Forever My Love (Historical Romance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

your father's wishes for you, and nothing more. I will come to see you when everything is settled to my satisfaction. At that time, you and I shall discuss your future. I want only to help you."
    Royal was too bewildered to answer, but Arabella turned on him furiously.
    "You are doing this to spite me," she whispered through trembling lips. "You resent me for not accepting your marriage proposal."
    When Damon looked at Arabella, he saw tears sparkling in her lovely eyes. "Oddly enough, this has nothing to do with you, Miss Bradford," he said stiffly. "You can believe that I have the girl's interests uppermost in my mind."
    "I never knew you to be so self-sacrificing," Arabella taunted.
    He stood to his full height. "You never knew me at all."
    Her arms went around her niece protectively. "You haven't heard the last of this. I will fight you for guardianship of my niece."
    Damon's golden eyes gleamed as if they were on fire. "I suspect you will—but you cannot win."
    Royal was confused by the exchange between her aunt and Damon Routhland, but she had not fully understood many of the events of this day. She only half heard Damon Routhland when he spoke to Victor.
    "I trust, Mr. Bradford, that you and your family will vacate my ward's house." His gaze was penetrating. "There is no need for haste—after breakfast tomorrow will be soon enough, I believe."
    Angrily Victor stood up, jerked his wife to her feet, and motioned for his son to follow them out of the room. "We'll just see about this. We'll just see!"
    Royal watched Damon Routhland depart. Then, in need of comfort, she laid her head on her aunt's shoulder. "What is to become of me?" she wanted to know.
    Arabella hugged her. "I have not yet given up, my dear. That insufferable man has no right to dictate your future. Whatever was Douglas thinking about? I never knew he could be so cruel."
    Royal wiped away tears on the back of her hand. "Promise you will not abandon me?"
    "We will always have each other," Arabella assured her.
    Mr. Greenburg gathered the scattered documents and placed them in his leather valise. Nodding politely to Royal and her aunt, he moved out the door.
    Once in the hallway, the attorney drew in a deep, cleansing breath. "So, Douglas, I know now why you never changed your will, no matter how hard I pressed. I believe your daughter will be in capable hands—but you knew how this would come out, didn't you, my clever friend?"

3
    Dear Papa,
    Soon after the reading of your will, Cousin Victor and his family took leave of Savannah without even saying good-bye. As of yet, I have heard nothing from Damon Routhland. I admit to being apprehensive about the future, but I am so grateful that Aunt Arabella is yet with me.
     
    Royal put aside her journal and moved to the bow window that overlooked the square. There was an ache deep inside as she pondered her fate. Soon she would be ripped away from everything she held dear and sent to England where she knew no one. What was to become of her? she wondered frantically. Would she ever see her home again?
    Each day she stood at this window and watched for Damon Routhland, but so far he had not arrived, and she was glad. He was a stranger to her and far above her socially. Everyone in Savannah was awed by the master of Swanhouse Plantation, but she was merely frightened of him.
    His strange-colored golden eyes were too penetrating, as if they could see into her thoughts.
    Royal sighed. When Mr. Routhland finally did appear, her life would be changed forever. She turned away from the window and moved out of the room in search of her aunt Arabella. Soon the day would come when they would be parted, and Royal would be alone again.
    ***
    Arabella paid little heed to the view from the carriage window as the horses drew her closer to her destination. She was angry that her own brother would entrust the rearing of Royal to a virtual stranger. How could Douglas have turned against her? Surely he had known that she loved