The Notorious Proposal by Terry Long

Author:Terry Long [Long, Terry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781938076039
Published: 2014-03-25T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

“Victor!” Michael called out as soon as he spied him in the study, sitting with his back turned. With eagerness, he walked inside. “Where the bloody hell have you been? Have you any idea how much worry you’ve caused?”

His brother staggered to his feet, as if it cost him all his energy to do so. When he turned, Michael nearly faltered. Victor looked like hell, his clothes wrinkled, hair mussed, like he hadn’t slept in weeks. His face seemed drained of blood, pale. Dark bags rimmed sunken brown eyes which once used to sparkle with laughter and mischief. His face now folded with lines of exhaustion, instead of the broad, cheerful smiles he usually sported.

“Where is she?” Victor asked in a guttural voice he barely recognized.

While studying his brother, guilt and remorse washed through him. His body felt frozen and burnt at the same time like he’d been dumped into the Thames’ freezing waters, and then dipped in Satan’s own blistering flames.

Victor had been correct about Ally’s virtue. But that still didn’t make her an ideal wife. She wasn’t a good match for Victor. Victor needed a submissive wife, one who did as she was asked, and by God, one who didn’t defy him at every turn!

“Where is she? Where’s Ally?” Victor’s voice cracked when he said her name.

“Where were you staying? You never touched your funds.” Michael felt as if a knife had gone through his heart. The thought of Victor groveling for food and shelter brought on a pang of nausea. Returning his brother’s somber gaze, he noticed the baggy clothing that hung limply from his body. “You’ve lost at least half a stone. Are you famished?”

“I want to see Ally. I need to see her.”

“Why don’t you go upstairs, have a bath, and a bite to eat? And rest, perhaps? And then—”

“No! I don’t want to eat- I can’t eat! All I want is to see Ally. Let me see her.”

The bleating tenor was back in his voice. Now, this was the Victor he knew. Truly, his brother looked ready to weep. Michael wanted to help him, but this wasn’t the way.

“Please let me…let me just see her. Please.”

Victor got his wish. Ally stood at the doorway, looking confused for a brief second until she recognized the younger man. Her eyes widened. “Victor?”

His brother stared at her like she was an apparition holding a key to all his troubles. He went to her, knocking over a chair in his wake, and crushed her to him.

“You have no idea of all the horrible days and nights I had to go through without you,” Victor said into her hair.

Michael clamped on his jaws to keep from growling.

“Victor, do let go,” Ally said into his chest, as she struggled to put some distance between them. She twisted her body, and her arms flayed and pushed at him. It was obvious Victor was much too strong for her. Though Michael fumed at the mere spectacle of his wife in his brother’s arms, he couldn’t lie that he wasn’t pleased to see Ally wrestling for her freedom.

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