Page 92 of A Momentary Marriage

“Patsy’s your own sister!”

“Patsy can live here. Not you.”

“You’re a bastard.”

“You aren’t the first to say so. Do you agree or not?”

Salstone stared at him for a long moment, then burst out, “Yes! Yes, damn you, I agree.”

James gave him a short nod and turned away. The waltz had ended, and Laura and Graeme were wending their way toward him. James went to meet them, his dark mood lifting, as it always did, when Laura smiled at him.

“I believe the next dance is mine,” he said, and led her out onto the floor to take her in his arms.

Later in the evening, as the ball began to show signs of winding down, James and Graeme made their way to James’s study to enjoy a glass of brandy. Graeme leaned back with a sigh, stretching his legs out in front of him. “Aunt Tessa’s party was a success, it seems.”

“I’m sure she’s pleased.” James took a sip of brandy as he watched his cousin. Despite his cheerful words, Graeme was frowning slightly, his gaze on his hand as he turned his glass around aimlessly. James waited a moment, then said, “For pity’s sake, Graeme, out with it.”

“What?” Graeme turned toward him, feigning confusion. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You’re the one who suggested we have a drink away from the party, and I doubt you were intent on complimenting my mother’s party. You’ve something on your mind. Say it and have done with it. I promised Laura another waltz.”

“Well, um, actually, it’s about Laura.”

“What about Laura?” James frowned.

“Nothing, really.” Graeme set down his drink. “It’s just . . . I wanted to ask you to . . . please be careful.”

James’s eyebrows soared. “What the devil are you on about? What do you mean, be careful? Of what? Who?”

“I would hate for Laura to be hurt.”

That brought James upright from his casual pose. His tone as icy as his eyes, he said, “I beg your pardon. Are you suggesting that I would harm Laura?”

“No, of course not,” Graeme replied hastily. “I know you would never try to hurt her.”

“So it’s just that I am likely to do so without trying? Is that it? That I am so unfeeling, so boorish, I will mangle her and never even notice?”

Graeme stared. “No, of course not. Good Lord, James. Calm down.”

“I am perfectly calm. Dead calm. Despite what you and others might think, I don’t delight in kicking puppies and pulling the wings off flies. I have no interest in making Laura unhappy. I cannot change the fact that we are married. I didn’t set out to tie her to me irrevocably, to force her to spend her life with me. But—”

“Bloody hell, would you stop putting words in my mouth?” Graeme snapped back. “I never said any of that. I know you married her with the best of intentions.”

“It is just the result that makes her unhappy.” The rush of anger drained out of James as quickly as it had come, leaving him empty and faintly sick. He set his mouth grimly. “Did she come to cry on your shoulder? What is it Laura wants? She could have told me herself.”

“No! Good Lord, James, why would you assume that? You misunderstand. Laura has said nothing to me. She’s not unhappy about your marriage. Not at all. It’s just the opposite; she seems very happy. Giddy, almost.”

Relief flooded James. “Then what the devil are you talking about?”

Graeme sighed. “James, you know I want the best of everything for you. I’m glad you married Laura. My sincerest hope is that you find the same sort of happiness Abby and I have. But I worry a bit because Laura is the sort of woman who puts her whole heart into everything she does. I hope you won’t, um . . .”

“Break her heart,” James said flatly.

“Exactly.”

“It’s none of your business.”

“You’re right. But I’m fond of Laura.”