Read Online Desire and Duty by Marie Medina - Free Book Online

stared first at her ring and
then at the two of them. Then he looked down at the letter, his expression
unreadable as his eyes moved back and forth. He sucked in his lower lip. Gwynn
came to sit beside him and pointed to the line that had caught her attention.
“See what Ash says. ‘Arion became
distressed when he heard you were sick, and he agreed to come right away.’
He cares. I know it might be awkward, but I don’t think it will be as bad as
you were thinking.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Naysay all you want. I’m so
happy.”
    Vane folded the letter and laid it
in his lap, his expression still a bit stunned. “This is no time to talk about
me.” He looked up at Orman and then back at her. “I’m not surprised, but I
didn’t expect it this quickly.”
    “Neither did I !”
Gwynn said. She looked at her ring. “Right size and everything. Sneaky man that
he is.”
    “Sneaky? Hardly. Hopeful, perhaps.
The diamonds were from a necklace that belonged to my mother. After our picnic
went so well, I had the jewelry maker set them in a ring for me. I thought I’d
be hanging on to it for a while, but…” He shrugged.
    “I crept into his bed. The poor
thing felt honor bound,” she said, grinning at him and winking at Vane.
    Orman grinned back and crossed his
arms. “You said yes, so tell people anything you damn please.” He looked at
Vane. “Tell me where you want a room made ready for Arion, and we’ll get on
it.” He held his hand out to Gwynn. “I still have a castle to run, and I’ll be
needing my best helper.”
    “Aye, we need to get on that.” She
wanted to insist that Arion sleep in the adjoining chamber, but she held her
tongue, waiting to see what Vane would say.
    “Perhaps across the hall,” Vane
said.
    “Actually, they’re still working on
the window. The hail damage last week. The new panes of glass only arrived
yesterday. Even if they finish in time, the room will smell of paint. Very
unpleasant. But he should be kept close so you won’t have to send servants for
him.” He nodded to the next room. “Perhaps the secondary bedroom in your suite?
It just needs fresh linens from when I slept in there the night you first fell
ill.”
    Vane hesitated and then nodded.
“Yes, you’re right. He can’t just sit around waiting for me to need blood, and
there’s no use sending a maid back and forth at all hours.”
    Orman bowed and then linked his
hand with Gwynn’s. “We’ll see to it right away.”
    As they left the room, Gwynn looked
back at Vane, who was unfolding the letter and reading it again. Once they’d
closed the door, she pulled Orman down into a long kiss.
    “What was that for?” Orman asked.
    “Being perfect.”
    “I’m just good at what I do.” He looked
at the closed door a moment. “And I don’t know what Arion’s situation is, but
if there’s any chance he and Vane could work this out, I’m going to do all I
can to help, just as he did for me.”
    “Yes, we must thank him especially
at the wedding reception.”
    He kissed her quickly. “I intend
to.”
    They walked down the hall hand in
hand, hope and the promise of new beginnings filling Gwynn’s heart.
     
    The End
     
     
    www.mariemedina80.blogspot.com
     
     
     
    Other Books by Marie Medina:
     
    www.evernightpublishing.com/marie-medina
     
     

If you enjoyed this book, you may also like:
     
    FireStarter by Khloe Wren
     
    The Vampire’s
Breakfast by Kera Faire
     
    Beauty in the Beast
by Elyzabeth M. VaLey
     
     

    E VERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®
     
    www.evernightpublishing.com