of a practiced spy was poor judgment on your part to be sure. If you’d only admit it, your pride was dented more than your heart. That is certainly no reason for you to hold past mistakes against all womankind.”
“You know Genevieve cost Robert his life. At least she was responsible for the trap where Robert was wounded. He took a bullet that should have been mine.” The muscles in his jaw worked. “I take the blame because I was blinded by her beauty.” Adron rose and began to pace. “I told you all about it when I returned from the war. And Robert’s wife finished him off.”
“No such thing. You’re being too harsh. Not all women fall into the treacherous category simply because of their appearance, beautiful and blonde.”
He twisted toward her again. “I’ve always found it so—starting with my loving mother.”
Heloise sighed. “I cautioned your father against marriage to her but he wouldn’t listen. You are far more sensible than your father so you mustn’t continue to judge your mother harshly. Kensey did love you in her own fashion.”
Adron turned a skeptical gaze on her. “I saw no proof of that.”
“Your mother simply wasn’t capable of showing love. She craved attention, luxury and above all, a constant stream of adoration. Because she was beautiful, she was raised with the unrealistic expectations that anything she desired would be hers. Your mother never considered the consequences of any of her actions. Take heed and consider what you’re about before you do something equally foolish.”
“And you think I might be headed in that direction?” he questioned with an enigmatic smile.
“Your mother left you with a warped view of women so yes I do think you are blind. I want you to marry and give me some great-grandchildren before I’m gone.”
He laughed. “Hopefully you have years yet. But I’ll marry when and where I please.”
Heloise shook her head. “It won’t do. I’ve seen the way you look at Laurel.”
Adron flung his head up and rubbed his hand over his hair. A heavy sigh escaped him. “That’s absurd. My interest is purely to protect Jamie. Robert warned me against her and I don’t believe she will remain here even to be in close proximity to her son. She’ll marry and be gone.”
“Nonsense! Now you are being absurd. Laurel has a way with the children. In fact she is a great mother but you’d do better with Melissa. Laurel will fight you tooth and nail.”
“All the better. She can’t win.”
Heloise shook her finger at him. “Don’t fall in love with her.”
Adron didn’t need her warning. With every intention of guarding his heart, he drew a deep breath. Still each time he recalled Laurel in her thin chemise, his loins tightened.
“I might fall in lust with her but never love,” he said with a sardonic smile.
“Adron. Please, I’m an old lady.”
“Yes and never a prude—thankfully.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “Very well, but I’ll be waiting—anxiously.”
“I’m not saying I’ll offer for Melissa but before anything can be settled, I must resolve the situation with Laurel and her role in Jamie’s life.” At the moment, Melissa’s appeal had dwindled. She seemed so very young and immature, almost a child, like his sister. It was Laurel who occupied an indecent amount of his thoughts.
Gran’s eyes began to twinkle. “Mind you’re not caught unawares.”
“No chance of that,” he said and strode to the door. He needed to leave her presence before she guessed at his restlessness attributable to Laurel. “I really must be about the day’s business if you are quite finished with your lecture.”
She grinned up at him. “For the moment, you scamp. Be gone with you. You and your business.”
Chapter 5
Laurel hummed under her breath and would have burst into song if Ingrid’s younger children along with Jamie hadn’t been down for a nap. She delighted in teaching along with encouraging each child, especially since
“You know Genevieve cost Robert his life. At least she was responsible for the trap where Robert was wounded. He took a bullet that should have been mine.” The muscles in his jaw worked. “I take the blame because I was blinded by her beauty.” Adron rose and began to pace. “I told you all about it when I returned from the war. And Robert’s wife finished him off.”
“No such thing. You’re being too harsh. Not all women fall into the treacherous category simply because of their appearance, beautiful and blonde.”
He twisted toward her again. “I’ve always found it so—starting with my loving mother.”
Heloise sighed. “I cautioned your father against marriage to her but he wouldn’t listen. You are far more sensible than your father so you mustn’t continue to judge your mother harshly. Kensey did love you in her own fashion.”
Adron turned a skeptical gaze on her. “I saw no proof of that.”
“Your mother simply wasn’t capable of showing love. She craved attention, luxury and above all, a constant stream of adoration. Because she was beautiful, she was raised with the unrealistic expectations that anything she desired would be hers. Your mother never considered the consequences of any of her actions. Take heed and consider what you’re about before you do something equally foolish.”
“And you think I might be headed in that direction?” he questioned with an enigmatic smile.
“Your mother left you with a warped view of women so yes I do think you are blind. I want you to marry and give me some great-grandchildren before I’m gone.”
He laughed. “Hopefully you have years yet. But I’ll marry when and where I please.”
Heloise shook her head. “It won’t do. I’ve seen the way you look at Laurel.”
Adron flung his head up and rubbed his hand over his hair. A heavy sigh escaped him. “That’s absurd. My interest is purely to protect Jamie. Robert warned me against her and I don’t believe she will remain here even to be in close proximity to her son. She’ll marry and be gone.”
“Nonsense! Now you are being absurd. Laurel has a way with the children. In fact she is a great mother but you’d do better with Melissa. Laurel will fight you tooth and nail.”
“All the better. She can’t win.”
Heloise shook her finger at him. “Don’t fall in love with her.”
Adron didn’t need her warning. With every intention of guarding his heart, he drew a deep breath. Still each time he recalled Laurel in her thin chemise, his loins tightened.
“I might fall in lust with her but never love,” he said with a sardonic smile.
“Adron. Please, I’m an old lady.”
“Yes and never a prude—thankfully.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “Very well, but I’ll be waiting—anxiously.”
“I’m not saying I’ll offer for Melissa but before anything can be settled, I must resolve the situation with Laurel and her role in Jamie’s life.” At the moment, Melissa’s appeal had dwindled. She seemed so very young and immature, almost a child, like his sister. It was Laurel who occupied an indecent amount of his thoughts.
Gran’s eyes began to twinkle. “Mind you’re not caught unawares.”
“No chance of that,” he said and strode to the door. He needed to leave her presence before she guessed at his restlessness attributable to Laurel. “I really must be about the day’s business if you are quite finished with your lecture.”
She grinned up at him. “For the moment, you scamp. Be gone with you. You and your business.”
Chapter 5
Laurel hummed under her breath and would have burst into song if Ingrid’s younger children along with Jamie hadn’t been down for a nap. She delighted in teaching along with encouraging each child, especially since
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