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At first Grayson’s eyes lit up, but when he took a better look at her face, he sobered and nodded. “Of course, my dear.”
She swept from the room like a queen and made her way upstairs. Once the door to the bedchamber was closed, Addie drew herself up and faced her husband. “I have no intention of giving up my bookstore. You might be my husband, and by law own all that is mine, but this is one thing on which I will not concede.”
He started to move forward, most likely to wrap his arms around her, which would start a whole new activity that she was not ready for just yet.
When she held her hand out, palm up, he stopped and said, “We are both tired from the hurried wedding and trip. Also, we need to focus on the hearing next week. I don’t think this is something we should discuss right now.”
As much as she hated to give up the conversation, he was correct. The two of them squabbling like children while trying to deal with the upcoming legal issue was not wise. She gave him a brisk nod. “I agree. However, I will say one thing. Do not. I repeat, do not even think to sell my bookstore before we’ve spoken about this.”
“Very well. I agree.” He reached his hand out. “Is it possible for us to call a truce now?”
Addie’s stomach was still in knots. “I don’t think that would work right now.”
He walked to the bed, sat down, and patted the spot next to him. “Come join me. Just to talk.”
She might be a new bride, but she was already aware of her husband’s tactics. The look he cast her almost had her clothes going up in flames.
He offered her that crooked, little-boy smile that always went right to her heart. “I just want to hold you. Rub your back. It will relax you.” With his big brown eyes and the hair falling over his forehead, he almost looked penitent, but she knew better. Still, at his words, she felt her muscles relax and her nipples hardening.
He held his hand out again. “Come here, sweetheart.”
She should hold onto her anger and dignity and walk right out the door. Instead, she found her feet slowly moving toward the bed. She sighed. When it came to Grayson, she had little resistance.
Damn the man.
After putting herself to rights following their tumble in bed, Addie spent the rest of the day with Michael. Shortly after they sent a note to Mother informing her of their return, her stepson had returned from the Mallory townhouse, along with Mrs. Banfield, where they had resided while Addie and Grayson had been on their trip.
Addie was truly amazed at how quickly her mother had gone from scheming marriage-minded mama to Grand
mama. All the rules and regulations that had applied to Addie and Marcus while growing up, seemed to have disappeared with Michael.
And of course, being the smart lad that he was, and very much like his father, Michael played right into her hands. His beautiful smile and loving ways got him pretty much anything he wanted.
Grayson had left after their ‘truce’ to visit with the barrister who would be meeting them in court the following week. She and Michael were in the library, practicing their sign language. Addie was thrilled at how quickly the boy had picked up the skill. He would need years to master the method of communication, but right now they could hold a short conversation by moving their hands and pointing. It was incredible.
Brooks, the very imposing butler at the Berkshire townhouse entered the room. “My lady. You have a caller.”
Addie looked up at him from where she sat, very undignified, on the floor, with pictures of various items spread out before them. “Who is calling?”
Brooks walked to where she sat, not showing any sort of reaction to the unseemly position in which he’d found the lady of the house. He handed a card to her.
Mrs. Peter Hartley
Addie frowned. The name did not seem familiar to her. She hated asking a personal question of the staff, but she also did not want to admit a caller she knew nothing about. “Do you know Mrs. Hartley?”
Brooks lifted his nose in the air which told her more than what he was about to say. “She is the widow of his lordship’s brother, Mr. Peter Hartley.”
Oh, goodness. She was a relative. Addie jumped up and began brushing her skirts, then she realized who Mrs. Hartley was. She was Grayson’s sister-in-law who had brought the legal action against Michael. “One more question, Brooks. Does his lordship have any other brothers?”
She couldn’t believe that she was married to a man about whom she knew so little, but theirs had been a quick courtship. The only relative who had attended their wedding had been Michael.
“No, my lady. Mr. Peter Hartley was his lordship’s only sibling.”
This was the woman who had instigated the legal conflict. Addie patted her hair and glanced down at Michael. “Brooks, will you take Michael upstairs to Mrs. Banfield? And then send for tea after you put Mrs. Hartley in the drawing room.”
“That is where she is, my lady.”
“Very good. Thank you.”
