Flirting with Ruin Read Online Free PDF

Lord Edward was a lion, a Trojan, an Ajax. The personal recitation signed by the Duke of Wellington himself, and the hand-cast medal that Fraser now passed reverently into the duke’s hands, were so well deserved as to make them superfluous, he seemed to be implying.
    ‘You must be proud of your son, Your Grace,’ Fraser continued, and it was almost a command, the way he said it, Rosalind thought, her admiration growing. ‘He died bravely and without pain. He died for the country he loved, wearing the colours he revered. Without people like Ned—Lord Edward—who made the ultimate sacrifice, we would still be at war.’
    It was not lies, she was sure, but it was a vast distance from the truth. Rosalind waited for the duke to say so, but to her astonishment the old man smiled. It was a weak smile, but it was the first she had seen from him in this visit. He kissed the medal too. A quick peek at Kate showed that she was also moved, furiously blinking in an effort not to cry.
    Phaedra, on the other hand, had given up any attempt to keep her emotions in check, and had leaped to her feet. ‘May I see that, Papa? May I hold Edward’s medal?’ Clasping it to her breast, she turned to Fraser. ‘Thank you, Major. I can’t tell you how much it means to hear—to know that Edward did not suffer, to hear that his loss was of value. I can’t tell you,’ she said fervently.
    ‘Indeed, Major, may I add my thanks to my sister’s.’ Kate’s tone was more measured, but there was no doubting her sincerity. ‘It must have been very difficult for you to face us today. It was most kind of you to take the time to come to Castonbury. Forgive me, but we cannot help but notice you yourself have also suffered.’
    ‘Nothing. This was nothing,’ Fraser said, though Rosalind noticed he had to stop himself midway, as his hand went to touch the scar.
    ‘You will stay,’ the duke said in his quavering voice. ‘I too am very much obliged for the consideration you have shown us in coming here. There was never any doubt, of course, that Edward must have died bravely. He was a Montague, it must have been so,’ he continued with a touch of his old arrogance. ‘But still, it has been most reassuring to have that confirmed. You will stay, Major, and dine with my family.’
    It was not a request but a command, as everyone in the room was perfectly well aware, but nonetheless Fraser shook his head. ‘Thank you, but I will not intrude any further.’
    The duke looked quite taken aback, but his eldest daughter intervened. ‘Indeed, Father, Major Lennox has given us quite enough of his time, and no doubt has business of his own to attend to,’ she said. ‘I will see you out, Major.’
    ‘No need, Kate. I shall see to it.’ Rosalind had spoken, leaped to her feet before she’d even realised she meant to do so. ‘You will wish to speak to Phaedra,’ she whispered in explanation, earning herself a grateful look from Kate and feeling immediately guilty, but unable to help herself. She had not thought to see Fraser again, but now he was here there was no way on earth she wasn’t going to snatch some time alone with him. There was nothing worse in the world, in her opinion, than ‘if only.’ Edward Montague had been cut down in his prime. She could not help but think of all the life he was missing. Now fate had given her a second chance, and she was not going to miss it. Whatever it may mean.
    Fraser said his formal goodbyes without looking at her. She took his arm and led him out of the room, and still he looked straight ahead. Only as the door of the drawing room closed behind them, and she crossed the marble hall, down the staircase to the great hall did he visibly relax, and she realised just how tense he had been. ‘Thank God that is over,’ he said softly.
    ‘You pitched it perfectly.’
    Fraser stopped dead on the stairs. ‘You knew?’
    ‘That you told them what they wanted to hear rather than the truth?’
    ‘Ned was a brave