The Christmas Knot by Barbara Monajem Read Free Book Online Page B

tears like the echoes of Lizzie’s sting behind her eyes? Just get on with it , she thought miserably. Send me away .
    “I realize that my reaction was unwarranted,” he said.
    She was so surprised that she couldn’t find a word to say.
    “If you intend to stay at the Grange, I shall have to tell you the whole story—you will learn it from the villagers if not from me—but if you mean to leave, there is no point in my doing so. Therefore, I must ask—what are your plans?”
    Her mouth dropped open. “My plans ?”
    “Yes, Edwina, your plans. Last night I gave you the means to leave anytime you wish, which I expected would be immediately. Do you intend to stay here as governess in spite of the, er, history between us, which seems to be a sticking point? We got off to a bad start yesterday, but I am prepared to let bygones be bygones.”
    “ You will let bygones be bygones? How dare you?”
    “If you are prepared to do the same,” he retorted. “Must you take umbrage at everything I say? I don’t know why you’re so damned incensed with me, but nor do I care. All I want to know is whether we are prepared to put up with one another for the sake of the children. I shall do my part, but I must have some assurance that you are willing to make a commitment as well.”
    “You want to know if I can make a commitment?” she cried, more furious by the second.
    “I certainly know I can,” he said. “Your ability is the one in question.”
    “You are the most odious, insulting person I have ever met!”
    “The feeling is mutual, believe me.” Some emotion crossed his face, quickly suppressed, and she thought she knew what it was. He, like she, was remembering a day in London almost twelve years ago. He’d been released from the Fleet, since presumably one of his relatives—the previous Sir Richard, perhaps—had paid his debt. Edwina was walking in the park with her new husband, whilst Richard was on the arm of a woman she’d never met. It hadn’t taken her long to find out—an American woman, a minor heiress like Edwina, who had come to London for the season. If she’d needed proof that Richard was indeed a fortune hunter, here it was.
    Their eyes had met for one long, horrid moment—her eyes and Richard’s, then hers and the woman’s. Then Richard had sneered and pointedly steered his fair companion away.
    He turned away now as well and flung open the door. “Come, it’s a sunny day and almost pleasant outdoors, a rare occurrence at this time of year. I want to show you something in the garden.”
    ~ * ~
    Richard couldn’t help but watch as Edwina gathered herself and trod down the passage to her bedchamber, nose in the air again. The memory of better times overwhelmed him with foolish nostalgia. He liked her feisty nature and had looked forward to marital tussles as the precursor to intense, satisfying lovemaking. There didn’t seem much hope of any kind of satisfaction between them now, physical or emotional.
    Good God, was some idiotic part of him hoping for just that? He might blame his cock’s response as a natural phenomenon, but his heart should know better. He’d paid her hoping she would simply leave, but seemingly she didn’t intend to do so.
    Perhaps, if she did indeed stay a while, they would hash the past out between them and come to some sort of truce. She might even become a friend of sorts—he could certainly use someone to talk to, to confide in—but that was probably too much to hope for. They seemed to be blaming one another for what had happened twelve years ago, which made no sense to him, but he didn’t have the energy to deal with it now. His entire being was—must be—concentrated on saving his son.
    He went downstairs to reassure Lizzie, who was in the butler’s pantry polishing the silver. “I can’t promise that Mrs. White will stay, but I’m not planning to dismiss her,” he said.
    “Shall I talk to her, Papa? Perhaps I can convince her. She’s not fearful