Read Online Written in the Stars by Patricia Rosemoor, Sherrill Bodine - Free Book Online
Authors: Patricia Rosemoor, Sherrill Bodine
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unsteady steps toward him.
She swayed and Will reached out to grab her, as did Elizabeth. In her attempt to help,
she innocently pressed her lush, warm body into his.
He saw frank desire light her eyes as he had in those forbidden stolen minutes in
Laurel’s chamber. He lost pace with his breathing. His nerves were shocked and burned
beneath his own hard desire which had increased with each day.
“Enough for today, Laurel. Time to rest.” His grandfather stepped between Will and
Elizabeth to help Laurel walk slowly back to her bed.
Elizabeth lifted her shadowed eyes to stare at him. “Will…” she said huskily.
Loud applause shocked them all into turning toward the door. Carlyle strolled into
the room.
“Magnificent, Laurel. You have surprising resilience for one with such a delicate
constitution.”
Laurel’s wavering smile tore at Will’s already bruised heart. “Laurel is very brave,”
he declared to his brother. Blue steel meeting dark, their gazes clashed before Carlyle
moved to Elizabeth’s side, taking her hand to kiss her wrist.
“Now that our sweet Laurel is recovered, we must continue the celebrations for our
wedding.” Slowly he ran a fingertip along the delicate bones of her face.
Common sense told Will to remove his hand from his sword hilt and step away to calm
his pounding need to protect Elizabeth from his brother.
It was she who stepped away, shaking her head. “I feel I should still stay by Laurel’s
side until she is fully recovered.”
Will felt Elizabeth’s tension from across the room and cursed the fact he could do
nothing to ease it.
Pain gripped his gut as he remembered how he had been used to put her in this harm’s
way. Long had he suspected Carlyle of cruelty and vices, yet he had been eager to
offer the unknown Elizabeth York for her money and the power behind her lands into
such a man’s keeping.
It is no balm to my conscience that it was done for the betterment of the linage.
Does any man have the right to order another’s life in such a way?
“Yes, Carlyle is correct.” The duke’s long strides carried him quickly into the chamber
and to Laurel’s side. She stretched out her hand and he held it, his eyes scanning
each of their faces. “The fair in honor of the wedding must proceed. The people need
a reason to celebrate. They need to feel safe and share in our happiness at this great
alliance.”
Will watched Elizabeth, wanting to somehow give her his strength.
Eyes shadowed, she nodded. “I understand, your Grace. When do you wish us to attend?”
“There is no need to wait longer. The sky is to be full of stars this night.”
Laurel laughed softly. “My lord speaks true, Elizabeth. It will give me pleasure to
think of you at the fair. Such a merry place full of wondrous sights.” She glanced
up at the duke. “You must also attend with Elizabeth and Carlyle, my lord.”
“No, my dear, I shall stay with you,” He lifted her hand to his lips.
“I would also like to stay,” Will said quietly, meeting his father’s steely eyes.
His father did not offer this night, nor did Will ask for it. Solemn, the duke nodded.
“Yes. Your lieutenant shall accompany them.”
Knowing his father well, knowing he was again reminding him that duty must prevail,
Will conquered every movement, every expression, not wanting to betray his decision.
Tonight he would tell his father his true thoughts. He glanced at Elizabeth’s profile,
she held her chin high, her back straight. Tomorrow he would fall on his knees before
her asking forgiveness for leaving her, for casting away this gift between them of
a love he never dreamed possible. Ask for forgiveness for not fighting for her as
his heart told him he must while his honor forbid it. He felt his grandfather’s eyes
watching him and, turning, saw that Charles Grey already knew what had to be done.
…
Triumphant, Carlyle impatiently awaited Florea in
She swayed and Will reached out to grab her, as did Elizabeth. In her attempt to help,
she innocently pressed her lush, warm body into his.
He saw frank desire light her eyes as he had in those forbidden stolen minutes in
Laurel’s chamber. He lost pace with his breathing. His nerves were shocked and burned
beneath his own hard desire which had increased with each day.
“Enough for today, Laurel. Time to rest.” His grandfather stepped between Will and
Elizabeth to help Laurel walk slowly back to her bed.
Elizabeth lifted her shadowed eyes to stare at him. “Will…” she said huskily.
Loud applause shocked them all into turning toward the door. Carlyle strolled into
the room.
“Magnificent, Laurel. You have surprising resilience for one with such a delicate
constitution.”
Laurel’s wavering smile tore at Will’s already bruised heart. “Laurel is very brave,”
he declared to his brother. Blue steel meeting dark, their gazes clashed before Carlyle
moved to Elizabeth’s side, taking her hand to kiss her wrist.
“Now that our sweet Laurel is recovered, we must continue the celebrations for our
wedding.” Slowly he ran a fingertip along the delicate bones of her face.
Common sense told Will to remove his hand from his sword hilt and step away to calm
his pounding need to protect Elizabeth from his brother.
It was she who stepped away, shaking her head. “I feel I should still stay by Laurel’s
side until she is fully recovered.”
Will felt Elizabeth’s tension from across the room and cursed the fact he could do
nothing to ease it.
Pain gripped his gut as he remembered how he had been used to put her in this harm’s
way. Long had he suspected Carlyle of cruelty and vices, yet he had been eager to
offer the unknown Elizabeth York for her money and the power behind her lands into
such a man’s keeping.
It is no balm to my conscience that it was done for the betterment of the linage.
Does any man have the right to order another’s life in such a way?
“Yes, Carlyle is correct.” The duke’s long strides carried him quickly into the chamber
and to Laurel’s side. She stretched out her hand and he held it, his eyes scanning
each of their faces. “The fair in honor of the wedding must proceed. The people need
a reason to celebrate. They need to feel safe and share in our happiness at this great
alliance.”
Will watched Elizabeth, wanting to somehow give her his strength.
Eyes shadowed, she nodded. “I understand, your Grace. When do you wish us to attend?”
“There is no need to wait longer. The sky is to be full of stars this night.”
Laurel laughed softly. “My lord speaks true, Elizabeth. It will give me pleasure to
think of you at the fair. Such a merry place full of wondrous sights.” She glanced
up at the duke. “You must also attend with Elizabeth and Carlyle, my lord.”
“No, my dear, I shall stay with you,” He lifted her hand to his lips.
“I would also like to stay,” Will said quietly, meeting his father’s steely eyes.
His father did not offer this night, nor did Will ask for it. Solemn, the duke nodded.
“Yes. Your lieutenant shall accompany them.”
Knowing his father well, knowing he was again reminding him that duty must prevail,
Will conquered every movement, every expression, not wanting to betray his decision.
Tonight he would tell his father his true thoughts. He glanced at Elizabeth’s profile,
she held her chin high, her back straight. Tomorrow he would fall on his knees before
her asking forgiveness for leaving her, for casting away this gift between them of
a love he never dreamed possible. Ask for forgiveness for not fighting for her as
his heart told him he must while his honor forbid it. He felt his grandfather’s eyes
watching him and, turning, saw that Charles Grey already knew what had to be done.
…
Triumphant, Carlyle impatiently awaited Florea in
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