Page 69 of Tamed By a Passionate Lady
Instead, the powerful rage and contempt, which had got him through the confrontation, suddenly drained away.
He had no doubt that Reuben would go, with his tail between his legs. The man had tried to weasel his way out of it, but he was smart enough to know when his time was up. He was also canny enough to know that James spoke the truth; that he would call in the law to deal with him if he did not go quietly. There was no way that Reuben wanted to spend the term of his natural life in prison or transported to the colonies, to work himself to the bone, in chains.
James’ face darkened. He should think himself lucky that he had got off so lightly. But he knew Reuben. The man still could not admit, even to himself, that he had acted wrongly. No, to him it had all been necessary. The man did not have a conscience, at all.
He felt overwhelmingly weary, as if he could sleep for a thousand years. And with it, a yearning desire to see his wife’s face again. A desire so fierce he felt like putting his head in his hands and weeping.
It was over, and he wanted nothing more than to finally start their life again. To begin to right the wrongs of the past, at long last. The fact that she was willing to do so, after all that had happened between them, still amazed him. It truly showed what kind of a woman she was, with her exceptional character and her fierce capacity for loyalty and forgiveness.
He took a deep breath. Itwasover. Soon, he would start to truly believe it. As soon as he saw her face, it would finally hit him that the rest of their lives was really about to begin.
He did not know why God had given him this second chance with her. But he was so very grateful for it.
Chapter 26
Adaline paced the floor of the drawing room, gazing at the clock on the mantlepiece anxiously. It had been over an hour since James and Reuben had left the grounds of Birkenhead Lodge, and she was starting to worry. What has going on?
She drifted to the window, biting her lip, as she gazed down into the gardens. Isabel was still sitting with Dr. Brown, in the same position as when she had left them. She could not see their faces from this angle, but their heads were very close together as they chatted. Closer than she would have expected them to be, if they were merely a doctor and his patient having a consultation. The tea that she had ordered for them was abandoned, on a table, close by.
Suddenly, she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Her heart contracted. It was James, being pushed along in his wheelchair by Groves, and by his side was Reuben Montgomery.
She let out a breath that she wasn’t even aware that she had been holding, leaning heavily against the window frame. They were back. James was safe, and he looked well. The relief was palpable.
She kept watching them, expecting them to come into the house. But James must have spotted Isabel and the doctor, for he made a sudden beeline for them, across the lawn. Reuben trailed him. Suddenly, he looked up, towards the window, as if he felt her eyes upon him.
She gasped. He looked angry, but in a controlled way. His eyes were glowing viciously, almost shooting off sparks, and he was deathly pale. Something was obviously bothering the man.
Her heart started to thump in her chest. Did he know? Was that the reason for the sour look on his face? Had James confronted him on their walk?
Reuben didn’t smile at her. For a long moment he gazed at her, before turning away and continuing his walk, behind James.
James reached Isabel and Dr. Brown. The doctor stood up, leaning over his wheelchair, and they shook hands. For a moment, they chatted. But the next minute, Dr. Brown picked up his hat, farewelling them. He walked back across the lawn, towards the front of the house.
The next minute, James wheeled himself to a position beside Isabel. He looked up, sharply, at Reuben, saying something to him. Reuben looked thunderous, sitting down on the chair that Dr. Brown had just vacated.
Adaline’s heart lurched. Something was going on. She could tell, by the grim look on James’ face as he turned to Isabel. Reuben did not look happy, at all. His mouth had settled into a thin line, and he was even paler than he had been before.
Groves was hovering, too, just behind Reuben. Abruptly, Reuben got to his feet. He did not say a word to his sister or James. The manservant followed him, almost like a shadow, as he made his way towards the house.
James turned back to Isabel. Suddenly, she saw the young woman’s face in profile. Her cheeks were clearly wet with tears.
Adaline didn’t wait another minute. If she was careful, she could avoid Reuben entirely. She turned, fleeing the room, her heart hammering in her chest. She simplymustknow what was going on in the garden.
***
She saw James’ eyes widen, spotting her as soon as she exited the house, coming towards them. He looked slightly alarmed for a moment. But then, a shadow of a smile came over his face.
She couldn’t make out anything from that smile. Her heart in her mouth, she could barely restrain herself from breaking out into a run, towards them.
Isabel noticed that James was looking over her shoulder. She turned, gazing at Adaline, her face so woebegone that Adaline’s heart lurched wildly again, almost somersaulting in her chest.
The young woman was on her feet now, running towards her, with wild eyes. Tears were still flowing down her cheeks.
“Oh, Adaline,” she sobbed, holding her arms out. “I am so very sorry. I am so deeply ashamed…”
Adaline finally reached her, pulling the young woman to her, enfolding her in an embrace. Isabel was quivering like a frightened rabbit. She could feel her racing heartbeat through the thin material of her gown.
For a moment, she simply held her, smoothing down her hair with a gentle hand. Isabel shuddered, gasping for breath, but eventually she started to quieten down. She pulled back, gazing deeply into Adaline’s eyes beseechingly.
