Read Online Give All to Love by Patricia Veryan - Free Book Online Page A

is—you have not married.”
    His eyes alight with laughter, Devenish exclaimed, “Good God! Do you fancy me to have lived a life of endless yearning for my unrequited love? To the contrary, my lad. Yolande was far wiser than I. Oh, damme! That don’t sound very polite! What I’m trying to say is—” He checked, with the sensitive man’s reluctance to put his inmost feelings into words. “I care for her deeply, and always will. Only—when a fellow wants very much to—er, to have a loving wife, a home, and—God willing—children…” And he had to stop again, because he did want children so very badly, and now it appeared he would never have any of his own.
    Lyon said earnestly, “But—what’s wrong with that? It is what every man dreams of, isn’t it? To find a lady he can care for? To have a family?”
    â€œYes. But—sometimes people want it so much they—sort of, mistake love of the dream for—for … Well, there are different types of—of loving, I think. Sometimes—not often, I grant you, but, sometimes people share a devotion so equal, so intense, that from the very beginning they are like … the two parts of one—whole.” His eyes had become sad, his voice remote. “Yolande and Craig have that. Truly, a gift from…” He broke off, his face very red. “Jupiter, how dashed sober we are! You have made me talk a lot of nonsense. Now, you shall tell me—do you mean to—offer for Josie when she comes home?”
    Lyon groaned. “I know how I feel, Dev. But—I’ve still some years of work before I can start my own practice. Guy has settled a generous sum on me, as you know. We’d not starve. But—I cannot tell whether she feels— She’s so admired. So lovely and bright and—and altogether adorable. And—my fear is that … she may choose Fontaine.”
    â€œFontaine?”
    Startled, Lyon saw Devenish’s face transformed. The eyes were slits of rage, the fine features flushed. A voice he scarcely recognized snarled, “Has Elliot Fontaine been slithering around Josie?”
    â€œWhy—yes. How could you not know? They met at the Bolsters’ Spring ball.”
    â€œI know that! And—since?”
    â€œHere and there, I suppose. He’s been away of late, but he is come back, and you may see him everywhere. He’s very popular.”
    â€œAnd very cunning, damn him! I have never once seen him hanging about her. By Gad, I’d better not!” Devenish stood and stared southward. “Is he friendly with the Drummonds, do you know?”
    Standing also, watching the savage wrath of the man beside him, Lyon said uneasily, “I cannot say. But I heard that he and Josie met again when you were in Town a few weeks back, and—”
    â€œAnd she said nothing! The baggage! She knew damned well I’d have his liver out, if—”
    â€œDev!” Lyon put one hand on the other man’s sleeve, then recoiled before the murderous anger he faced. “Lord, man! What is it? What have you against him?”
    Devenish glared at him in silence, then said in a more normal tone, “I know him, is all. I never dreamed he’d dare cast his filthy eyes at Josie, for she’s quite beneath his touch.”
    â€œI do not see that!”
    â€œYou may not, but he does. If he wants her, it’s not as his wife, of that I do assure you!”
    â€œWhy the hell not? She’s been gently bred up! Her birth may not be—”
    â€œDefinitely not. He’s from an ancient and proud house. He’s not the kind to marry a girl with no background.”
    Stung, and defensive of this apparent impugning of his adored lady, Lyon snapped, “Then you should not object to my offer! I’ll marry her tomorrow, if she’ll have me, and be proud to do so. We should suit—we’re both