Free For Her Love by Paula Reed Page A

good at. Then she pouted because he could not stop from the labor that placed that finery upon her back just to pay homage to her great beauty.
    Edmund heaved a heavy sigh. She had been a great beauty. Still was, if one overlooked the teeth. She had taunted him with it, wearing deep necklines and swinging her hips, but the moment he put his hands on her, she became a block of ice. And now, he doubted that he’d feel the least bit enticed even if she took to wearing nothing at all.
    Lately, he had begun to worry that Grace would be as unyielding and as disappointing as his wife, but he had the feeling that all of that was about to change. How could she not take to this fellow? And Grace was a passionate girl, one with fire and grit. She’d not turn her husband away night after night. How many grandchildren, he wondered. Eight? Ten? Among them, one would want Welbourne, expand it, realize its full potential.
    He was pouring his third glass of rum when the door at the rear of the room burst open, and Edmund felt his complacent bubble burst at the look on the face of his proposed son-in-law.

Four
     
    Did one man dare call out another man whose daughter he was courting? When Giles burst through the door of the main house and saw Edmund Welbourne casually pouring himself a drink, it had been his first impulse. He had wanted to berate the man for the conditions in which his slaves were forced to live, to haul him back to the cluster of hovels and make him tend to the dying child. Instead he took a steadying breath and ran his hand through his hair, pulling some of it from its careful queue.
    “There is a situation in the slaves quarters, Mister Welbourne.”
    Welbourne swore softly under his breath. “What has Grace done now?”
    “She’s attending to a gravely ill child there,” Giles informed him, his face flushing with anger.
    Edmund laughed tensely. “She’s always had a soft spot for them. Hardly lady-like, I realize, but a tender heart is a forgivable flaw in the fairer sex.” He held his hands open in apologetic supplication.
    “I am forced to disagree.” Giles noted with satisfaction the way that Edmund’s face fell. ‘Twas a shame that his next statement flooded that same face with relief. “I have never considered a tender heart a flaw in a woman at all.”
    “Well, nay, of course not. Still, I fear that Grace will stay all night if she cannot remedy the situation immediately.” Edmund lifted the glass of amber liquor to his lips and drained it. “Whatever it is, I’m certain the overseer will take care of it.”
    “Grace seems to think not. In truth, the overseer or someone ,” he glared at Edmund, “should have taken care of it days ago. There’s little enough to be done now. I fear the child cannot be saved.”
    Welbourne sighed and shrugged, then poured another glass. “And so nature will take her due course. Tell Grace that I insist she return at once.”
    Giles stared at the man in astonishment. Welbourne truly had no idea what the problem was! Before Giles could say anything irrevocable, Mistress Welbourne interrupted, calling down from above, “Is that you, Captain Courtney? Is something amiss?”
    Edmond sneered and called back, “Iolanthe, keep—” he stopped short and set down his glass, “—your door shut and get some rest, darling. ‘Tis nothing serious.”
    Mistress Welbourne fairly raced down the stairs. “Keep what , darling?” she asked. “I am quite certain that I did not hear you correctly. Oh my, Captain, you look quite upset.” She looked at him with great concern but little sincerity. “Has Grace done something to disgrace herself?” She giggled at her own pun.
    “The problem is not Grace!” Giles snapped. “The problem is that an innocent child is dying in filth and squalor because of a minor injury that was not tended! I have seen people treat livestock with greater compassion than your slaves receive!” He addressed Edmund directly. “You have the right of