“And exploits it, quite ruthlessly.”
“I see he built you a house.” Lady Augustine glanced at the house behind them. “By what means did he pay for it?”
“I do believe it’s extremely crass for you to inquire.” Charlotte couldn’t help but grin.
“I’m inquiring not as Lady al Ran, but as your adoptive mother. Mothers are permitted to be crass.”
“His family built it. I offered to pay for it, but he declined. They got together and raised it in about two weeks. I watched it go up. It was fascinating. Did you know that Lord Sandine is a changeling?”
“I heard something about it, but I thought it was simply a rumor. What kind?”
“A wolf. I saw three people struggling with a beam, and he took it away from them and carried it by himself.”
“Lord Sandine helped build your house?”
Charlotte nodded. “He’s married to Richard’s cousin.”
“Would you like to?”
“To what?”
“To marry.” Lady Augustine pronounced the word with a crisp exactness.
Charlotte shrugged. “Perhaps. I have a man who loves me. I have a daughter, who lives with us in this great house he built for us. We’re happy. Marriage is only a formality. You should meet your granddaughter, Mother. She is beautiful, and she needs you and me both.”
Lady Augustine glanced toward the pier. Her face took on an odd expression, as if she were staring over a great distance. “Dear gods,” she whispered. “She’s so damaged, darling.”
“She is. She doesn’t trust easily, but she loves me and I love her. We can help her together.”
Richard walked up on the porch. “My lady, Charlotte. The phaeton is ready. Would you care to accompany us, Lady al Ran?”
“I believe I would.” The Lady rose. “But first I’m going down to the pier to meet Sophie. Excuse me.”
“Good luck!” Charlotte said after her. She stood up. Richard hugged her, supporting most of her weight as she leaned against his strong body.
“Mad?” he asked.
“No. I meant to write her, but my penmanship is still horrid. It looks like chicken scratches in the dirt.”
“I love you,” he told her.
She kissed him. The touch of his lips woke a lingering need inside her. “I love you, too,” she whispered. “Do you think you could show me tonight how much you love me?”
He laughed quietly, a satisfied male chuckle. “I think that could be arranged.”
She leaned her head against his chest. They stood together, wrapped in each other’s warmth. Tomorrow would be a new day, new worries, new problems, new concerns. But tonight was peaceful and sweet.
“Can we do this again tomorrow?” she murmured. “Can you and I come out here and sit on the deck, drink wine, and watch the water?”
“It’s a date.” He kissed her.
She smiled.
*
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian, and Andrew is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Andrew was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Andrew is still sore about that.) Together, Andrew and Ilona are the coauthors of the New York Times bestselling Kate Daniels urban fantasy series and the romantic urban fantasy novels of the Edge. They currently reside in Austin, Texas, with their two children and numerous pets. For sample chapters, news, and more, visit www.ilona-andrews.com.