confirmation and his lips quirked. “See aunt, a woman after my own heart.”
“Have you thoroughly considered your sister’s reaction to the change, my lord?” Persephone tried hard to keep her tone light.
“ They no longer live here, ” he reminded Persephone and his aunt.
Persephone glanced at the portrait above the pink-veined marble fireplace. “Is that a portrait of your mother?”
“Yes. That would stay.”
Persephone bit her lip before she continued, “I had not taken you for a man to disregard someone’s feelings.” Her throat went tight as she braced herself for his disapproval. She had spoken out of turn. Had she given her opinion too readily?
One corner of his mouth tipped up. “Thank you f or pointing that out, Persephone .” His eyes narrowed, studying her face. “I would hate to lose your good opinion.”
Adele watched their exchange with interest.
Persephone lowered her eyes. “ I t is all they have left.” Her hands shook, so she locked them together to hide their trembling . “It is important to them.”
He sat quietly as if considering her argument for his sister’s feelings. His quick smile was like glimpsing the sun on a cold, winter morning. “You hav e made a valid point, Persephone . ” Parker caught her in his gaze. “ I will give it heavy consideration before I make any definitive decisions to change.”
Persephone raised her eyes and smiled , her eyes twinkling with pleasure . Her body warmed under his praise.
Parker sat back and watched her glow under his minute praise, pleased with how easy it was to add a sparkle to her eyes.
Adele reached over and patted Persephone’s hand. “It is so good to see you out of your room.”
“Yes, my lady.” Persephone flashed such an obvious look of relief at being out of the room that Parker chuckled, a deep, soothing sound. He stood. “I feel like a new woman.”
“I’m glad.” Adele smiled. “I thought we had agreed to be more informal?” Her voice low.
Persephone watched in her peripheral vision as his tall, muscular frame moved to the chaise and lifted the delicate glass to replenish the Madeira before dinner was announced. He turned towards her and asked, “Would you c are for some Madeira, Persep h one ?” Parker held up the bottle. “It is my aunt’s favorite.”
Looking up, Persephone realized he had drawn much closer, he held her ga ze for a moment as she considered his request. “A sm all taste would be lovely, Parker. ”
He filled the elongated tapered bowl one third filled with the rich wine and passed the stemmed glass to her before he sat next to her on the settee.
Adele glanced sidelong at her. “ Parker tells me you are from somewhere in Berkshire?”
“Yes, Adele .”
“Our Poppy lives in Berkshire at Allingham Park.” She smiled. “She married the Duke of Hawksley this past year.”
“Congratulations ,” Persephone said in almost a whisper.
“We are so happy with the news of Gabriel’s birth,” Adele added.
“Babies are such a blessing.” Persephone smiled.
“Yes , my dear.” Adele beamed. “We ar e all on pins and needles for more information . I’m sure Hawksley is over the moon. A son. ”
“Dinner, my lord,” Dobbins stated from the doorway.
***
Anger coiled hotly in Granville’s stomach, a growing monster biding its time before bursting free. Where the fuck was she? Hell, he wasn’t thinking clearly. He rose to his feet so quickly, he slammed his chair back against the shelves behind his desk with a loud crash .
He was running out of time. They were going to string him up before too long if he couldn’ t contain this little problem.
Fucking bitch!
She made him look weak.
He in turn would see that she look ed weak. He lifted the whip that lay across the corner of his desk with his right hand and caressed the hard leather handle with his left. Then he expertly
“Have you thoroughly considered your sister’s reaction to the change, my lord?” Persephone tried hard to keep her tone light.
“ They no longer live here, ” he reminded Persephone and his aunt.
Persephone glanced at the portrait above the pink-veined marble fireplace. “Is that a portrait of your mother?”
“Yes. That would stay.”
Persephone bit her lip before she continued, “I had not taken you for a man to disregard someone’s feelings.” Her throat went tight as she braced herself for his disapproval. She had spoken out of turn. Had she given her opinion too readily?
One corner of his mouth tipped up. “Thank you f or pointing that out, Persephone .” His eyes narrowed, studying her face. “I would hate to lose your good opinion.”
Adele watched their exchange with interest.
Persephone lowered her eyes. “ I t is all they have left.” Her hands shook, so she locked them together to hide their trembling . “It is important to them.”
He sat quietly as if considering her argument for his sister’s feelings. His quick smile was like glimpsing the sun on a cold, winter morning. “You hav e made a valid point, Persephone . ” Parker caught her in his gaze. “ I will give it heavy consideration before I make any definitive decisions to change.”
Persephone raised her eyes and smiled , her eyes twinkling with pleasure . Her body warmed under his praise.
Parker sat back and watched her glow under his minute praise, pleased with how easy it was to add a sparkle to her eyes.
Adele reached over and patted Persephone’s hand. “It is so good to see you out of your room.”
“Yes, my lady.” Persephone flashed such an obvious look of relief at being out of the room that Parker chuckled, a deep, soothing sound. He stood. “I feel like a new woman.”
“I’m glad.” Adele smiled. “I thought we had agreed to be more informal?” Her voice low.
Persephone watched in her peripheral vision as his tall, muscular frame moved to the chaise and lifted the delicate glass to replenish the Madeira before dinner was announced. He turned towards her and asked, “Would you c are for some Madeira, Persep h one ?” Parker held up the bottle. “It is my aunt’s favorite.”
Looking up, Persephone realized he had drawn much closer, he held her ga ze for a moment as she considered his request. “A sm all taste would be lovely, Parker. ”
He filled the elongated tapered bowl one third filled with the rich wine and passed the stemmed glass to her before he sat next to her on the settee.
Adele glanced sidelong at her. “ Parker tells me you are from somewhere in Berkshire?”
“Yes, Adele .”
“Our Poppy lives in Berkshire at Allingham Park.” She smiled. “She married the Duke of Hawksley this past year.”
“Congratulations ,” Persephone said in almost a whisper.
“We are so happy with the news of Gabriel’s birth,” Adele added.
“Babies are such a blessing.” Persephone smiled.
“Yes , my dear.” Adele beamed. “We ar e all on pins and needles for more information . I’m sure Hawksley is over the moon. A son. ”
“Dinner, my lord,” Dobbins stated from the doorway.
***
Anger coiled hotly in Granville’s stomach, a growing monster biding its time before bursting free. Where the fuck was she? Hell, he wasn’t thinking clearly. He rose to his feet so quickly, he slammed his chair back against the shelves behind his desk with a loud crash .
He was running out of time. They were going to string him up before too long if he couldn’ t contain this little problem.
Fucking bitch!
She made him look weak.
He in turn would see that she look ed weak. He lifted the whip that lay across the corner of his desk with his right hand and caressed the hard leather handle with his left. Then he expertly
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