The Rake to Rescue Her by Julia Justiss

Author:Julia Justiss
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-09-20T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

As arranged when they had parted late the previous night, shortly after daybreak, Alastair downed a quick breakfast and prepared to leave his sister’s house at the Royal Crescent. His few belongings packed, he settled for penning Jane a note; he regretted parting from her on such unhappy terms without even a goodbye, but as she’d already been abed when he returned, and since leaving Bath early was imperative, it was the best he could do.

After hiring a post-chaise, he set off for Laura Place. A grim smile creased his lips as, for the first time, he knocked at her front door. At least now, there would be no more need for subterfuge.

Admitted within, he found Diana ready. The nursemaid had her sleepy son bundled up, and the small staff was busy closing up the house. A short time later, he ushered them to the coach.

‘I still can’t believe you talked me into going to Barton Abbey,’ Diana murmured to Alastair, steadying the maid as Minnie carried her sleeping son up the step.

‘You trust me to keep you safe, don’t you?’ he asked as he handed her in.

‘If I didn’t trust you to keep my son safe, I wouldn’t have agreed to go.’

Tacitly accepting, for the moment, her slight change of emphasis, he followed her into the vehicle.

Soon, the coachman negotiated his way through Bath’s busy streets and on to the road south towards Devon. Despite the jolting of the carriage, after a late night and an early rising, both the maid and Diana drifted off to sleep. Alastair sat watching them, savouring the feel of Diana’s head nestled on his shoulder.

Finally, an end to shadow-boxing the family that had so drastically altered his life eight years ago. He couldn’t wait to confront the Duke in open combat, drive home a victory, and free the two of them to explore their future.

Would Diana, compelled by extreme circumstance to rely upon him, continue to reveal herself after this episode was successfully concluded? Or would she close back in upon herself, refusing to admit him any further? So manipulated and constrained had she been, he knew he couldn’t force or even cajole her to warm towards him.

Ah, but how he ached to help her further along the road to recapturing the joy, optimism and confidence she’d once possessed in such abundance.

Even if it meant, in the end, she took her revitalised spirit into a new life without him.

* * *

Initially too shy to speak, James soon overcame his reserve and proved an amazingly resilient traveller, eagerly watching the countryside and peppering Alastair and his mother with questions about the towns and vehicles they passed, the fields and workers observed out the windows. He’d also been delighted with the novelty of dining at public houses and spending the night at a busy coaching inn.

Forced to concede the necessity for it, Alastair had ordered two rooms, one for himself and a second for Diana, Minnie and James—and lain awake for hours each night, acutely conscious that Diana slept close by.

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