Marrying the Mistress Read Online Free PDF

moments when it seemed, perhaps for the first and last time, that the three of us had shared a special tenderness and compassion, putting aside the complexities of our relationship. He had even allowed me some time alone with Linas at the end, which was remarkable when his parents were waiting to do the same. I was grateful to him for that. Returning home afterwards, my life seemed to be suspended and without cause, except for little Jamie. The funeral had upset me and I had slept badly, and I suppose it must have showed in my manner.
    â€˜Miss Follet?’ he said. ‘Could you spare me a moment of your time?’
    â€˜I told Jamie I would not be long.’
    â€˜Please? Just a moment?’ He moved to one side, holding his hand out as if he was sure I would comply.
    I left my hood up. And I left Mr Brierley in no doubtabout my reticence as I swept past them both into the green book-lined study that had been Linas’s retreat during his last, most painful year. The once cosy room, always littered with books and papers, was now unnaturally tidy and distressingly naked. Incomplete. I turned the wick up in the oil lamp on his desk before going to stand by the white marble fireplace, putting some distance between us, hitching up my woolly scarf against a sudden chill. ‘My lord?’ I said, to convince him of my impatience.
    â€˜Miss Follet…Helene…’ he said, wearily. ‘Brierley and I had…’ he sighed and looked away as if the room was affecting him too ‘…had hoped to have the will read here at Stonegate tomorrow. But, as you see, that may be prevented by the weather. If it carries on like this, those who ought to be here will be unable to manage it, or even get home again. I think we shall have to postpone it till it clears. I don’t know how you’re fixed for funds, to put it bluntly, but since Linas’s accounts are frozen for the time being, I wondered if you might need some help until we discover what arrangements have been made for you.’
    â€˜How kind,’ I said. ‘If I had not chanced to see you here today, you might still be wondering.’
    â€˜It was not chance. I know you still visit daily. Such habits are hard to break. I called at your home, but you were not there, so I came here to meet Brierley and to wait for you.’
    â€˜You called…home? You saw Jamie?’
    â€˜Yes,’ he said, raising an eyebrow at my tone. ‘Is there some reason why I should not? He’s grown in the last few weeks.’
    â€˜I should have been there. He’s already missing his father.’
    Unthinking, I stepped straight into the bag of worms. There was a crackling silence broken by the loud ticking of the bracket clock.
    â€˜Then this may be the best time to remind you, Miss Follet, that his father has just made contact with him, which you have so far been at pains to prevent by every means known to you. I could hardly have said so while Linas was with us, but now we must both try to accept the truth of the matter and do whatever is best for the child. You surely cannot be too surprised that Linas wished me to be Jamie’s legal guardian?’
    â€˜That is probably the one thing that will not surprise me, my lord. It’s well known that a child’s guardian must always be male, you being the obvious choice, but that does not alter the fact that I am Jamie’s mother and, as such, it is I who will decide where he will go and what he will do. And who he’ll do it with.’
    â€˜Which is why I want you to hear Linas’s will at first hand.’
    â€˜So you know the details of it, do you?’
    â€˜Yes, I know more details than you. That’s only natural. We discussed it as brothers do.’
    All too eager to display my wounds while I had the chance, I could not resist putting another slant on it. ‘Oh you did , didn’t you? Four years ago you discussed it. In some detail. Linas wanted