The Duke of Christmas Past by Kim Bowman Read Free Book Online Page B

Tess?
She'd certainly gone to extreme lengths to be with the man, had
even… died. His sister had been so devastated to learn the man had
married another that she'd ended up on a ship that had sunk. The
realization cut through him like a jagged knife. What if he agreed
to let them marry and McDaniel again broke her heart?
    "Sometimes the right decision isn't always the best
decision."
    He'd made what he'd thought had been the right choice
the first time in 1812. The one his father would have made. It had
caused him to lose his sister and the woman he loved. So had it
been the best decision? One worth repeating? He'd been helpless to
save Delia before. But now…
    Donovan strode forward, not quite certain how to
start or what to say. Not at all sure what he should do.
    McDaniel's face blanched. His eye had swollen shut
and had already turned a deep purple. "I'm completely to blame for
what happened. I should have stayed away as you request—"
    "Yes, you should have. I made myself quite clear."
Donovan crossed his arms. "I'm of the same mind, and have no
intention of letting the fact that you left the ball with her sway
my decision."
    McDaniel bent and retrieved his hat and gloves from
the sofa. "I understa—"
    Delia jumped to her feet. "No!" She glared at
Donovan, contempt clear in her eyes. "I'll never forgive you for
this. I hate you."
    Tess let out a gasp. "Delia."
    "And I'll spend the next eight years hating myself
more than you ever could." Had he just said that out loud?
    The room fell silent. Delia and McDaniel furrowed
their brows. They exchanged a look that clearly said they thought
he'd gone daft. I'm inclined to agree.
    Donovan's heart stuck in his throat, making speech
impossible. His tattered nerves had his whole body twitching. Would
this blasted night never end? And what would he find when it did?
He knew what he'd find if he didn't allow Delia to marry McDaniel.
And that was a future he had no intention of returning to.
    Still unable to speak, he closed the distance between
him and his sister and pulled her into his arms. In the end,
keeping her alive was all that mattered.
    "Donovan, I can't breathe."
    "Oh… sorry." He released her, a bit shocked at
himself for such an emotional reaction. "Er… um… as I was saying,
I'm of the same mind. But I find myself in an awkward predicament.
I find I'm also no longer able to forbid you two from
marrying."
    Delia's hand went to her chest and she whipped her
head back and forth between him and McDaniel. Hope danced in her
eyes, lighting up her face. "W-we can marry?"
    "I haven't agreed to that. Not yet. I'm just willing
to withdraw my rejection of the marriage for now. I'll make my
final decision after I speak with McDani—"
    Delia squealed and flung her arms around his neck.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you."
    "Yes, your grace. Thank you," McDaniel said, a
splitting grin covering his whole face.
    "Don't be so quick to thank me. You haven't heard my
conditions yet." He set Delia away from him and locked eyes with
her. "And don't think you've gotten out of the tongue-lashing you
deserve, young lady. It was very foolish of you to run off
tonight." A part of him wanted to tell her that one day she ran off
and never came back, but how? How could he tell her such a horrific
thing? He prayed to God he never had to hear that news again. If
that meant he had to let her marry McDaniel, then the choice was
easy.
    Her face turned as red as her dress, and she lowered
her head. "I-I know. I'm sorry."
    "I don't want you to get the notion that you've
somehow forced my hand and that's why I'm willing to reconsider." I'm doing this to save your life.
    Delia's only answer was to nod.
    "McDaniel, I'll have a word in private in my study."
Donovan gestured for the young man to follow him from the room.
    McDaniel bowed. "Of course, your grace." He touched
Delia's arm. A deep affection swam in the man's eyes. In that
moment, nothing else mattered. McDaniel was offering his