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Sir Leent on, "But hter doesn’t always understand atoward his goals" He spread his arive this up entirely But I can’t do that, not a day before I give up breathing I know you understand"
He nodded "I do"
Brareat relief to finally feel understood In the months since his injury, none of his peers--nor his superiors, for thatdetermination to return to command They all seerateful, to retire and get on with the rest of his life They couldn’t comprehend that this was his life
"For h to acy behind" Sir Lewis touched a fingertip to the scale model cannon "This cannon will be reatest invention is yet to be unveiled"
His keen blue eyes met Bram’s "And you may be wounded, but I know your finest battles are yet to be fought I want to give you every chance I can I’ve written Generals Hardwick and Cus and invited them to attend the militia’s field review I feel certain they’ll see what I do That you’re your father’s son A land needs you back in command"
Emotion thickened his throat "Sir LewisI don’t knohat to say I don’t how to thank you"
That was a lie Bra his head on straight, doing his duty, drilling athe hell away froht
"Can I interest you in dinner, Rycliff?"
Bram’s stomach answered for him, loudly "I appreciate the invitation, butI’hed and indicated his own disheveled attire "We don’t stand on ceremony in this house, Rycliff"
"If that’s the case, I wish you’d just call me Bram"
"Bram it is" The older man untied his apron and laid it aside Then he clapped Bra to eat, son"
The old man ushered hiht of stairs
As they wound through the house, rich, dark paneling welcomed Bram from room to room, and the collective warmth of dozens of candles seemed to seep into his bones Not since his infancy had he resided in a house like this For years now, he’d slung his can-weary bones in tents and barracks and officers’ quarters Then hospital beds and finally, in London, simple bachelor’s rooms He’d always avoided family residences such as Summerfield, purposely Because they were more than houses They were homes, and they weren’t for hiely achy inside
"Susanna will be pleased to see us, no s I don’troom at all She’s always after me to eat more, take care of myself"
Brae all ihts of Susanna from his mind, body, heart and soul Dinner was perfect A co in which to see her, converse with her, and learn how to act like a nor beast His behavior over the last few days had been reprehensible Beneath this warrior’s coat, he was a gentleht of it somehow in all those freckles, but unless he meant to throay this chance at rede the part
"Here we are" Sir Lewis led Brah a set of paneled double doors, announcing loudly, "We have a guest tonight, Susanna You "
Here they went, Braht He would eat dinner He would use the correct forks He would engage her in conversation that did not include the words "skin," "lick," or "powder keg" He would thank her for her kind hospitality and helpful ministrations Then he would kiss her hand, take his leave
And never lay a finger on Susanna Finch again On this he was absolutely, irrevocably resolved
Until he turned the corner
Braes He felt certain he would faint And his light-headedness had nothing to do with his recent head injury or his fa to do with her
Hideous bathing costu anything besides a siht she was dressed for dinner, clad in a suoith beaded brocade triht and honed it to lu out every seed pearl sewn into her sash, every ribbon weaving through her shi, upswept hair As she bent to smooth a wrinkle in the tablecloth, artfully curled tendrils framed her face and caressed the pale slope of her neck
"Lord Rycliff" Straightening, she gave him a shy smile
He couldn’t speak She looked
Beautiful, he supposed he should say But "beautiful" wasn’t a strong enough word Neither was "dazzling," "breathtaking," or "devastating"--though that last came a bit closer than the rest
Her outward appearance was only part of the effect What called to him was the invitation implicit in her posture, her voice, her lovely blue eyes She looked as though she’d been waiting on hiht
She looked like holad to see you awake," she said
"Are you?"
"You brought ht In this house, that’s a shed "And now that I’ you to excuse o wash before dinner"
The oldereach other
She cleared her throat "Are you feeling well?"
"I don’t know," he answered It was the truth He wasn’t sure of anything at thehim forward All his chaste resolutions and respect for Sir Lewis aside, he simply couldn’t do otherwise Whatever this was between them, it commanded his loyalty in a forceful, visceral way To deny her pull would seem a dishonor all its own