Realm 07 - A Touch of Honor Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Your mother? My sincere condolences, Baron.”
    Miss Satiné’s response came a heartbeat later. “Certainly so. I grieve for your loss, John. If you wish to postpone our joining, I shall understand A period of mourning is required.”
    “As the world looks on Lady Fiona as a distant cousin, my claiming extended mourning rights would only confuse the situation further. I arrived in Austria to tend to my mother’s health; yet I was too late; therefore, I have claimed Lady Fiona’s remains. I mean to return her to my home and the family cemetery. There is no cause to postpone our exchange of vows. When we arrive in England, we will quietly escort the baroness to her final resting place. No one needs to be the wiser.”
    For some unexplained reason instead of looking to Miss Aldridge for her reaction to what he had disclosed, John’s eyes sought Miss Neville’s countenance. The woman’s lower lip trembled with emotion as she swallowed the tears silently streaming down her cheeks. Although she held only limited knowledge of the situation, the lady mourned for a woman she did not know. From beside him, Miss Satiné said defensively, “Is this another secret we must remember not to disclose?”
    John drew his gaze from Miss Neville to rest upon the wearisome expression of his betrothed’s countenance. “As I keep your confidences, I would expect my wife to keep mine. We will be a family, Satiné, and we will protect each other.”
    She blushed thoroughly from his mild chastisement. “Certainly, John,” she murmured. “I meant no offense.”
    Instantly John knew regret. He had never meant to bring her pain. “It is I who have spoken too forcefully,” he said by way of apology. “It has been a frustrating day. Say you will forgive me.”
    She pursed her lips prettily. “You are too kind to me.”
    “If I were kind, I would not require your forgiveness,” he admitted.
    “Let us not quarrel over the blame. Instead, speak to me of your frustrations.”
    He swallowed a steadying breath. “The ship upon which I had earlier booked passage has no more accommodations; therefore, I have chosen a smaller vessel; unfortunately, the change of ships will delay our departure by two days.”
    Miss Aldridge caught his hand, and John savored the feel of her fingers intertwined with his. “If you approve of the ship, I will trust your judgment, and another two days will provide us more time for the arrangements and the journey to the coast.”
    “I must remember you look for the goodness while I see only the negative,” he said as he kissed the back of her hand and permitted his lips to dwell a few seconds longer than necessary. Lust shot straight to John’s groin. He desired this woman beyond all reason.
    “What else should I know?” Miss Satiné said calmly, and he was disappointed she did not display the breathless wonder he did.
    John cleared his throat of the rasp and with several deep breaths, brought his passion under control. “Your man of business should call tomorrow with the settlement papers.”
    She giggled softly, and John thought it an intoxicating sound. “You termed your day frustrating. It appears to me you have accomplished everything except for conquering the world,” she taunted.
    John’s frown lines snapped together. He was unaccustomed to females teasing him. He had never known whether the women spoke condescendingly or not.
    “I imagine if you required a champion to conquer the world, Miss Aldridge, Baron Swenton would be your knight,” Miss Neville said sweetly, and John celebrated how she had come to his rescue. She had prevented his making a cake of himself.
    John grinned. “I believe without exaggeration, Miss Neville, that Miss Aldridge could tell you of how her eldest sister married a ‘knight,’ who specializes in rescuing damsels, fair or not. I am not of the caliber of the Duke of Thornhill.”
    Miss Satiné said brusquely, “My sister, the duchess, writes often of her