Part 27 (1/2)

”Then you'll have to sail the Aramis” Dallas told him.

”What was that?” Brandon questioned him, wondering why he had never thought of it.

”I said, sail the Aramis yourself. Then you'd understand how she does it. You've never been on a s.h.i.+p so sleek and yare, Hawk. I tell you it's like nothing you've ever seen.”

Brandon nodded, his mind going a hundred miles an hour.

Til do it,” he finally said 228.

The next morning Brandon and Dallas left the town house after breakfast. They visited the home of an old family friend, and not long after he headed with them to the House of Lords.

Once again, Dallas watched with fascination as Brandon's power and position seemed to melt all obstacles and yield him incredible privileges. It took the better part of the day, but with very little fuss he was able to pull the Aramis out of confiscation and sail her.

With only a skeleton crew, both men sailed away from London with the late afternoon tide. Dallas played the part of mate and enjoyed watching Brandon's face as he stood on the deck of the Aramis for the ride of his life.

It took some time for Brandon to notice Dallas' scrutiny, and when he did, the young duke only grinned like a boy caught in the pantry.

”Smokey doesn't want to sell, does she?” Brandon cheerfully wished to know.

”I doubt it, but even if she did, I somehow think Sunny might have a few things to say about it.”

Brandon's brows rose in dismay, and Dallas laughed as a shudder shook his friend's frame. The diversion was pleasant as so much of their time had been spent fighting anxious thoughts of Smokey.

They weren't out for long. Brandon had been given a time limit, and he had seen enough. Dallas had been right about the Aramis; Brandon didn't know when he had sailed a finer craft.

They talked about the s.h.i.+p at length on the way back to the town house and were pleasantly surprised to find that Sunny and Sterling had arrived in their absence.

”I got to thinking that this might continue on for some time and just knew I had to see you,” Sunny told Brandon as soon as he walked in the door. Brandon, always happy to see his wife, took her in his arms.

Dallas moved into the study to give them a moment's privacy. The door was open, however, so when young Sterling 229.

joined his parents, Dallas heard every word of their reunion.

Suddenly his thoughts were on his sister.

He had given her little thought in the uproar with Smokey, but as he contemplated the date, he realized she might already be a mother. His musings caused him to pray for her. He asked G.o.d to bless her and keep her safe whether she was still waiting, had already given birth, or was even this minute in the process.

Jenny nearly wept from her place on the bed when she saw Tate come back into their room and straight to her side.

”You were gone so long,” she gasped ”I'm sorry, but I couldn't find the doctor. I rode all the way to Willa's and brought her back.”

Jenny's eyes widened as she looked around her husband to the older woman near the door. Jenny didn't know Willa beyond Smokey's loving description of her, but the sight of Willa's serene features was enough to cause Jenny to forget some of her fears. She would have told Willa all of this, but another contraction hit.

She gasped as it grew in intensity and was hardly aware of the way Willa came to her side, giving words of instruction and gentle encouragement. When the pain began to ease, Jenny spoke.

”I've never done this before, and I'm afraid something is wrong.”

”Nothing is wrong.” Willa had already checked her and spoke in confidence. ”And you're doing just fine. Your husband, on the other hand, is about to faint. Send him away, Mrs.

Pemberton, or I'll have two of you to nurse.”

Jenny's eyes met those of the man she loved, and her smile was gentle in her flushed face. Tate's smile, however, was very pained, and try as he might he could not stop sweating.

230.

”Go downstairs, Tate, unless I call you.” Jenny released him, feeling calm now that Willa was there.

Thinking his place was with Jenny, Tate hesitated, but just then another contraction hit. With a walk that closely resembled a trot, Tate hit the door. He was shaking so badly when he got to the parlor that he could barely turn the k.n.o.b.

Inside he found Buck and Greer. After greeting them, he collapsed with relief into a chair.

He had sent a servant to tell Buck the news but wasn't sure if he had arrived. Buck told him that Greer had been over for supper, and so he'd brought her along. Tate was glad for all the support he could get.

”How is she?” Buck's voice was slightly anxious, but Greer's face was calm.

”Willa says she's fine, but she's in so much pain that I had to get out of there.”

From that point on, Buck and Greer did their best to console and uplift him. Every so often he would go to the door, open it, and look up the stairs. But each time he would come back to his seat.

”Do you want me to go out and look for Doc?” Buck offered after an hour of pacing.

”No,” Tate told him. ”I've left messages all over town, so if he can come, he will. I think Willa will do fine.”

The words were no more out of Tate's mouth than a bloodcurdling scream came from the bedroom upstairs. Tate came out of his chair as though jerked up by a rope and ran for the stairs. Buck began to tremble all over as he sat on the sofa.

From her place beside him, Greer reached for his hand He held onto it like a lifeline. ”She's my baby sister, Greer. I can't stand to see her hurt.” His breath caught on the last word.

”It does hurt, Buck, but you know that childbirth pains are normal. The doctor has told Jenny she's strong.”

Buck let his head fall back against the seat, and Greer did the same, her head turned slightly so she could study his profile. She had just watched him put aside his own feelings in 231.

the last hour to be a comfort to Tate. Now that Tate was out of the room, he let down to the point of shaking all over. Greer thought he was wonderful. She didn't know exactly when it had happened, but she had finally fallen for Buck Knight.

”I hope you haven't given up on marrying me, Mr. Knight,”

she said softly and watched Buck freeze. Like a man in a dream, his head came off the seat and he turned to stare at her.

”What did you say?”

”I said, I hope you haven't given up on me”

Buck looked so stunned that Greer smiled. She reached with gentle fingers and brushed the hair from his forehead, her eyes full of love as she watched him.

”Am I to believe that if I asked again, your answer might be different?”

Greer nodded serenely, her eyes warm with love. Buck suddenly found himself with nothing to say. They leaned simultaneously toward each other, and their lips touched When Greer would have pulled away, Buck's arms went around her. She laughed in delight before his lips met hers once again.

”Will you marry me, Greer?” Buck asked when he could speak.

”Yes, I will,” Greer answered without the slightest hesitation.