Emerald Ecstasy by Lynette Vinet Read Free Book Online Page A

even if I were well and walking, my husband is never around. So, I doubt there would be bawling brats to keep Dera occupied. She wants grandchildren, you know.”
    â€œI have three grandchildren already. By my son Paul.” She looked at Lianne, but her comment was directed to Amelie.
    â€œHow could I forget?” Amelie asked so sweetly that Dera winced. “The issue of your oldest son and the beautiful, wonderful, virtuous Allison. Mentioning Allison stirs up memories of Daniel. Have you heard from him, Dera? Any idea when he’ll come home and honor us with his presence after taking the Parisian art world by storm?”
    Lianne noticed Dera ground her teeth. Even the most unobservant person would realize that Dera and Amelie didn’t get on well. She wondered at the strangeness of the situation concerning Daniel Flanders. Why would his wife have to ask her mother-in-law if she knew when he would return from abroad?
    â€œI received a letter just this morning. I meant to tell you about it. Daniel said he’d be home after the new year.”
    â€œWhat wonderful news, Dera! The prodigal husband returns.”
    â€œAmelie, I believe you’re doing your best to be trying.”
    â€œAm I? Then perhaps the petulant cripple should retire to the four walls of her room. Claude.” She motioned to the man who waited in the corner like a shadow. “Please take me upstairs.” He sprang forward like an obedient puppy and scooped her up into his arms. Her fair skin looked fairer against the dusky darkness of his. “Thank you both for an entertaining chat,” she said before he carried her from the parlor.
    Dera shook her head in dismay. “I shouldn’t have reprimanded her, but Amelie is such a trial. I know it’s hard for her, not being able to walk, but sometimes I believe she could if she wanted to badly enough. The doctor said after the fall from the horse that there wasn’t any permanent damage, but Amelie insists she can’t or won’t walk. Sometimes I don’t think she wants to live either.” She heaved a sigh. “As you can guess, everything isn’t right with my son’s marriage. He shouldn’t have married her, but…” She threw up her hands in despair.
    Lianne hugged Dera around the shoulders. “I feel sorry for her, and I have the feeling that she wants children very much.”
    Dera wished to say more, to confide in Lianne about the real state of affairs between Amelie and Daniel. They didn’t share a bedroom when Daniel was home, so there wouldn’t be any children at Green Meadows to love and spoil as she had been unable to do with the grandchildren who lived in far off Ireland. “Don’t take offense at Amelie,” she said instead.
    â€œI won’t.” Lianne smiled. “I really am very glad I’m here. I hope you won’t grow tired of me, but I needed to feel family around me. Soon I shall perform in the opera in town, but until then I should like to belong to your family.”
    Kissing Lianne’s cheek, Dera leaned back and studied her beautiful oval face, the green eyes which tilted at an angle and her coral lips. What an enchanting creature she was! Too bad she had never met Daniel. She felt Lianne would be perfect for him. But a match between her son and goddaughter was impossible now.
    â€œYou are already part of my family,” Dera assured her. “For as long as you wish.”

5

    Boring! Boring! Amelie tossed aside her book, not caring that it careened off the white eyelet bedcovers to land in a corner.
    She folded her arms in an exasperated huff across her small bosom and wondered if it was too late to ring for Claude. Perhaps she could interest him in a game of cards … But then she thought better of it. Even though he slept in the small room next to hers and no one thought the worst of it, she didn’t wish to intrude upon his privacy. And Claude was a