The weeks following the proclamation of guardianship were the happiest of Aislinn’s life. Her days were busy with household tasks, the evenings frequently held events and parties, and her nights... Her nights sleeping in Luke’s arms were glorious.
They were also bittersweet. Despite their gratifying, passion-filled activities, which left her exhausted and the bedsheets tangled, she’d often found herself unable to sleep.
Luke had given her a life that she’d never dreamed of having and would continue to, of that she had no doubts. That was what troubled her. Luke wasn’t living his life. He was living for everyone else. He was trying, trying so very hard. He’d purchased the first two buildings to be renovated and had been enjoying working on them, had even been looking at buying more. But then he stopped, explaining that a member of the ton couldn’t be seen getting his hands dirty.
He was frustrated by that but tried not to let it show. She’d seen it, had said that it shouldn’t matter, but he insisted that he couldn’t do anything that might tarnish the family name.
Then he’d spent days in meetings, researching other businesses to invest in. He’d chosen a few, but he wasn’t going to find what he was looking for. Not even with his newest idea of buying an estate. One of their own.
Letting out a sigh, Aislinn put the book back on the shelf. The one about America. She’d taken it to bed last night, hoping to see the shine in his eyes again.
Shaking her head, she wiped away the tear that formed in the corner of one eye. She’d seen the shine in his eyes, but it hadn’t been because of the book. He had set that aside and focused all of his attention on her. Which had been truly wonderful.
Loving him was so easy, but it was also hard. So very hard.
The front door opened and closed, and she heard Gabe’s greeting, Luke asking for her location. She wiped both eyes, making sure they were dry, and pinched her cheeks in preparation for seeing him.
He appeared in the doorway of the study, with a smile that went from ear to ear. ‘I found it. Our estate. It will be perfect. I’m sure of it.’
They met in the centre of the room and he grasped her waist with both hands.
‘We can drive over there later this week. Just you and me,’ he said. ‘You can decide what you think. It’s only about five hours from London, but we’ll still spend the night.’
He kissed her, and she returned his kiss with all her heart and soul. Then she pulled up a brave face. ‘Sounds wonderful.’
‘It will be.’ He kissed her forehead, then stepped around her. ‘There will be plenty of room for Ivy to ride Half-Pint in more than a circle in the backyard. And Fern can get the dog that she wants to teach to dance. You’ll be able to refurbish the entire place. Rugs, drapes, furniture, whatever will make you happy.’
What about you? she wanted to ask, because whatever would make him happy was the only thing she truly wanted. He looked happy, acted happy, but she knew deep down he would only be happy underneath that big Montana sky he loved so much. The same sky that lay over a place he’d recently, and quite kindly, told her wasn’t fit for a lady or children of a duke. He’d gone on to say that there wasn’t a cook there, or housekeeper, or any of the staff they were used to having. That there were no balls or fancy dinner parties or a number of other things that he thought she cared about.
She didn’t, but she was expected to.
He had been talking about the estate, about moving some of the household staff there when he bought it, but had suddenly gone quiet. She turned, looking to see why.
Standing at the desk, he was staring at an envelope.
‘What is it?’ she asked.
‘Oh, just some mail that must have arrived today.’ He tossed it on the desk. ‘I’ll read it later.’
She walked to the desk, picked up the envelope and, recognising the postage, said, ‘It’s from America.’
‘Yes. From Raf.’
Her hands shook. She had never dreamed of getting married, of having a family of her own, because she’d lost all that as a child. Now she had it again and didn’t want to lose it. But she would if she had to. For him. He had a right to be happy. ‘Read it.’
He grinned. ‘It won’t be all that interesting. Raf’s a man of few words.’
‘Unlike you,’ she said, teasingly, to lighten the mood. ‘Prove it.’
Chuckling, he took the letter, broke the seal, and opened the flap. While pulling out the letter, he leaned a hip against the desk so they were side by side. ‘I’m not good at writing like you,’ he started to read, but paused to glance at her with a quick grin. ‘You could have knocked me over with a feather when I read your last letter about you getting married. She must be one heck of a gal to have lassoed you.’
She giggled at the way he winked at her.
‘I can see why you’re staying in England,’ he continued to read. ‘Maybe I’ll visit you there someday. Miss that ugly mug of yours. The cows and cowboys are doing fine, but I have some questions for you. You know I’m not good with the money and the Army is wanting to buy some beefs. I’m wondering if you want me to sell—’ He stopped reading and his back stiffened.
