Beware the Rich Man by Laura Landon

Author:Laura Landon [Landon, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-31T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Willow woke early the next morning. The conversation she’d had with Lord Kendrick had kept her awake most of the night. Then, when she was finally able to fall asleep, she did little more than toss and turn beneath the covers.

She had but two choices ahead of her: marry Kendrick and give up her dream; or refuse Kendrick’s offer of marriage and live the rest of her life with the guilt of knowing that she’d destroyed her brothers’ chances for happiness.

Which meant that she didn’t have a choice at all.

Willow dressed and went down to breakfast. She was later than usual, but if either her mother or father remarked on the lateness of the hour, she’d use last night’s outing as an excuse. Although, she doubted they’d comment.

When she entered the breakfast room, her mother was sitting at the table. It looked as if she’d finished eating earlier but was taking her time with her coffee. Or that she was intentionally waiting for Willow to come down.

Willow walked over to her mother and kissed her on the cheek. “Good morning, Mother.”

“Good morning, Willow. Fill your plate and join me.”

Willow went to the sideboard and put eggs, a slice of bacon, and a toast point on her plate, then took it to the table and sat across from her mother.

“Did you sleep well, dear?” Her mother motioned for their butler to refill her coffee. When their cups were filled, she dismissed the staff so they were alone.

“Yes,” Willow answered. “Quite well.” It wasn’t the truth, but any other answer would force an explanation which she simply was not up to at the moment.

“I noticed that you spent quite a long while in the garden with Lord Kendrick last night.” Her mother added sugar to her coffee and stirred it longer than usual. “What did you talk about for all that time?”

Willow noticed that the tone of her mother’s voice when she mentioned the amount of time she’d spent with Lord Kendrick was almost as bland as if she were reading Cook’s list for the market. The nonchalance of her words didn’t deceive Willow for a moment. She knew her mother wanted to know if Lord Kendrick had indicated his intentions last night, and if she had accepted his proposal.

“You’ll be pleased to know that Lord Kendrick expressed his feelings for me, Mother. And indicated that he wanted to marry me.”

“Oh, Willow! What did you tell him?”

“I told him that I would be honored to be his bride, but first I needed to tell him something.”

Her mother looked both surprised and shocked. “What could you possibly have to tell him?”

“My passion for designing.”

Her mother placed her cup in her saucer with a clang. “Surely you didn’t, Willow! Why would you want to tell him that? You might have ruined everything!” Her mother paused, then her face grew serious. “Did you? Did you ruin everything?”

“I don’t know, Mother. I may have.”

“What did Lord Kendrick say?”

“He listened to me, then indicated that he was surprised by my confession.

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