Simmer All Night by Geralyn Dawson

Author:Geralyn Dawson [Dawson, Geralyn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Historical Romance, Contemporary, General, Romance, Historical, Fiction
ISBN: 9780671034108
Google: 5vbxDyzvwrcC
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Published: 1999-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

"Lana?" Chrissy murmured.

She nudged Michael aside so she could see into the room.

The library's two occupants did not notice her arrival, so intent were they upon each other. Behind a large mahogany library table, Lana stood facing Lord Welby, her expression filled with turmoil. "I spent time with you to help Chrissy, not to win you for myself. I wanted what was best for her."

"You still do. We both know now that I'm not the right man for Miss Delaney. If I were I wouldn't be falling—"

"Don't," she interrupted. "No. You can't. We can't. I forbid it."

"My dear, whether I give voice to it or not does not stop me from feeling it."

"You're mistaken. You hardly know me. Nothing happens this fast." Lana brought her fingers up to her temples and massaged them in small circles.

"It can. It has."

"No. You don't know what you want, Lord Welby. Two weeks ago you wanted Chrissy."

"Two weeks ago I knew I was ready to marry and I methodically went looking for a bride. Yes, Miss Delaney appealed to me. She's a beautiful, fascinating woman." Then his voice deepened, grew husky. "Understand that I never expected to find love in marriage. It's not the way of the Harrington family. I thought with Christina I could find contentment, friendship. I thought I could be happy with that. But then you launched your campaign to convince me to take a trip to Texas and I found out that love can exist. It does exist."

She winced and shut her eyes. "Then it must die,"

"Why?"

"Because of Chrissy! You are engaged to marry her. And even if that insurmountable obstacle didn't exist, there is still the problem of who you are and who I am. You are the most eligible bachelor in England. I'm a homespun widow with two hooligan children. You can't... be attracted to me."

"Yes, I can, and I am. Very much so." Welby lifted her hand and pressed a kiss against her palm. "I ask you not to speak of yourself and the children in such a deprecatory manner."

"I won't betray my friend."

"Of course you won't. My dear, have you not told me she sets great store in making a love match? Wouldn't it be a greater betrayal of your friendship to allow this force to go forward knowing love does not exist on either side?"

"But it could, given time," she protested. "You're a wonderful man, and Chrissy could come to see that."

"She loves another," he argued. "Is Cole Morgan the man?"

Lana's head jerked up and her gaze met his, her eyes wide and wary. "I never said that."

Welby gingerly pressed his fingers against the discoloration beneath his eye. "I drew that conclusion on my own."

In the hallway, Michael Kleberg whipped his head around and gaped at Chrissy. He whispered, "You love Mr. Cole?"

"Shush!" she whispered back.

"Mrs. Kleberg," Welby continued. "Lana, I don't wish to hurt Christina either. She is a lovely woman, both inside and out. I recognized that from the beginning. If you recall, I spent a great deal of time with her once she accepted my suit.

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