Wolf of Arundale Hall Read Online Free PDF Page A

the tension he’d carried during his trip home bled away. He rose and held out his hand. “I offer my apologies for my behavior.”
    Jaimison took it. “As a man, you could feel no less. To convince me that you love your wife is no hard task, my friend. To convince Lady Arundale?” He stopped for a moment and shook his head. “I don’t envy you, sir.”
    Joshua straightened his shoulders. “Well, lead on, Jaimison. If I’m to be tormented by my wife, by all means let’s start it as soon as possible.” The Beast beneath howled silently in triumph.
    Home. Arundale. Mate.
    *
    “This cannot be correct,” Elizabeth stated out loud. She stared at the delivered note again.
    Lord Arundale arrived in London today and will arrive home by Saturday evening.
    Jaimison’s terse letter, delivered by one of his men, implied that the man must have known Joshua was coming back for weeks. Her irritation over Jaimison’s silence was overwhelmed by the shock of her husband’s impending arrival. It couldn’t be. He was coming home? But why? She swayed, suddenly dizzy, and sat down behind her desk. Gerry came to stand beside her. “Are you all right, Aunt Elizabeth?”
    The boy had probably seen all the color drain from her face. He looked concerned. She summoned a smile. “I’m fine, Gerry. Go and fetch your mother for me, will you?”
    He ran from the room and up the stairs. A few moments later, when Melinda appeared in the small office, Elizabeth was on her feet. “Melinda, dear, Joshua is coming home.”
    Tears appeared in the woman’s eyes. “Oh, finally. I’ve missed him so. And Gerry needs a man to look up to.”
    While Melinda’s nose was buried in her handkerchief Elizabeth shot a glance at Gerry. The boy rolled his eyes and she smiled. Even though he was at a difficult age he was a treasure. How he’d ever come from Melinda’s line was a mystery to Elizabeth. “He’ll be here this evening. I’ll be quite busy today.”
    Melinda blinked. “But I planned to shop for a new hat today.”
    Elizabeth barely restrained herself from grinding her teeth. “With Joshua’s arrival I’m afraid I won’t be able to watch Gerry. You will have to do it today, Melinda.” Not that Gerry needed watching. Melinda needed more watching than he did. She met the boy’s dark gaze again and tried not to grin when he smirked.
    “Well, I don’t see why I should—”
    “Because I must prepare the household for its master’s homecoming. Unless you would prefer to do it?” Of course she wouldn’t. Melinda hated real work.
    “Well, you’ve been…indisposed for so long and I’ve had no moment to…”
    Elizabeth stared at her and Melinda shifted to her other foot and glanced at the floor as if she knew how she sounded. The woman’s selfishness knew few boundaries. Indisposed? Yes, she’d been shattered by the discovery of the shredded body outside the door. Fear had been her constant shadow. Was it Perry’s work? Who else could it be? The task of diverting the authorities had been her responsibility and not an easy one.
    “I won’t keep you, cousin.” Melinda’s chin tipped up and Elizabeth braced herself. Ten years had taught her when Melinda would try to wound her. “Of course maybe Joshua has come home to give me what is rightfully mine.”
    So the rumors were true. Elizabeth glanced at Gerry and smiled. “Gerry, will you go and fetch Sarah for me? I need to get started on Joshua’s homecoming.”
    For a moment Elizabeth thought Gerry would protest. The boy shot a worried glance at his mother and left the room. Melinda remained tense and still as Gerry left.
    Elizabeth had heard the rumors about Melinda’s scheming. Yet Elizabeth had discounted them, unwilling to believe that a woman who depended on her so fully would betray her in such a manner.
    For all of Melinda’s posturing and snide remarks, Elizabeth had counted on the woman’s family loyalty. Apparently, she had none. For years she’d implied and