She looked at the letter again and grinned. “Will we be going to Scotland?”
Austin chuckled. “If you wish it.”
“I would love that!” she said excitedly.
Austin silently enjoyed seeing her light up. He made a mental note to take her to Scotland once he was certain that they were safe to travel.
They began breakfast, though Deena was too buoyant to eat much. She kept rereading the letter, her smile returning repeatedly like sunlight breaking through clouds.
But then, as she set the letter down, her expression shifted.
“Austin,” she said quietly, “I know it is troublesome to keep bringing this up, but have you heard anything? From… your blackmailer?”
Austin could not lie to her.
“No,” he answered. “Not a word.”
Deena exhaled slowly. “Nor have I. But I can’t shake this feeling. Something in my gut feels… wrong.”
He felt the same. He reached across the table and covered her hand with his. Her fingers were cold compared to hers, but she did not pull away.
“You have nothing to worry about,” he said. “No matter what comes. I won’t let anything touch you.”
She gave him a weak smile. “I know. I trust you. But the feeling will not leave.”
Austin nodded. “I understand your concern, Dee. But now that Dominic is on board, too. We are protected.”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Austin did not dismiss her gut feeling. He had learned to trust her and understood when to reassure her.
“I am going to speak with my solicitor tomorrow,” he said. “See if there are any updates. But so far… everything has been quiet.”
“Too quiet,” she agreed.
He squeezed her hand. “Then I’ll make noise.”
That earned him a small laugh, which eased the tension in his chest.
They ate in silence for a moment before Deena asked him shyly, “Will you be joining me tonight? Or will you be working late again?”
He winced. The last couple of days kept him away from her, and he hated it. He promised her a night of pleasure, and he did not deliver, yet. But so many duties were left unfinished ever since their wedding day, and he had to address them.
Duty comes first.
“I have a few more matters to settle. Estate accounts. Correspondence. A meeting with the steward. Dull things,” he said apologetically.
Her disappointment was subtle but unmistakable.
Austin leaned closer. “I promise that once everything is settled, I will be yours.”
Deena’s eyes reflected his own desires. A primal heat curled through him.
“Careful, sweetheart. I like it when you look at me like that.”
Deena blushed and hid her smile behind her teacup, but he saw it anyway.
“This is not polite breakfast talk,” she scolded him playfully.
Austin smirked and cleared his throat before he forgot how to speak under her piercing green eyes. “Since thetonhas finally quietened down about us, I have some duties for you. Things you might enjoy.”
