Page 37 of The Lord Next Door I Wished For
And what?
She passed the library, which made her think of Isabelle. Darling, sweet Isabelle would tell her to follow her heart. Delilah and Daffodil would likely agree. And Jocelyn…
Jocelyn would tell her to be brave. To speak the truth even if she was terrified that her feelings weren’t returned.
With a deep breath she plunged further into the shadows, coming to a stop when she heard Luke’s voice coming from a room down the hall. The door was open and candlelight seeped out.
She heard his voice plain as day, no doubt because it was raised in anger as he addressed his grandfather. “I respect you and hope to make you proud, Grandfather, but I will not take orders like my father did.”
Jane’s chest swelled with pride and she took a step closer, but her feet stumbled when he continued.
“I’ve done what you would have me do,” he snapped. “I’m marrying the neighbor girl and she has the lineage you want, the dowry you need. Isn’t that enough for you?”
Jane backed up a step. And then another.
Luke continued talking, but Jane couldn’t hear what he said, his voice was drowned out by the sound of her own heart thundering and cracking.
Or no, it was the blood draining from her head that had her dizzy and that cracking sound…it was thunder.
She turned on her heel and headed into the library where a flash of lightning illuminated the room through the large window.
She didn’t stop to think as she strode toward the window because there was only one voice in her head now…and it called her fool over and over.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Luke hearda noise in the hallway, and it was enough to remind him where he was…
And why.
Blast he had to get out of here. Get back to Jane, who’d looked so vulnerable as they’d danced together. She’d looked overwhelmed, and he needed to know why.
“I have done my duty to this family,” he said, forcing his voice to a more even tone despite his irritation. “And I always will. But make no mistake, Grandfather…when it comes to me, my family, my wife, and my estate, you have no say.”
He straightened to his full height to stare down his grandfather who’d dared to drag him in here with orders and commands about how to run his own household. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, my bride-to-be is waiting for me.”
His grandfather finally stopped gawking as he’d been doing ever since Luke opened his mouth. “Well,” he said. And then again… “Well.”
Luke looked toward the open door, impatience making his hands form fists at his side. There was so much he needed to say to Jane. So much that he needed her to know before they married.
He’d tried for patience, but—
“Good for you, son.”
His grandfather’s words had his head whipping back to face the older man. “Pardon?”
His grandfather nodded, straightening his jacket. “Good for you. You are your own man, and I respect that. It takes strength to stand up to me…a lesson your father never learned.”
Luke gaped at the man. He’d never thought his grandfather knew just how miserable he made his father, but now…
“Yes,” the duke murmured, a pleased smirk on his lips as he led the way out toward the hallway. “You’ll do just fine.”
Luke shook his head as he watched the man disappear, but soon he was racing out into the hall as well. He’d hated to leave Jane, not out there with that lot of judgmental fools.
If he had his way, he’d never leave her side.
Unless she still wanted him to. He winced. In which case, he wouldn’t go back on his word. But until that time came, he had to try. He had to hope…
He reached the crowded drawing room, his gaze hungry for a glimpse of her. But there was no sign of her telltale auburn hair or that sparkling smile.
