Free The Promise by Kate Worth Page B

of giants, pixies, and fairies to her. My father used to read me the Canterbury Tales when I couldn’t sleep. I share what I can remember.”
    “It has a moat and a beautiful lake called Loch Dùghaill ,” the Duke continued. “Unfortunately, there are no knights and I don’t think the tenant farmers would care to be referred to as peasants. I’ll take you to visit one day.”
    “Really? He’ll take us to visit his castle, Mama!” Pip popped up and down in her chair. Jane was in the process of devising a diplomatic response when she was saved by Pip’s short attention span.
    “Goodness, Mama! Have you ever seen anything more beautiful than this?” she breathed, her eyes round with wonder as they entered the dining room.
    Jane shared her amazement. The walls were covered with hand-painted gold leaf murals in the Japanese style. Exotic birds perched in the twisting branches of cherry trees in full bloom, colorful swallow-tailed butterflies flitted over ferns and flowers. The ceiling and doors were adorned with branches, giving the impression they were enclosed in a vibrant, whimsical garden.
    “I can’t say that I have, Poppet,” Jane smiled and admired the elaborately carved furniture and plush silk carpet that enhanced the Asian motif.
    Lord Wallace seated Jane and Pip then settled into a chair on the opposite side. Rutledge sat at the head of the gleaming mahogany table, the duchess at the other end. Although large and luxuriously appointed, Jane assumed it was the family dining room and that an even more spacious chamber was used when entertaining.
    Footmen filled wineglasses and served food that looked and smelled delicious, but Jane had little appetite. The inevitable discussion that loomed ahead weighed heavily on her mind as she watched Pip slip into an easy camaraderie with her uncles and grandmother. The Wallace’s were determinedly relaxed and playful, clearly endeavoring to put Pip at ease.
    With a melancholy smile Jane watched the Duke patiently answer one of Pip’s endless questions. She noticed that his eyes crinkled at the corners as if he smiled often. Cameron Wallace was the epitome of cultured aristocratic elegance, all lithe limbs and patrician bone structure. There was no denying Rutledge was a handsome man, but Jane found his brother more compelling. His jaw line, nose, and cheekbones were starker, more ruthlessly cut. They were of similar height and coloring, but Lord Wallace was larger, less polished, more ruggedly male. She glanced at the Duke’s hands as he punctuated a comment with a languid wave of his wrist. Her focus shifted to Lord Wallace who was absently spinning his goblet by the stem. His hands were large with broad, blunt-tipped fingers, a light dusting of dark hair above his knuckles. Unbidden, images flashed through her mind of those hands spanning her waist, sliding up her back to tangle in her hair, cradling her head as he lowered his lips to hers. She shivered. His hand stilled and Jane looked up to find him watching her with a wicked grin and a speculative gleam in his eye.
    Startled, Jane glanced away, a fevered blush painting her cheeks crimson. Good Lord! It was almost as if he knew exactly what she had been thinking! She took a sip of water and composed herself. By the time she worked up the courage to take another peek at him, he was smiling at something Pip had said and the uncomfortable moment was forgotten. After a few minutes, she convinced herself it had all been a figment of her imagination. But several times throughout the meal she looked up to find Lord Wallace’s cobalt blue eyes focused on her with an intensity that made her squirm.
    “Look, Mama, hummingbirds!” Pip held up a silver teaspoon engraved with tiny birds, honeybees, and bamboo.
    Jane reached out and cupped the child’s cheek affectionately with her palm.
    “Wouldn’t that design be pretty on a wedding cake or petit fours for a garden party? Perhaps I will experiment with something