She looked at him as he stared at the letter, reading silently for a moment, before he looked at her, shaking his head.
‘The rest is boring,’ he said. ‘Raf just wants to know how many cows to sell, and for how much. I’ll write him back.’
It was more than that, but she chose not to pry. ‘I’ll leave you to do that.’ She kissed his cheek and left the room.
The letter hung in her head throughout the afternoon, especially as Luke remained in the study right up until mealtime. He was his entertaining self during the meal and the evening hours, but she caught him frowning when he thought no one was looking.
As she prepared for bed, dropping her night rail over her head, a somewhat useless act because, more often than not, the gown was removed long before she fell asleep wearing nothing more than the leather strap necklace he’d slipped over head over two months ago, Aislinn told herself that she needed to be strong. To act.
Luke was already in bed, reading through the stack of papers that had been delivered earlier concerning the estate he’d mentioned. He smiled as she exited the changing chamber. ‘I’m sure you’ll like this place.’
She didn’t answer, nor did she walk to her side of the bed. Instead, she went to his side and flipped back the covers, exposing his bare loins. Then, she hitched up her night rail and climbed on, lowering herself while straddling his hips.
He set aside the papers as their bare skin made contact. Smiling, he gathered the material of her nightgown, which was bunched up around her waist, with both hands.
She raised her arms over her head, preparing for him to lift the gown off. Before losing her nerve, she said, ‘We both know you need to go to Montana.’
His body stiffened, and his hands released the material of her gown. ‘No, I don’t.’
She kept her arms up, as if more interested in their actions than their words. ‘Yes, you do. You call Raf your partner, but only you own the ranch. The land and the cattle.’
Luke remained still. ‘He is my partner. Owning something is only a part of what it takes to make it successful. Raf has my permission to do whatever is necessary.’
She lowered her arms and cupped his face with both hands. Kissed him softly. ‘The girls and I have everything we need here, and people who will come to our aid if needed during your absence.’
He grasped her wrists and pulled her hands off his face. ‘Why are you doing this?’
There was no giving up. She couldn’t. ‘Because I know how committed you are to seeing things through to the end.’
His gaze shifted, avoided meeting hers, as he said, ‘I already have, as far as the ranch is concerned. That part of my life has come to an end. I wrote to Raf this afternoon. Told him to sell the ranch and cattle.’
That was exactly what she’d feared and had to be cautious. ‘I imagine that’s not a responsibility he expected.’ She kissed his chin. ‘Or wants. But being your friend—’ she kissed him again ‘—will do as you ask, whether he’s comfortable with it or not.’
He let out a tiny growl.
She could feel a particular body part that she was sitting on growing hard. Despite the seriousness of their conversation, her own wants and needs were swirling inside her.
‘Are you trying to get rid of me?’ he asked.
Reaching down, she grasped the hem of her night rail and pulled it over her head, dropping it on the floor. ‘Do I look like I’m trying to get rid of you?’
He cupped her breasts and teased her nipples with the pads of his thumbs. ‘No. You look like you’re trying to tempt me with this gorgeous body of yours.’
She wiggled against his hardened member, showing him how ready she was for him. ‘Oh?’
‘Yes.’ In deft, swift movements, he flipped their positions so she was on her back with him above her and his member deep inside her.
‘It worked,’ he claimed.
Hooking her legs around his, she arched her hips upwards, taking him in even deeper. ‘Indeed.’
Hours later, snuggled up against his side, where she’d dozed but not really slept, she stated, ‘You’re still awake.’
‘As are you.’ He kissed her forehead. ‘Because we both know I need to go to Montana.’
She blinked back the tears and kissed his chest, knowing she now had to live with the consequences of her actions. ‘I will miss you.’
His arms tightened around her. ‘I don’t want to leave you.’
It was a moment or two before she could speak around the lump in her throat. ‘It won’t be for ever.’
‘No. Six weeks at the most.’
He was committed to her and the girls, he would return, but she wasn’t so naive as to believe that selling his ranch would relieve his desires to live the life he so loved. The life he’d created for himself. ‘When will you leave?’
‘As soon as possible. Within the next couple of days. It would behove me to be there to negotiate the deal with the Army. If I can sell the herd in its entirety, that would just leave the land and homestead.’ His sigh sounded ragged. ‘That will take a lot off Raf’s shoulders.’
