Cavendish Brothers 01 - An Unintended Journey Read Free Page A

rapist?
    But he was putting the cart before the horse with such thoughts.
    Lady Pritchard pursed her lips. “Well,” she said on a harrumph, “should that be the case, you know you are always welcome at Henley Green.” She poured him a cup of tea, adding a drop of milk and no sugar, as he’d always preferred it, then passed it over.
    Wesley adored the baroness for her steadfast kindheartedness. She’d been like the mother he’d never known, granting him tenderness and resolute loyalty where elsewhere in his life, there’d been none. “Thank you, madam.” A genuine smile stretched his lips and tugged against the ghastly scar on his face. Her gaze flickered as if drawn to it, and while she didn’t cringe in disgust, he recognized the hint of curiosity in her stare. He probably shouldn’t smile too often. He might scare polite society with the hideousness of it.
    In his years away, he hadn’t been forced to think of such things. There was nothing polite about the squalor in which he’d been living.
    Daniel winked at him. “It’ll be like old times—you and I running rampant at Henley Green, and Fordingham looking down his nose at us from across the way. A different Fordingham now, to be sure, but still…”
    Yes. Like old times. Sneaking around behind the trellis in Lady Pritchard’s rose garden to catch a glimpse of Abby while she didn’t know he was watching. Casting furtive glances about in the maze to be sure her brothers weren’t spying while he stole a kiss from her. Lying on his back by the creek, gazing at the stars and wishing she was there with him.
    Wesley’s heart seized at the memories. Would she still want him after the manner in which he’d left? Had she found someone else and pushed him from her mind?
    No—Abby hadn’t forgotten. That much was clear in her behavior a few moments ago. But whether she still wanted him in her life was another matter entirely.
    And all indications she’d given him were negative.

    2

    Abby untied her apron and hung it on the peg just inside the door to her family’s sitting room. When Mother had taken on the post of housekeeper and Father had become the butler at Henley Green so many years ago, the Pritchards had cordoned off an entire wing of the servants’ quarters for the Goddard family. It had become their home within the grander home.
    She picked up the tray Cook had sent with her and set their supper upon the table. It was good to have something to do…something upon which to focus her thoughts, other than on Grandmama or Wesley Cavendish.
    Thomas had already come in from the mews and was stoking the fire in the grate. When the flames rekindled, he moved to the holly wreath and fiddled with it, apparently as at a loss as she felt. Robert and Mother came around the corner from the direction of the bedchambers as Abby finished her task and took a seat.
    “ Father should be along shortly,” Mother said as she sat in the high-backed chair at the end of the table across from Father’s. “He’s just finishing his meeting with Lord Pritchard.”
    So much for the idea of refocusing her thoughts. Father’s meeting with the baron at this time of night could only be due to Grandmama’s passing. A fresh set of tears sprung to Abby’s eyes, and she dashed them away.
    “ It’s just us, Abby.” Robert plopped down in the seat beside her and patted an awkward hand on her shoulder. He’d loosened his cravat and removed the coat of his footman’s livery. “If you can’t cry now, when can you?”
    Of course, he wasn’t crying, was he? She bit down on her lip, hoping to staunch the flow. She’d never been one to openly display her emotions if she could avoid it—and right now, she thought there might be more tears ready to break free than all the water in the seas.
    Father came into their sitting room before she could respond, though. Without a word, he removed his greatcoat and hung it beside Abby’s apron. Then he moved to the table, pulled out his