Acknowledgments
I need to start by thanking my family. There are a lot of things for them to deal with as we transition to me writing more and more. My family loves and supports me through all of life’s changes, and I’m grateful for them every day.
My critique group—Laura, Alice, Paula, and Audrey—have cheered me on, brainstormed ideas, and made me start writing in the first place. Thank you.
And now for the big list (I get a lot of help writing books). Some of these wonderful women read for me when my story was in its very beginning stages, and others read it last minute when I only gave them hours to do so. I hope you do this for your own enjoyment, but I also hope you know how much it means to me: Clarissa Wilstead, April Young, Lisa Kendrick, Mandy Biesinger, Kim Dubious—writing with you until 2 a.m. before deadline was a real thrill—Colleen Lynch, Cassidy Pace, Jamie Ann Bartlett, Lora Jean Buss, and Lynn Provost.
Thank you to my Covenant Communications team. My editor, Ashley, has been patient and helpful as I shaped this novel into a better version of itself. Her excitement for this project has been a great motivator. The design team made a beautiful cover, and I’m lucky enough to have had Amy Parker, our publicist, a part of my team since A Proper Scandal released. Many, many others from Covenant share a part in bringing this book to the shelf. Thanks for your dedication.
I also need to thank my mom, Elsie Mosher, and my siblings, Bobbi, Ryan, Monique, Brently, and Tammi. Reading has always been important in our family, and that is probably why three of us can’t help but write.
And lastly, I need to thank a few friends who have listened to me as I stress, gotten me out of the house when the walls started creeping in, hosted launch parties, and showed up to signings. Heidi Maxfield, Karin Smith, and Kristen Southwick, thanks for keeping me human.
“That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
—William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
Chapter 1
“What have you done to your dress?” Nicholas’s deep baritone voice and his dark shadow sliced through the cheery light shining between the branches above Patience.
Ollie jumped up and bounded toward Nicholas, which was unfortunate, considering Patience had been using his warm chest as a pillow.
Traitor.
Her head plopped down into the dirt and leaves, making not only her dress a bit of a mess but her whole person. She shifted to a sitting position on the ground. Of course her brother would find her when she was enjoying herself. Ollie was circling Nicholas’s waist, hoping to get some attention, but his treachery had done him no good. Nicholas didn’t even reach down and pet his head. With a head that nearly reached Nicholas’s waist, Olympus was the biggest Great Dane Patience had ever seen. It wouldn’t have been hard for Nicholas to give her dog a welcoming pat.
Patience brushed a few leaves out of her hair and shrugged her shoulders, trying to appear nonchalant. Nicholas had been out of sorts since Mama came home, and Patience was never certain exactly what his mood would be. “The sun is shining, Nicholas. Do you know how long it has been since we have seen a sunny day?”
His dark-brown eyes scanned the garden as if seeing it for the first time. For a moment, he seemed to be considering it. How could he not want to spend the afternoon outside? Her spot under the oak tree that their great-great-grandfather, the second Duke of Harrington, had planted was her favorite place to sit and find the comfort and acceptance that only Ollie provided. For the past two years she’d come here to escape the quiet of an empty home. Ironically, now that Mama was home, Patience was escaping the noise. How could a woman sing for so many hours each day?
“Are you claiming that the sunshine tore your dress and tracked mud up the left side of your body?”
If Nicholas couldn’t understand what a draw the sunshine was, he wasn’t going to understand her need to find solace with Ollie.
Patience stood and slapped her hip with her hand. “Ollie, come.” She couldn’t stand him waiting on Nicholas.
The dog’s dark-brown legs made quick work of the distance between her and Nicholas. She placed a hand on his head, and Ollie leaned into her. Immediately she felt at peace. It didn’t really matter what her brother thought of her. She would always have Ollie. “I was just finishing up my morning visits.”
Nicholas furrowed his brow. “With Olympus?”
“No one else would be appropriate.”
Nicholas shook his head. “Come back inside and change your clothes.”
“You don’t want to be in there with Mama either,” Patience protested, but she started back toward their London home. She preferred being in the country, but Nicholas needed to spend most of his time in London since Papa died. “Surely all your work as Duke Harrington can wait for an afternoon.”
“I thought this was a morning visit.”
“Yes, but I think you need an afternoon.”
They had nearly reached the back door. Mama’s false vibrato wafted through the doorway. For a woman who liked to sing, she wasn’t actually very skilled at it. Nicholas rubbed his face with his hands. “No, what I need is a sister who has an ounce of decorum.”
Patience stopped. What waited inside for her? An oblivious mother and a critical brother. Outside there was sunshine and Ollie.
“Patience . . .”
She stepped across the threshold and into the kitchen of their sprawling home. She was dirty enough to warrant Nicholas using the servants’ entrance. Cook and Rebecca were washing vegetables. They smiled at Patience but quickly dried their hands and scurried to the larder when they noticed Nicholas behind her. Apparently no one wanted to be around when the Duke of Harrington was frustrated with his sister. She sighed and placed her hand on the doorframe, not quite ready to relinquish a pleasant afternoon.
“You are becoming more like Mother every day,” Nicholas muttered after pushing past her. She couldn’t quite catch the last thing he said, but she definitely heard “running from responsibilities.”
What responsibilities? She wished she had some. In fact, there was nothing for her to do here. Outside at least she could feel the sunlight warm her, and Ollie would stand by her no matter what.
Patience sighed. There would be no changing Nicholas. He hadn’t been much fun while Mama was in Paris, but now that she was home life was even more unbearable. Was it Patience’s fault Mama couldn’t handle a life in mourning?
Her hand was still on the doorway. Tiny pinpricks of heat radiated off it, reminding her of the sunshine that awaited if she could just return to the garden. With Nicholas now in front of her, headed no doubt back to his study, Patience jumped out the open doorway and shut Nicholas into the dim house, where he preferred to stay.