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marrying you, she wanted to add.
He simply looked at her, as if he expected her to go on.
"Alec," she walked to his desk and sank into the chair opposite him, "I know you don't believe my story.
I don't blame you. I wouldn't either if I were in your place. And I'm not asking you to believe me now. But
you offered to be my friend once, and now I'm asking you to be. I've done nothing wrong, except be in the
wrong place at the wrong time." Literally.
He continued to stare at her, but his eyes flickered away for a moment.
"I'm not crazy," she went on. "You don't have to believe me, but until the jeweler gets back or the
marriage is annulled, at least be my friend."
The sound of a carriage rolling up the drive drifted through the open window as his face softened and
an apology entered his eyes.
"Friends?" she asked hesitantly as she held out her hand.
He looked her in the eyes, then his lips curved in a reluctant grin.
"Friends," he agreed as he curled his fingers around hers. The very warmth of his hand raced up her
arm and spread through her body, drugging her with his touch, making her dream of impossible lives with
fairy-tale endings.
They sat there, connected by more than just their hands, their smiles of friendship turning to something
deeper.
"Alec Christopher!" William Hawthorne's dictator voice boomed even through the thick closed doors of
the library. The doors flew open and he stood there, framed by them, as he took in the picture of his son
holding Shaelyn's hand across the desk.
Martin advanced around him to announce blandly, "Your father, sir."
Shaelyn released Alec's hand and turned in her seat to see what doom Der Fuehrer brought with him
today.
"Alec, my boy." He ignored Shaelyn's presence completely. "Look who I have brought."
He turned and held out his hand. An absolutely stunning angel of a woman stepped through the door.
Blond, gorgeous, ethereal; Shaelyn wouldn't have been surprised if a halo had wreathed her head. A light of
anticipation lit her eyes when she smiled a brilliant smile at Alec.
Please let this be a cousin.
"Faith," Alec rasped, then glanced at Shaelyn and back to the blond angel. He rose from his seat and
moved around the desk like a man in a trance. Shaelyn watched, wondering who in the world this woman
was.
"Alec, you look wonderful. You've only gotten more handsome." She glided to him, took both his hands
in hers and pressed a chaste kiss against his cheek.
"And you are more beautiful, if that is possible."
He stood there, holding her hands and dragging his gaze up and down her body. She wore an exquisitely
tailored traveling suit, her hair twined to perfection beneath a frilly scooped bonnet.
Shaelyn watched, feeling like a frumpy schoolmarm in her rather plain yellow dress and hair hanging
loose down her back.
The room fell silent while Alec and the woman stared at each other, then the woman turned to Shaelyn
with a smile.
Alec snapped out of his worshipful trance and turned his attention to Shaelyn.
"Forgive me. Faith, may I introduce Shaelyn Sumner." He didn't even stumble over leaving out the
Hawthorne, she noticed. "Shaelyn, this is Faith Almany."
"Alec's betrothed," William added with a smirk.
Shaelyn had stood, but now her hand stopped in midair. Her gaze shot to Alec while William's words
screamed in her mind. Betrothed. Betrothed. Alec had the decency to look uncomfortable, but he could
have fallen on his knees and begged forgiveness right then and she wouldn't have felt less betrayed.
She forced herself to extend her hand. Faith took it, obviously not quite sure what to do with it.
"Nice to meet you," Shaelyn managed, toying with the idea of introducing herself as Alec's wife. But
she wouldn't sink to William's level. "If you'll excuse me, I have to get back to our patient."
"Patient?" Faith asked, but Shaelyn was already making her escape, her only thought to get away.
When she stepped into the hall she turned and gave Alec a look that told him exactly how she felt. He
apologized with his eyes, sincerely, clearly torn over what to do. She kept her voice light and chatty when
she spoke.
"Alec, when you have a minute, would you mind coming upstairs? I'll be with Samuel."
As she walked away she heard Faith ask, "Samuel? Is that her husband?''
She was too numb to stay and hear Alec's answer.
Hours later she heard the carriage wheels on the drive as the carriage pulled away. Margaret had brought
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