Page 23 of Claiming His Lost Duchess
Fury filled Joan’s veins. She couldn’t believe that Highcastle had the gall to smirk at her as he used her most vulnerable moment to his advantage. She nearly considered it, desperate beyond reason, but then she recalled how familiar she was with men like Lord Highcastle.
His ego and hubris reminded her of her uncle, with his disgusting expectations and suggestions, along with how superior he felt over her. After the day she left this house, she had sworn never again to be under the mercy of such a man.
“No. I'd rather take my chances with fate than rely on someone like you,” she said coldly, before leaving the drawing room.
Georgina followed her, irate and scolding.
“Why would you do that? Why do you insist on doing things your way? You need help, and yet you feel too proud to accept it when it is offered?”
“That wasn't an offer of help, Georgina. That was a ploy to demean me. No one who truly wishes to do the right thing would attempt such, not when a child's life is on the line,” Joan told her, not even looking at her cousin, as she busied herself covering Sophia up with a cloak.
“If you leave now, I don't think I can help you anymore,” Georgina said when Joan lifted her daughter into her arms.
Joan paused at the door, still worried about her child but unable to ignore the feeling of relief that flooded her heart as she realized that she was about to leave this house again and hopefully never return, for good this time.
“If I’m lucky, I will not need your help.”
“I don't think that will work,” Graham shook his head, pointing at a clause in the contract that had been drawn up by his guests. “Those fishermen stay at sea for days to bring back a decent catch. Paying them so little in return demeans their work. Increase their salaries and then perhaps we might have a suitable offer to present.”
His partner, Mr Damien Wright, nodded at his suggestion, and the other, his solicitor, raised a question on the subject of how long the contract duration should be.
Graham was only working so much in an attempt to give his mind a reprieve from thoughts of Joan, but it wasn’t working.
He had gotten another taste of her, and now he was certain his life would fall apart if she wasn't in it. He was glad he had trusted his instincts, because it had earned him confirmation that not only was Joan the very same woman he had met all those years ago, but her child was also his.
He had a daughter, a bright-eyed princess who bore his hair.
Graham had gained a deeper understanding of why his father always emphasized how much he loved that his family looked like they had been born of his love and life.
He did not even know Sophia yet, but he already knew that his heart would belong to her.
And her mother as well, if only Joan would allow it. Her rejection has confused him, and it has made him wonder if she was truly a widow. Perhaps she still cared for her late husband. Perhaps she had someone else her heart belonged to. But then… the way she had kissed him last night told him that at least, she reciprocated his need for her.
Her sighs, her whimpers, and moans were clear signs that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her.
So why was she intent on rejecting him?
The look in her eyes after his proposal had been quite strange, and he did not understand why she had sounded terrified as she ran from him again.
“This is the last time,”he had whispered as he watched her leave. “Next time, I will not let you go so easily.”
There were so many questions Graham needed answers to, but now was not the time to dwell on any of them.
“I think we should consider a trial period first, so we can determine just how well they can work and what sort of quota and goals they can handle —”
A knock at the door interrupted the Duke, and when he told whoever it was to come in, his butler, Mr. Williams, walked in.
“There is someone here to see you, Your Grace,” he announced.
“I am busy. Have them wait in the drawing room,” Graham frowned, as it was quite clear that he was currently occupied with an important meeting.
Williams hesitated, and it forced Graham to grunt, “What?”
The butler looked uneasy at first, then he said, “It is a woman, with a child, Your Grace. She said it was urgent.”
Graham went perfectly still.
“What did she say her name was?” he asked carefully.
