Never to Part Read Online Free

steeled herself to broach the matter fully. “When were you going to tell me you had stopped paying their bills? Or did they err in that?”
    “They weren’t to call at my home,” he snapped. “’It isn’t the thing.”
    “Then they must be desperate,” Daphne said. She swallowed hard, stamped to the desk, and picked up several stacks of neatly tied pieces of parchment. She fanned the bundles of duns out in her hands as she turned back to him. “Are all of these merchants going to call to demand payment?”
    Geoffrey surged to his feet. He lurched to her and batted the bundles out of her hands. “You had no right to go through my papers,” he yelled. He tottered backwards and then collapsed into the chair. Geoffrey rubbed his forehead. “I have an abominable headache,” he mumbled.
    “If only you hadn’t botched your chance with Dremore,” he swore sourly.
    Her brother’s guilt in their plight goaded Daphne. She had played the scapegoat long enough. “Where were you last night? Gambling again? With whom?”
    “You grow plaguesome, Daph. ‘Haps you’re right. ‘Haps Dremore wouldn’t have had you.”
    Daphne forced herself to ignore the pain his words caused. “Having to let servants go and not being able to pay the butcher is plaguesome,” she retorted. “You promised you would not gamble again.”
    Geoffrey kneaded his forehead. “My luck’s bound to change.”
    “Luck has nothing to do with it.” Daphne sank to her knees in front of him. “You shall ruin us if you do not stop. Please, Geof, let us go back home to Trotter House at Ashley Green.”
    Her brother lowered his hands but refused to look at her. A deep chill ran through Daphne. She sat back on her heels. “Trotter House has been in our family for generations. Tell me you have not lost it,” she demanded faintly.
    “Course not,” choked her brother. He flicked his gaze at Daphne but shied away from meeting hers. “Still mine.”
    Cautious relief coursed through her. “Then let us go home. We could retrench and—”
    “It’s been let,” Geoffrey blurted.
    “Leased? But when? To whom?” She rose to her feet and took an agitated turn about the library. Halting in front of him, she unclenched her teeth. “That was why you insisted we stay in Town. When was it let? How many months were paid in advance?”
    She saw guilt flash through Geoffrey’s eyes before he heaved to his feet.
    “I’ll not tolerate you prattling like a fish monger’s wife,” he verbally slapped her. “Take care,” he threatened with an upraised fist and then slowly lowered it. “See I’m not disturbed,” