Harlequin Historical December 2019--Box Set 1 of 2 by Louise Allen

Author:Louise Allen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

They returned to the subject of their new neighbour over dinner.

‘I have been thinking,’ said Alex.

‘About?’

‘Lascelles. I might call upon him tomorrow. I should like to talk to him about my mother and I think he will talk more freely if it’s only the two of us.’

Disquiet threaded through Jane.

‘I am in two minds about him, Alex. I find him… Oh, I don’t know…disconcerting, I suppose.’ The word wasn’t quite strong enough, but it would do until she knew him better. ‘However, I couldn’t help but sympathise when he spoke of his father. It would surely be enough to make any man bitter. But…do be careful.’ The warning left her lips before she could help it.

Alex stared for a moment, then laughed. ‘Careful? What do you think he might do? Abduct me like he abducted Susie and tried to abduct Rosalind?’

Jane’s cheeks burned. He was right. Alex was no child, he was a grown man, but…Lascelles…there was something…

‘Your aunt is the least judgemental person I’ve ever met, and she warned me to be cautious if we should ever meet. And your father—’

‘My father has nothing to say about who I associate with.’ Alex scowled as he spooned gooseberry pie into his mouth.

Jane bit her lip against the urge to probe Alex’s touchy relationship with his father. He was already irritated with her.

‘I am just…uneasy about Lascelles, Alex.’

And now she was irritated with herself. What had happened to her resolve to speak her mind in this marriage?

‘And I do not like him asking us to keep his return from your family. Are we meant to keep it secret when we go to the Abbey for Christmas? That will be difficult…and, when your father finds out—’

‘Don’t start worrying about something that may never happen.’

Jane stared at Alex’s sharp tone. What had she said? ‘Alex… I—’

‘I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.’ Alex laid down his knife and fork and reached for Jane’s hand. ‘You goose. Lascelles is just a man. He’s no threat to me, but he does give me the chance to learn more about my mother.’ He folded his fingers around hers and gently squeezed. ‘Dear Honeybee. I can see you’re still fretting but please believe me—I know what Lascelles is capable of, and I promise I shall stay on my guard.

‘I want you to be happy, Janey—not constantly worrying over me. If you keep this up you’ll have me wondering how on earth I’ve managed all these years without you to watch my back.’ His grin took the sting out of the rebuke, but she recognised it as such nevertheless.

She squeezed in return. ‘I am happy, Alex. More than you know.’

And it was true. Mostly. But the shadows were there, nipping at their heels. Shadows that hid Alex’s past. A past he was no nearer to sharing with her, as far as she could see, and a past that seemed to be steadily widening the rift between them. Against that, the problem of Lascelles seemed trivial.

Alex stood, and tugged her to her feet.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.