A Lot Like a Lady by Kim Bowman & Kay Springsteen

Author:Kim Bowman & Kay Springsteen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 1475112092
Publisher: Astraea Press
Published: 2012-03-25T21:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The foyer was dimly lit when Grey returned home. He shrugged out of his coat and handed it off to Higgins.

“A letter waits on your desk, sir.”

Grey’s heart jumped. Further word from Jon? Certainly his own missive had not had time to reach his friend as yet. Had Jon realized Grey would need more information than he’d sent in his first message?

“Thank you, Higgins.”

“Shall I bring you a supper tray, sir?”

At the mention of food, Grey’s stomach offered mild protest and he shook his head. “No, thank you. That will be all for the evening.” He slipped into his study, where a fire crackled a warm welcome, and stepped to the hearth to ease some of the evening’s chill.

He hadn't had a settled evening since she had come to reside in his home. Maybe with Jon’s note would come the answers Grey needed to put an end to her ridiculous charade. He poured himself a glass of Madeira and stalked to his desk.

The ragged scrap of dark paper called to him from the center of his blotter as he sank into his leather chair, and he snatched it up. The seal was old and cracked, barely holding on. Grey turned the battered and stained letter over to find his name printed in bold block letters.

Fingers of ice raced up and down his spine at the sight of the familiar handwriting. “Will!”

Hope sparked, tangled with joy and wound a path outward from his madly beating heart. The silver letter opener with the Markwythe crest glinted in the firelight as he slipped the tip under the seal and then unfolded the note. The tremor of his hand blurred the words, so he set the paper in front of him and closed his eyes.

“Will,” he whispered, bringing his brother’s face to his memory. Light brown hair, always a bit unkempt. Laughing blue eyes that denied the seriousness of life.

A chill twined along his spine. The stinging words with which they’d parted company now jailed his memories of the amity they’d shared as youths.

Will had broken the news of his impending departure on their walk back to the house from the stables at the country estate shortly after their father’s death from a fever.

“What do you mean you’ve purchased a commission in The King’s Army? You have responsibilities here. To the land… the people.” Grey halted his steps near the low stone wall that edged the near pasture and stared at his brother. In the distance, a yearling colt of pale chestnut kicked up his heels.

Will expelled a heavy sigh, which stated more clearly than words that he wished to be anywhere other than engaged in a discussion on the subject of his impending military service. “Those were Father’s responsibilities.” He draped his long frame over the top of the moss-covered stone wall and stared into the field. “Never mine, not by choice. Don’t you ever wonder what else is out there? How much more of life awaits around the next bend? Over the next hill?”

“No!” snapped Grey.

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