Loving Byrne Read Online Free PDF Page B

what all this carousing has been about? Because you’re getting cold feet. Of all the—”
    Victoria grabbed his upraised hand. “Hold onto your temper, Stephen. Hitting the man won’t help matters.”
    The muscles covering his jaw twitched. No doubt from holding back a scathing retort. He speared Hammond with a hard glare instead. The Englishman didn’t back down. Merely lifted his chin higher as if daring his opponent to strike first.
    She gave Stephen a gentle shove. Best to separate the two before the battle of wills turned physical. “Go to the back of the church, love. I’ll handle this.”
    His steely gaze moved to her and softened. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Victoria. He’s clearly not in his right mind. No telling what the fool might do.”
    “I’ll be fine.” She pinned the Englishman with a pointed look. “Won’t I, Mr. Hammond?”
    He lifted a dirt-streaked hand and covered his chest. “On my word of honor.”
    Stephen snorted and opened his mouth as if to refute that claim. Victoria poked a finger into his ribs, cutting him off. “None of that. Go. I’ll call out if I need you.”
    “Vic—”
    “Go, Stephen.”
    He muttered something under his breath, and then turned in a squelch of boot leather. She smiled. A few kisses and his ruffled feathers would soon be soothed.
    “He’s rather hot-headed, wouldn’t you say?”
    She faced the Englishman who had rolled to a sitting position on the altar steps. “He has every reason to be hot-headed. Your sneaking out of the hotel could land him in serious trouble and possibly cost him his commission in the Army.”
    “I regret any trouble I may have caused.” Tears swam in his blood-shot eyes. “But I had to go…I just couldn’t bear it anymore.” He clutched his head in his hands. “The demons… they were too loud.”
    Much as she wanted to dislike the reprobate, her heart went out to the clearly distraught man. She sank to the steps beside him. “Would you like to talk about whatever is troubling you? I’m a good listener.”
    He dropped his hands and shook his head. “I fear it would be a dreary tale.”
    “My father often said things left bottled inside will soon fester.”
    “Then my insides are already rancid.”
    “All the more reason for you to purge the poison. Get it off your chest, so to speak.”
    He sighed and hung his head. “You shall not like what you hear.”
    “Judge not, lest ye be judged.”
    “Your father?”
    “No. Preacher Dean. Laurel Park United Methodist.” She gave his hand a consoling pat. “Go ahead, Mr. Hammond. I’m all ears.”
    “You are too kind...miss...” He glanced toward the back of the church. “Or is it missus?”
    “Miss Manning.” She smiled and followed his gaze to the figure pacing the floor like a caged lion she’d once seen at a traveling carnival. “Soon to be Mrs. Byrne.”
    “He’s a lucky chap.”
    “And so are you. From what I hear, Miss Grover is a wonderful lady. Beautiful inside as she is outside. What has you questioning your decision to marry her?”
    He worried at a smudge on his trousers. “She is a beautiful young lady. Simple and unassuming. It’s what drew me to her in the first place. She was all that an unencumbered second son needed.”
    “What changed?”
    “My brother died, leaving me heir to the family estate.”
    “I read about that in the newspapers. I’m sorry for your loss.”
    His scrubbing increased as if to scour away his troubles. “My life is different now, and Nellie, sweet as she is, will not fit in.”
    “Do you love her?”
    He shrugged. “I suppose.”
    “Then let that love help her to fit in.”
    “I’m not certain that would be possible, no matter how much I desired it.” A grimace tugged at the corners of his mouth. “English society will eat her alive.”
    “You never know until you try. Miss Grover might very well surprise you.”
    He left off the rubbing and looked up, his frown receding. “Don’t give up