Read Online All's Fair in Love and Lion by Bethany Averie - Free Book Online
Authors: Bethany Averie
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raise.
“I’ll review your contracts,” I answer. “Ask Ayres to put them on my desk.”
Satisfied, they scurry off to finish their day’s work.
“Lord Monroe!” The steward blocks my passage in the hallway.
“What is it?”
“We’ve a problem in the chicken coop.”
“Should I be concerned?”
The steward shifts his weight from his left foot onto his right. “Ten of them escaped and we can’t find them.”
“If you don’t track them down by the end of the day, purchase new ones. You’re dismissed.”
No wonder my parents were rarely home. One day and I’m exhausted.
Sasha. Her name flickers in my mind, never far from my thoughts. My servants aren’t entirely at fault. Every time I’ve thought of her over the last several days, loneliness wraps itself around me. Because of my promise, I’ve avoided the den. I haven’t entered her mind, either. But, why doesn’t she understand? I hadn’t intended to upset her. I honestly meant no harm. Walking into my den, I grasp a glass wine goblet. The fragile cup cracks in my grip. How do I make her believe me? Breaking the glass, I step through the boundaries. Somehow I’ve got to get her to listen to me.
She stands by the kitchen counter, on the telephone. Her shoulder-length hair seems to beg me to slip it from the hairclip. I battle the desire to feel the silky strands between my fingers. She’s wearing a long, navy cotton skirt, and a soft, white blouse. As she turns around, I catch my breath and my wrath melts away.
“Yes, I’ll meet you there tomorrow, Mel,” she says. Her eyes alight on me and she nearly drops the phone.
Staring at her back, I can’t move or breathe. Doesn’t she realize what she does to me?
“You have a nice night, too. See you.” She hangs up the phone and focuses her attention on me. “Why are you here?”
“I told you I understand your ire.”
“Good.”
I frown. “Don’t you care about my perspective?”
She rubs her temples. “Actually, I do. In fact, I forgave you days ago.”
My rage boils again within me. “Strange, because I didn’t receive a message.”
She picks up a coffee cup and brushes past me. “I don’t want to fight anymore.”
I follow her into the living room. “Why didn’t you say so?”
She sinks onto the couch and sets her mug on the side table. “The truth?”
“Preferably.” I settle into the recliner.
“I’m not good at relationships. You know I haven’t much experience with men.” She smiles faintly. “You must since you’ve been in my mind.”
I incline my head in acknowledgement.
“Even though I believe in you, Monroe, I don’t know how a relationship with you will work.”
My temper not quite under control, I fold my arms. “Explain.”
“Everyone would scoff at me if I told them about you.”
“You don’t have to tell them where I’m from or what I am.”
“Well, there’s Mel,” she says helplessly. “What should I tell her? I can’t lie.”
The confusion on her face banishes my fury. “You don’t have to lie.” I get up and sit next to her. “We’ll figure out something. Please give us a chance.”
“I want to.” She bites her lower lip. “You told me you wanted me for your wife.”
“There are no words to express how grateful I’d be, if you became my wife. But, I won’t pressure you.” I trace my thumb over the back of her hand. “We may not have known each other very long, yet, my heart is already acquainted with yours. I can’t explain it clearly, I’m simply aware it does. I do realize Firstlings need more time, though.”
“You’re right, we do. There are many factors to consider.”
“Yes.”
She traces the seams on a cushion. “You seem so confident.”
“I believe in us. Whatever comes our way, I think we can find an answer. The question I have is whether or not you want to marry me.”
“I’m not positive it’s possible.” She stares at her hands. “Since my parents’ deaths I’ve wished for
“I’ll review your contracts,” I answer. “Ask Ayres to put them on my desk.”
Satisfied, they scurry off to finish their day’s work.
“Lord Monroe!” The steward blocks my passage in the hallway.
“What is it?”
“We’ve a problem in the chicken coop.”
“Should I be concerned?”
The steward shifts his weight from his left foot onto his right. “Ten of them escaped and we can’t find them.”
“If you don’t track them down by the end of the day, purchase new ones. You’re dismissed.”
No wonder my parents were rarely home. One day and I’m exhausted.
Sasha. Her name flickers in my mind, never far from my thoughts. My servants aren’t entirely at fault. Every time I’ve thought of her over the last several days, loneliness wraps itself around me. Because of my promise, I’ve avoided the den. I haven’t entered her mind, either. But, why doesn’t she understand? I hadn’t intended to upset her. I honestly meant no harm. Walking into my den, I grasp a glass wine goblet. The fragile cup cracks in my grip. How do I make her believe me? Breaking the glass, I step through the boundaries. Somehow I’ve got to get her to listen to me.
She stands by the kitchen counter, on the telephone. Her shoulder-length hair seems to beg me to slip it from the hairclip. I battle the desire to feel the silky strands between my fingers. She’s wearing a long, navy cotton skirt, and a soft, white blouse. As she turns around, I catch my breath and my wrath melts away.
“Yes, I’ll meet you there tomorrow, Mel,” she says. Her eyes alight on me and she nearly drops the phone.
Staring at her back, I can’t move or breathe. Doesn’t she realize what she does to me?
“You have a nice night, too. See you.” She hangs up the phone and focuses her attention on me. “Why are you here?”
“I told you I understand your ire.”
“Good.”
I frown. “Don’t you care about my perspective?”
She rubs her temples. “Actually, I do. In fact, I forgave you days ago.”
My rage boils again within me. “Strange, because I didn’t receive a message.”
She picks up a coffee cup and brushes past me. “I don’t want to fight anymore.”
I follow her into the living room. “Why didn’t you say so?”
She sinks onto the couch and sets her mug on the side table. “The truth?”
“Preferably.” I settle into the recliner.
“I’m not good at relationships. You know I haven’t much experience with men.” She smiles faintly. “You must since you’ve been in my mind.”
I incline my head in acknowledgement.
“Even though I believe in you, Monroe, I don’t know how a relationship with you will work.”
My temper not quite under control, I fold my arms. “Explain.”
“Everyone would scoff at me if I told them about you.”
“You don’t have to tell them where I’m from or what I am.”
“Well, there’s Mel,” she says helplessly. “What should I tell her? I can’t lie.”
The confusion on her face banishes my fury. “You don’t have to lie.” I get up and sit next to her. “We’ll figure out something. Please give us a chance.”
“I want to.” She bites her lower lip. “You told me you wanted me for your wife.”
“There are no words to express how grateful I’d be, if you became my wife. But, I won’t pressure you.” I trace my thumb over the back of her hand. “We may not have known each other very long, yet, my heart is already acquainted with yours. I can’t explain it clearly, I’m simply aware it does. I do realize Firstlings need more time, though.”
“You’re right, we do. There are many factors to consider.”
“Yes.”
She traces the seams on a cushion. “You seem so confident.”
“I believe in us. Whatever comes our way, I think we can find an answer. The question I have is whether or not you want to marry me.”
“I’m not positive it’s possible.” She stares at her hands. “Since my parents’ deaths I’ve wished for
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