Those words took the last of her tension away.She’d been attempting to be strong, working to save her father’s assets and better her and her mother’s situation.
And she’d finally managed it.
Not that their change in fate hadn’t cost them dearly.She opened her eyes to look at her mother again.What might she have done differently to protect the most important person in the world to her?
He held her tightly until the carriage finally arrived and then Ralph carried her mother inside, settling her into her new room.
Priscilla sat with her until she fell asleep and then she rose, hungry and tired, and full of restless energy that she couldn’t explain.
There had been so much tension that had filled her life of late and, in an instant, it had vanished.
Gone.
She started down the hall, finding the main stair and making her way into the entry, where a footman stood waiting.
“Can I help you, my lady?”
“Where is Viscount Ware?”
“Carriage house, I believe,” the man answered with a short bow.“Should I show you the way?”
“Yes, please,” she answered, falling in step with him as they made their way down to the kitchen and out of the back of the house.
The moment the door to the carriage house opened, she heard a steady thumping sound and the muted male grunts that accompanied each thump.
The footman continued forward, stepping into one of the partitioned sections of the carriage house.
The noise abruptly stopped.
A moment later the footman reappeared, Ralph just behind him.
His cravat, jacket, and vest were off, his shirt untucked and his hair disheveled as he walked toward her with a wink.“Your mother is all settled?”
“Yes.Thank you,” she said.“Ralph, your help has been so wonderful.I wish that I could properly express how much I appreciate all your help.”
He gave her a shoulder a pat.“Think nothing of it.I’m glad you’re joining our family.”
She smiled at him, her thoughts returning to her soon-to-be husband and the thoughts she most needed to articulate to Wyatt.She’d like a few assurances too if it wasn’t too much to ask.
She’d passed some point of no return and she had to know that he still meant to keep all the promises he’d made while they were courting.
As Ralph and the footman stepped back out, she moved forward, coming around the wall to find a reasonably sized area with equipment set up everywhere.Bars hung from the ceiling as well as heavy bags, equipment stacked up on the sides.Though Wyatt was nowhere in sight, a slight rustling came from one corner where a changing screen had been erected.
“You really do box.”
“I do.”His voice drifted to her from behind a screen.“A fact your cousin also discovered today.”
“Wyatt?”Some desperation laced her voice, even she could hear it.Now that her mother was comfortable, her thoughts had moved to what came next.She needed to know what he’d done to keep Eugene at bay and what he saw happening next.
He stepped out from behind the screen, his features set in concern, though she barely noticed.
Her gaze fixated instead on the hard muscles of his chest, glistening with sweat.He was shirtless, a cloth in his hand.
Her mouth went dry, her gaze taking in every ripple and ridge.
“Priscilla,” he asked, moving closer as he started to swipe at his body with the cloth.“What’s wrong?”
She shook her head, attempting to meet his eyes.A flush climbed up her cheeks.“Nothing.What happened with Eugene?”
