Read Online Lord Heartless by Tessa Berkley - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Tessa Berkley
Ads: Link
fresh country lass will retreat back to Holly Grove and I fear I shall never see another grandchild to carry on the Montague name.”
“I have an heir.”
“True, however, I should like one to hold the name Montague even before birth. Alexander will always be first in line, but a spare would seal the continuation of the line that dates back to England’s founding.”
“All this for history, Mother?”
She pressed her hands against her gown. “No. While history dictates our line must continue, there is something in this girl that frightens you. I am intrigued for I think Providence may have set this in motion, and I would like to see how it will end before I die.”
“Providence.” Landon couldn’t help the chuckle that mocked his words. “You will never die, Mama. As long as there is a Montague, England stands on the throne.” He watched her nod. Looking down he brushed something from the dark brown of his vest. “Very well, I shall go do God’s holy work.”
“Do not mock the Lord, Landon.”
He lifted his hand. “I shall not. I shall go to her and unveil the mysteries of love with the gentleness of one who has wooed her for months.”
“Very well, and tomorrow, I will take care of making sure she has what she needs befitting her station.”
He nodded and walked toward the door. Hand upon the knob, he turned. “Mother, with your permission, I should like to give Juliet a gift. That simple band seems so plain. I wish to reset the Broadmoor Sapphire in a fine ring.”
The countess paused, her head tilted for a moment off center as she thought. “Of course, very appropriate, my dear. The color would reflect the blue in her eyes. Now go, for she has been too long alone.”
***
Landon crept up the shadowy stairs to the room where Juliet awaited. Passing no one in the hallway, he still could feel the eyes of the staff behind every door and curtain. His mother was correct. They would know, and stories would pass between servants in hushed whispers of the market or in the taverns if he failed in his duties.
He paused at the door. Would she be in the bed, covers drawn toward her chin shivering as if she’d caught a chill? He drew the back of a hand across his lips and wished he had not consumed so much brandy. Both were like lambs to the slaughter. Her father begging him into marriage, and her needing the money he’d accumulated to survive. He had only taken one virgin in his life and that turned disastrous.
“I shall not hurt her,” he whispered and grasping the door eased it open. He blinked against the change in light and looked in surprise as she rose from the couch. “Lady Juliet, I did not expect to find you up?”
“I fear I could not sleep.” She laid the book down on the marble of the table. “I found a book to read. I-I hope you are not offended.”
“On the contrary, I am glad to find something that excites my new wife. What tickled your interest? I fear most of the classics are housed downstairs in the library. I shall make sure you know where that is located tomorrow.” He walked toward her and with the table between them, paused to pick up the leather bound copy. Turning the spine, he glanced at the gold stamped wording. “ Oliver Twist .” Shyly she dropped her chin so their eyes no longer met. “Rather hard reading before bed is it not?”
“I enjoy Mr. Dickens’s works, it seemed rather encouraging to see another whose life was undergoing more misfortune than my own.”
He nodded and lay the book down on the table as an awkward silence stole across the room. He wished for something witty to say. Dampening his dry tongue, he opened his mouth to utter the first thing that came to his mind. “You looked nice, tonight.”
Her eyes widened.
He grimaced at her reaction. How lame his comment seemed to be.
Looking away, her arms moved to encircle her body. “Thank you, although a few thought otherwise.”
“Alexander is too bold for his age. I will speak to
“I have an heir.”
“True, however, I should like one to hold the name Montague even before birth. Alexander will always be first in line, but a spare would seal the continuation of the line that dates back to England’s founding.”
“All this for history, Mother?”
She pressed her hands against her gown. “No. While history dictates our line must continue, there is something in this girl that frightens you. I am intrigued for I think Providence may have set this in motion, and I would like to see how it will end before I die.”
“Providence.” Landon couldn’t help the chuckle that mocked his words. “You will never die, Mama. As long as there is a Montague, England stands on the throne.” He watched her nod. Looking down he brushed something from the dark brown of his vest. “Very well, I shall go do God’s holy work.”
“Do not mock the Lord, Landon.”
He lifted his hand. “I shall not. I shall go to her and unveil the mysteries of love with the gentleness of one who has wooed her for months.”
“Very well, and tomorrow, I will take care of making sure she has what she needs befitting her station.”
He nodded and walked toward the door. Hand upon the knob, he turned. “Mother, with your permission, I should like to give Juliet a gift. That simple band seems so plain. I wish to reset the Broadmoor Sapphire in a fine ring.”
The countess paused, her head tilted for a moment off center as she thought. “Of course, very appropriate, my dear. The color would reflect the blue in her eyes. Now go, for she has been too long alone.”
***
Landon crept up the shadowy stairs to the room where Juliet awaited. Passing no one in the hallway, he still could feel the eyes of the staff behind every door and curtain. His mother was correct. They would know, and stories would pass between servants in hushed whispers of the market or in the taverns if he failed in his duties.
He paused at the door. Would she be in the bed, covers drawn toward her chin shivering as if she’d caught a chill? He drew the back of a hand across his lips and wished he had not consumed so much brandy. Both were like lambs to the slaughter. Her father begging him into marriage, and her needing the money he’d accumulated to survive. He had only taken one virgin in his life and that turned disastrous.
“I shall not hurt her,” he whispered and grasping the door eased it open. He blinked against the change in light and looked in surprise as she rose from the couch. “Lady Juliet, I did not expect to find you up?”
“I fear I could not sleep.” She laid the book down on the marble of the table. “I found a book to read. I-I hope you are not offended.”
“On the contrary, I am glad to find something that excites my new wife. What tickled your interest? I fear most of the classics are housed downstairs in the library. I shall make sure you know where that is located tomorrow.” He walked toward her and with the table between them, paused to pick up the leather bound copy. Turning the spine, he glanced at the gold stamped wording. “ Oliver Twist .” Shyly she dropped her chin so their eyes no longer met. “Rather hard reading before bed is it not?”
“I enjoy Mr. Dickens’s works, it seemed rather encouraging to see another whose life was undergoing more misfortune than my own.”
He nodded and lay the book down on the table as an awkward silence stole across the room. He wished for something witty to say. Dampening his dry tongue, he opened his mouth to utter the first thing that came to his mind. “You looked nice, tonight.”
Her eyes widened.
He grimaced at her reaction. How lame his comment seemed to be.
Looking away, her arms moved to encircle her body. “Thank you, although a few thought otherwise.”
“Alexander is too bold for his age. I will speak to
Similar Books
