Free Light to Valhalla by Melissa Lynne Blue

across Charley’s dishabille . “You’re well?”
    “I know I look a fright, but truly, mama, I am fine .”
    “Good . Once your father is settled, I’m going to have a cup of coffee and you can tell me all about it. ” Her mother suddenly looked markedly tired and drawn . The lines around her mouth and eyes deepened, belying her age .
    Compassion and a small measure of guilt struck Charley as her gaze fell to her father, lost before his time . Her mother lived a quiet life in the country as dictated by the earl’s profound delusions . Edmond Trent had be en well past forty when he’d taken a bride and now Evelyn Trent remained faithfully at his side despite his madness . Not once had Charley heard her complain though late at night she’d heard her mother crying . Charley hugged the heavy wool jacket tighter, chancing a glance back down the stairs at Alex—tall, dark, gloriously powerful and completely in charge of his faculties . Perhaps her lot in life was not so bad after all .
    *               *               *
    The soft golden glow of Lady Grayson’s lamp cast a homey bubble around the Grayson family—dogs and all . Ensconced in darkness Alex acutely felt an intruder looking in . Wistfully he gazed upon the swish of Charlotte’s hips beneath his heavy coat, unable to banish the vision of his wife running through the snow with outstretched arms toward Sidney . The memory threatened to rip a pin t sized hole through his chest . His moment to be her hero, smooth a few lumps from their relationship was lost . Damn it all, the moment she’d stepped into Sidney’s embrace…
    Alex clenched and unclenched a fist, waiting with feigned patience for the telltale click of the door closing upstairs . His temper, like a long imprisoned demon, battered for release . One . Two . Three . Christ he might break a tooth if he had to count clear to ten . Four.
    Clunk .
    Finally!
    The latch struck and he whirled on his cousin . “What the hell was that, Sidney?”
    Sid, ambling aimlessly about the entryway, admiring little knick- knacks and pictures, started at Alex’s explosive outburst . “The hell was what?”
    “Back in the woods, Charlotte ran straight into your arms . And just now she stood between you and a goddamned gun. ” Never mind t hat it hadn’t been loaded . Red- hot fury tinged Alex’s vision as he stalked forward, predatory . “Tell me here and now, have you slept with my wife?”
    Sid quirked a lazy brow and rocked back on his heels, thoroughly unperturbed by Alex’s macho display . “Slept with? ” T he words rolled with contemplative leisure off his tongue . “ I must confess , Alex, I’ve never understood the meaning of that term . After all there is not any sleeping going on in the bedroom, and really, if one really gets technical, a bedroom is hardly necessary for the activity you ’re refer ring to.”
    Alex ground his teeth and , by damn , he may have chipped one after all . Hurt like hell which only served to fuel his fury . Good . “ So help me, Sid, if I find out you seduced her, touched her, so much as thought about her inappropriately I’ll—”
    “You’ll what ?” Sidney drew himself to his full towering height, two inches above Alex , eyes flashing with challenge . “Be the first jealous husband to call me out? ” H e threw his head back and barked with cynical laughter .
    “I won’t even bother calling you out . I’ll just beat the living hell out of you here and now.”
    “Is that so?” Sid crossed his arms across his chest . “ Why?  Last I checked you couldn’t stand the sight of your wife . Hell, Alex, I’d be far more concerned if I c rossed your horse than your marchioness . We both know which of t he two you hold in higher regard . ”
    “ That is no t true, ” Alex gr owled .
    “Isn’t it? ” Sid raised a dubious brow, eyes flashing beneath . “ For years you’ve been too busy lamenting the loss of Veronica Childers to re