Chapter Thirteen #3
He regarded her soberly. “As Durham said, we don’t know what else is going on at the café.
They could be smuggling goods into England or involved in something more sinister.
Your Andrew has chosen not to come forward in all these years.
Nor did he come forward after we left a message for him yesterday. So, what is he involved in?”
“More important,” Fiona added, “what will he do to you and Milbury when he finds out you’ve been probing? Honestly, Gwen. I almost wish you would leave it alone. I hate to interfere, but—”
Gwendolyn laughed. “You? Interfere? Unheard of.”
Fiona tipped her chin in the air. “All right, perhaps I do meddle on rare occasion.”
Durham coughed. “Rare? As in always?”
She frowned at her husband. “This is too important for me to sit by and do nothing while my dear friend walks into danger. Gwen, it has been ten years since you’ve seen Andrew.
You don’t know what he has become. And is it not telling that he is here in Brighton and never once bothered to send word to you or come to London to see you? ”
James knew Fiona’s forthrightness was upsetting Gwendolyn.
But this had needed to be said. He was glad he wasn’t the only one trying to make her see reason.
Gwendolyn, as he was coming to realize, endured all their comments with grace and made no attempt to defend herself because it simply was not in her nature to fight or even bicker with those she held dear.
However, this meant she was now holding everything inside and quietly absorbing the hurt and sorrow that came along with the truth.
As twilight fell upon them and the last rays of sunshine glinted over the water, they said their farewells to Fiona and Durham.
James kept a cautious eye on his sons as they swam over to their side of the beach.
“We made it, Papa!” Jordan shouted.
James then assisted Gwendolyn over the rocky separation between the two properties.
His sons scampered back to the house while he and Gwendolyn followed at a slower pace. “I’m sorry if we were hard on you tonight, Gwen.”
She shook her head. “You all meant well, I understand that. Your warnings are no different than what I have been telling myself all these years. Well, the matter of our investigation is something new to think about, and I need to be careful not to lead you into danger.”
“Or you. We all want you to stay safe, Gwen. Still, you must have felt pounced upon and beaten up.”
“Only a little,” she assured him. “Fiona has been like a sister to me. Berry and Miranda feel the same way about her. Not only a sister, but she has strong motherly instincts, too. She cares for us and worries about us.”
He nodded. “She does have mother hen tendencies.”
She laughed softly. “Fiona never holds back her opinions. But we adore this about her. She’s fiercely protective of her Duchess Square sisters.
We were delighted she found love with Durham, but felt awful when she sold her home upon marrying him.
Then it all worked out because Berry found love with the new owner, and my own cousin found love with his best friend. ”
“The hand of destiny,” he murmured.
“Yes, and it can sometimes be a wonderful thing.” She let out a breath. “I know you are worried about me, James.”
He liked when she called him that because it always signified a softening toward him. He wanted her to feel something more than mere friendship for him.
In truth, he knew she did have strong feelings for him. But were they enough to make her forget her betrothed and think of making a life with him?
“I am worried about you,” he replied. “I do not know what we are stepping into by returning to Marchand’s café.”
“Especially if he has been working with Andrew?”
“Or not. If Marchand is smuggling or doing anything outside of the law, he might be worried we will expose him.”
Gwendolyn nodded. “I have been giving this matter a lot of thought. It is obvious I must be the one to enter the café and ask questions. You ought to keep out of this as much as possible. You have your sons to think about, and cannot afford to put yourself in harm’s way. They need you.”
“And what of you?”
“No one needs me.”
He inhaled sharply. “Why do you dismiss your importance to us? My sons adore you. I’ve asked you to marry me.”
She blushed. “I do not mean to… It’s just that we’ve only known each other a few months. I can disappear from your hearts just as quickly as I appeared.”
“You’re wrong, Gwen.” He further slowed his pace as they ambled toward the house, which was bathed in a golden aura as the final rays of sunlight shone upon the Cotswold stones.
“I’m in love with you. I am certain my boys are, too.
You are not some leaf that we’ll just watch float by on a passing current and then forget. ”
He took her hand, entwining his work-roughened fingers in her slender ones as he lightly held them in his grasp.
“We’re not going to resolve any of this tonight.
Let’s see what tomorrow brings. But one thing I’m bloody well sure of—I am going to protect you.
So do not think for a moment you are going in there alone. ”
She studied him with her star-bright eyes. “Why must you be so stubbornly apish?”
“Because men are basically apes and are always going to protect their own. Don’t you get it, Gwen? I am always going to fight for you.”
He grunted in frustration, trying to remain unaffected by tomorrow’s trip to Brighton. But it was hard to do when he dreaded what could happen if they did find her betrothed.
Would tomorrow bring an end to his hopes of marrying Gwendolyn?