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CHAPTER5
“How is Owen?” Sarah Hughes asked over a cup of tea. “Your letter said little except that he had changed.”
That was an understatement. “He is a completely different man. A man I could grow to like.” Selena wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.
Her friend put her cup down. “Truly?”
“There is no trace of the Owen I married. Which I am grateful for, but my greatest fear is that he will return.”
Sarah took her hand.
“The first few times he tried to touch me, even something as innocent as taking my hand, I drew away. All I kept remembering was his frigid demeanor. In the past, there had been no warmth to his touch, but now…”
“Now you feel something?”
“I don’t know what I feel. Oh, Sarah, I’m confused.”
Selena took a fortifying sip of tea. Even though Bran and Owen had fallen out years ago, Sarah and Selena had formed a secret friendship. When Selena had first married, she had attended the requisite balls and soirees. The two women had bonded. They would meet when Owen went to London. Selena had worried that if Owen found out about their friendship, he would destroy it.
When Owen had asked her questions about his upbringing, she had immediately thought of Bran. The two had been close in the past, and perhaps they could strike up the friendship again.
“I have to protect myself.”
“Against what?” Sarah asked.
“From Owen, from myself. I cannot afford to think that we might have a future together.”
“Why not?”
Her lips trembled so much that she could not speak. She glanced at Sarah, her only confidant. If Selena could not voice her concerns to Sarah, then who could she turn to? “I don’t want to fall in love with my husband, only to have him taken away from me again. What if his memories return? Don’t you see? It would be like having my one wish fulfilled, then having it ripped away from me. All I ever wanted was a husband who loved me, who was kind, and respected me. Now, it may be in my grasp, yet I turn away from it.”
“Then you must ask yourself, do you want to take the chance? Do you risk your heart or keep it locked away forever?”
Selena didn’t know the answer yet. The more time she spent with Owen, the harder it was not to like him. Last night, when his thumb had caressed her face, it had sent shocks of excitement down to her toes. If a single touch could do that much, what would a kiss do?
“For now, I will wait and see.” She dared not tell Sarah about the plans she had discussed with Rodney. For now, that would be her secret.
The door to the study opened, and the men entered.
“We thought it was time to perform our husbandly duties and attend to our wives,” Bran said with gusto.
Owen’s gaze met hers. Something passed between them at the mention of husbandly duties. Would Owen expect her to share his bed at some point? The idea frightened and intrigued her. Their past couplings had always been distant and short, but now it could be different. Owen’s penetrating stare had not left hers. Heat crept up her neck. Did he know what she was thinking?
Thankfully, Sarah broke into their silent interlude. “Well, my dear, I think we should take our leave.”
“Surely you will stay for lunch?” Owen asked.
“Perhaps another time. We have errands to attend to.” Sarah gave her husband a look that said not to argue. “We just wanted to introduce ourselves, but you must come over for dinner soon.”
“That would be lovely, thank you.” Selena embraced Sarah before the couple left.
An awkward silence fell upon the room once the Hughes left. “Thank you,” Owen said to Selena.
“For what?”
“For writing to the Hughes. Bran is an upstanding fellow. He told me some things about my childhood, and he has offered me his friendship.”
“I’m glad.”