She was sure it would, and attempted to brace herself for the hardest day of her life. Saying goodbye to him was going to be so hard, so sad.
Luke put every provision in place for Aislinn and the girls for every possible scenario that he could think of and tried to make the trip sound like a grand adventure.
He showed them his route on a world map. How he’d take a train to Portsmouth, then a passenger ship to Baltimore, Maryland. From there, more trains would take him to Chicago, Illinois, another to St. Paul, Minnesota, and a final one to Bozeman, Montana Territory. Given a variable or two, he explained that he’d be travelling for nearly two weeks, but would write to them as soon as he arrived at the ranch.
None of that was making the trip more exciting for him, nor the idea of leaving any easier.
Which would happen tomorrow morning. He considered not going too many times to count, even considered taking Aislinn and the girls with him, but the trip was long and not overly comfortable. He was better off going alone. Getting his business done.
Luke climbed off the thoroughbred, half wondering why he had yet to name the animal, and walked up the walkway to Percy’s town home. His brother had agreed to oversee the completion of the renovations on the buildings he’d purchased and anything else that might come up in his absence, and Luke was grateful for that. Actually, he and Percy had been getting along well the past few months. Better than ever.
His knock on the door was answered by the butler, who informed him that Percy wasn’t home.
‘I don’t need to see him,’ Luke said. ‘Just wanted to drop this off.’ He handed the butler the final inspection papers for the orphanage. Percy knew about the changes but would need the actual papers, which had just arrived at the house that afternoon. ‘Just give these to him, please.’
‘Very well, sir.’
With a nod, he turned and walked towards his horse. He had one foot in the stirrup when he heard his name.
He was surprised to see Hazel walking out of the doorway.
He removed his foot from the stirrup. While Percy had remained in town for Parliamentary duties, Hazel had returned to Havenbrook over a month ago. ‘I was just dropping some paperwork off for Percy. I know he’s in session today.’
‘Yes, he is.’ She stopped before him and glanced about as if making sure they were alone. ‘I was going to burn it, because, well, it’s all over now, but when I heard you were making a trip to America, I felt as if I should give it to you. I only arrived in town this afternoon and well...’ She lifted an envelope and handed it to him.
‘What is this?’
‘That was discovered in Aislinn’s room after you left Havenbrook. Percy and I knew about it. That was why he petitioned to become her guardian, so she wouldn’t marry some blackguard who would take all of her money.’
Luke’s spine shivered.
‘We don’t have to worry about any of that now, but if something were to happen to you, she might need that.’
Totally confused, he asked, ‘What is it?’
‘A provision of Rowland’s will. Aislinn’s inheritance.’ Hazel patted his arm. ‘You have a safe trip now, and tell Aislinn that if she needs anything, to let us know.’
Luke watched Hazel walk back inside, then looked down at the envelope. Aislinn’s inheritance? That didn’t make any sense. Unable not to, he lifted the flap on the envelope and pulled out a single sheet of paper. Handwritten, and brief, it stated that if Aislinn remained with the girls until they were of the age of twenty-one, she would receive a lump sum of monies—a substantial lump sum. It was signed by Rowland and witnessed by someone named Stockholm, dated two days before his brother had died.
Luke’s hand shook.
His entire body shook.
And his mind conjured up a dozen memories all at the same time.
She’d said she had no idea why Percy would want guardianship over her. Said she wanted to remain with the girls until they were old enough that they no longer needed her. Said she’d never thought about marriage, until meeting him. Him. Who she agreed to marry, but not be married to, so he could return to America as soon as the guardianship was settled.
She’d said other things, too. So many things that were flying through his mind like bullets shot from a revolver.
No wondered she transformed from being a governess to the lady of the house so easily. That had been her plan all along.
The paper crinkled as he balled his hand into a fist.
All that time he’d been mad at Percy, thinking his brother was trying to make a fool out of him, when it had been her the entire time. The only reason she’d married him was for herself. For money. She’d wanted him to gain guardianship so she could fulfil the terms of her inheritance. Now that she’d secured that, she wanted him out of the way, telling him to go to Montana—for the sake of others. The only other she was thinking about was herself.
It felt as if barbed wire was wrapping itself around his heart. He’d spent his entire life avoiding any kind of commitment, yet here he was, willing to give up a life he’d loved, for her, and it was all an act on her part. She’d lied about not knowing why Percy would petition for guardianship over her. Lied about everything.
