In My Wildest Fantasies by Julianne MacLean Read Free Book Online Page A

duke stopped and turned and stared bewildered at him. "My son!" He dropped the shovel, rushed forward and wrapped his arms around him. "Thank God! You've come home!"
    Devon managed to hug his father and hold the umbrella over both their heads, while his emotions fell into turmoil. His father was not the same. He did not seem to recall the terrible fury and anger upon which they had parted three years ago. It was as if it had never happened.
    "Yes, Father, I have returned," he said warily. When they stepped apart, Devon held the umbrella over his father's head, not his own. "Blake said you wished to speak to me about something."
    "Yes, it's very important."
    "Why don't we go inside to talk," he suggested. "It's pouring rain, and you're soaking wet."
    "Not yet. I have to save the garden. Everything needs to be right here, exactly where we are standing. On high ground."
    Devon looked at the disastrous layout of shrubs and hedges, which had been hastily transplanted with no sense of order or beauty. It was utter chaos, and mud was oozing everywhere.
    He hated mud. He hated the look of it, the feel of it, the smell of it.
    "Surely this can wait until tomorrow," he suggested. "Guests have already begun to arrive for the ball tonight, and Mother would like to have you with her to greet them. It is her birthday after all."
    The duke glanced back at the half dug hole. "But I must finish. I must get that rose bush into the ground before the flood comes."
    Devon swallowed uneasily. "There is no flood, Father. This is just a heavy spring rain."
    "But there is a curse on us."
    Devon stared at his father for a moment. "No, Father. It has been raining all over England. Not just here."
    "But it is our fault it is raining." His father continued to stare doggedly at him, shivering in the cold. God in heaven. He was going to catch his death if he carried on like this. He had to be brought inside.
    Devon looked down at the rose bush waiting in the cart, then back at his father.
    "I'll plant it for you," he heard himself saying, "if you will hold my umbrella and explain to me what you told Blake--how you believe only I can stop this...this curse."
    The duke reached a shaky hand out to take the umbrella from him. "Thank you, Devon. You're a good son. The very best."
    Devon glanced briefly at his father while he moved to scoop up the heavy rose bush and its jungle of roots, caked in dirt. He carried it to the hole and got down on one knee to set it inside. Then he picked up the shovel and began to fill the hole back in, making sure to cover all the roots.
    "I won't keep you guessing any longer," his father said at last. "You must marry right away, Devon, and you must convince all three of your brothers to do the same."
    Marry?
    Devon stopped patting the mud around the bush and straightened. "I beg your pardon? Did I hear you correctly?"
    "Yes. It will stop the curse and therefore stop the rain."
    "How the hell will four weddings stop the rain?"
    "They just will," his father said simply, sounding completely sane.
    Devon stabbed the shovel into the ground with his boot and leaned a wrist upon the handle. Rain pounded onto his shoulders.
    "You are not making sense, Father, and I will not succumb to this. I am going to send for Dr. Lambert immediately and insist that he prescribe something for you to take at night that will help you sleep."
    His father shook his head. "No. Dr. Lambert's a man of science. He doesn't understand any of this, and it's not sleep I need, it is a legitimate grandchild. The palace is in jeopardy."
    Devon's head drew back as if a ball had just been thrown his way. A grandchild to save the palace. Suddenly everything was becoming very clear.
    "Father," he said, as gently as possible, "I assure you, there is no need to worry. You have four sons, and you have my word that one of us will eventually provide an heir. The ducal line will continue."
    The duke laughed scornfully. "Rubbish. This rain is a warning, because you boys are all