, Winter did not know how to face her guardian.

“Good morning. Did you sleep well?” A smile crinkled the corners of Alistair’s mouth.

Blushing, she stammered, “Well enough.”

From his light, impersonal conversation, the close hug of the night before might never have happened. Did his words mean so little then? Was her guardian, in truth, the rake she believed from the first?

* * *

When Winter joined him at the breakfast table Alistair felt awkward, not knowing how to respond to her. The confused hurt in her eyes when he left rather abruptly the night before cut him deeply. He had to take care how he treated her. It was almost enough to drive him to his knees. His lips twisted. Would God answer the kind of questions his heart asked? His relationship with his ward was something he wasn’t ready to explore too deeply.

Alistair hurried away to visit the secretary, his mind a whirl of conflicting feelings and emotions. He did know close proximity to Winter posed a dangerous threat to his peace of mind. He was unable to forget her soft body melting into his embrace.

“Alistair.” The secretary ran a hand through his thinning hair. “We have word of several of our operatives hiding in Calais.”

“I’ll see to it.” Alistair cleared his throat. “Does anyone else know?”

“We’ve tried to keep it quiet, but, as you well know, there is a leak in this office, and we have yet to discover it. I’m sorry. I know this puts your people at risk.”

“I’ll alert the captain of my yacht. On the other hand, mayhap I’ll attend to the matter myself.”

“No need to put yourself in danger like that.” The secretary surveyed the younger man as though sensing something amiss.

“I am going.”

He shook the hand held out to him. “God go with you, Alistair.”

“Yes. God,” Alistair responded. Seemed at every turn he was reminded that faith mattered. Maybe it was time he considered the state of his faith. He grimaced as he considered how God viewed his lifestyle. Not so bad now that Winter had joined his household. Still and all, her deep faith made him consider the faith he once held.

* * *

For the next few days Alistair was absent without warning or explanation. In her room, Winter bowed her head. “Lord, I am so confused and angry. I want to do that which is right before You, but when Justin touches me I melt. Why did he hold me? Why did he go away?”

The next couple of days she chastised herself for her sense of desertion. She tried to hide her feelings from the too-discerning duchess, but was only partially successful. As though fearing Winter was going into decline over the unexplained absence of her nephew, the duchess tried to keep her occupied with shopping and receptions.

Winter never realized how full a day could be.

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