The pain inside him felt explosive. She didn’t care about him. Didn’t care about the girls. She’d been so convincing, acted so innocent and naive. It had all been a ruse.
He mounted his horse, and during the ride home, it was as if pieces to a puzzle all came together, forming one very clear picture.
Damn! He’d been so stupid. Had done the one thing that he’d sworn he’d never do. More than one. He’d married her. Cared about her, loved her. He’d known better, but had still walked straight into her trap.
The anger inside him was hot and cold at the same time, as was the pain in his chest. She reminded him of a tornado the first time he saw her, and that was exactly what she was. She’d spun her lies around him, sucked him in, all of him, and now that she had what she wanted, she was spitting him back out on the ground, broken and damaged beyond repair.
Oh, no, he wasn’t broken. No one would ever break him. She might be like a tornado, but he was a wild horse, destined to run free. Remain free.
Upon arriving at the stable, he told John to leave his horse saddled. As usual, Fern and Ivy were riding Half-Pint in the backyard, and his heart constricted in his chest.
Damn her! Damn her for... He shook his head. There were too many things for him to start naming them one by one.
Ivy brought the pony to a stop beside him. ‘Are you mad, Uncle Luke?’ she asked.
He took control of his expression, smiling at her. ‘No, just sad.’ He took a hold of one of her hands and one of Fern’s. ‘I’m sad, because I have to leave tonight for America, instead of in the morning. But I will write to you, and I will be back in six weeks.’
‘I’m going to miss you,’ Ivy said.
‘Me, too,’ Fern said.
‘I’m going to miss you both, very much.’ He gave them each a hug and a kiss on the cheek, then walked to the house.
Once inside, he went straight upstairs to the bedroom.
He was in the midst of stuffing the clothes he’d thrown onto the bed into his saddlebag when the door opened.
‘I was in the kitchen,’ Aislinn said. ‘Doo is making all of your favourite foods for supper and—’
Her words faded as her gaze met his. The muscles in Luke’s neck ached as he kept his cold glare on her, still jamming his clothes inside the dual leather bags.
‘What are you doing?’ she asked.
‘I’m leaving tonight.’
‘Why? What’s happened?’
The anger mounting inside him went beyond anything he’d known. Her betrayal not only angered him, it hurt. He’d falsely believed her to be authentic and genuine, but that was all a ruse. In fact, her audacity was unmatched. Yet, he had to give her credit. She was one hell of an actress.
‘Luke?’ She walked closer. ‘You’re scaring me. What’s wrong?’
‘Wrong?’ He shook his head. ‘I’d say just about everything.’
She stopped near the foot of the bed. ‘Excuse me?’
He picked up the saddlebags. ‘You got what you wanted, Aislinn, but you overlooked one thing. Once married, a husband has control over all funds.’ He tossed the bags over his shoulder. ‘You will never get that inheritance.’
She frowned, shook her head. ‘I have no inheritance. My father delivered flour for the mill and he died when I was seven.’
Luke pulled the balled-up paper out of his pocket and tossed it towards her. ‘Maybe that will refresh your memory.’
‘What is it?’ she asked, without picking it up.
‘The reason you married me.’
Questioning her hearing, Aislinn repeated, ‘Excuse me?’ She had never seen him so angry. So cold.
‘You know,’ he said, ‘that idea that just popped into your head. Did you think I would never learn the truth?’
The tone of his voice, the glint in his eyes, made her entire body tremble. She would never lie to him, not ever, and having him believe that she was a liar hurt. Was so hurtful, that she wasn’t sure if she wanted to cry or scream.
Choosing somewhere in between, she let out a tiny growl. ‘You know the truth! It was for you and the girls.’ His anger was making her angry. ‘Do you suddenly think that I wanted to get married before that day? Wanted to have to learn how to become the lady of the house? Wanted my life to turn into something completely different? Because, I assure you, I didn’t. None of that ever crossed my mind.’
The disgust on his face sent a shiver rippling up her spine.
‘You have six weeks,’ he said, ‘When I return, I will petition the courts for a divorce.’
She grasped a hold of the bedpost to keep from collapsing. ‘A divorce?’
‘Yes, a divorce. That is one benefit that the privileged, the wealthy can obtain, and I will.’