Read Online Beloved by Robin Lee Hatcher - Free Book Online Page B

happy with her husband’s candidacy. But it wasn’t pleasant enough to fool him.
    Earlier in the week, he’d hoped he and his wife had taken a few steps closer to each other. Instead Diana had chosen to widen the distance between them. It felt to Tyson as if the problems in their marriage were becoming as wide as the Grand Canyon. How was he to change that?
    “Thank you for standing with me,” he said.
    She didn’t respond with words, but if he read the look in her eyes correctly, she believed he’d given her no other choice. He couldn’t argue on that score, but he’d done it for a good purpose. In the end, she wouldn’t regret it. He swore she wouldn’t.
    His new assistant, Herbert Eastman—a rail-thin fellow who tried to hide his youthful years behind a generous mustache—appeared athis side. “Mr. Applegate, Justice Waverley would like a moment of your time. He’s with some men who work with him.”
    Tyson wondered at the wisdom of Samuel Waverley being here for this announcement, let alone introducing Tyson to other men in government. A judge should not appear to favor one party over any other. But Justice Waverley apparently wasn’t concerned his presence would appear in a negative light.
    Tyson motioned for Diana to follow his assistant, but she shook her head.
    “Would you mind terribly if I excused myself?” she asked softly. “I’m afraid I’ve developed a headache.”
    Come to think of it, she did look somewhat peaked. “Shall I call for the carriage to take you home?”
    “No. I can wait until you are through. But I would like to sit down somewhere away from all these people.”
    Tyson looked toward the entrance to the capitol. “Go inside. I’m sure you’ll find a quiet spot somewhere. Try the basement. It’ll be cooler down there. I’ll come looking for you as soon as I can.”
    “Thank you. And please apologize to Justice Waverley for me.”
    Tyson watched for a few moments as Diana made her way toward the steps. Then he turned and followed his assistant.
    Diana had told the truth. Her head was splitting. She was beyond grateful to find a cool, poorly lit corner with a bench against one wall where she could sit and close her eyes.
    However would she survive the next six months? How many times would she have to stand on some platform and stare into the sun and listen to speeches and smile until it seemed her cheeks would crack from the effort? She hadn’t expected it to be thisdifficult. It was the pretense, she supposed, that made it so hard. But perhaps with time she would get used to pretending.
    Six months. I can stand anything for six months .
    The words were becoming her mantra.
    “Hello, Diana.”
    Her eyes opened in time for her to see Brook doff his hat. Surprise caused her to sit straighter. What else should she feel, seeing him for the first time since the night of the dinner party? Pleasure? Gladness? Knowledge that she’d missed his company? She felt none of those things. Only a kind of confusion. Almost a sense that being with him in this deserted hallway, away from the sight of others, was somehow wrong.
    “You’re looking lovely.” He motioned to the bench. “May I join you?”
    “Yes.”
    He sat. “I take it that announcement is why your husband returned to Idaho.”
    “Yes.”
    “And to you.”
    “Yes.”
    “Rather cruel of him to use you in this way.” Brook turned his gaze down the hallway. “I’ve missed seeing you, my dear. The past two weeks have been much too quiet without you.”
    His words surprised her. He’d seemed so coldly formal when they’d parted company. She’d thought—
    “We both know we can never marry, even if you were free of him.”
    Those words were more what she’d expected of him.
    “Not unless he was to die after all,” Brook added.
    A shiver coursed through Diana. Something about his tone of voice—
    He looked at her again. “But I do hope we can remain friends.”
    “Of course we can.”
    “Your husband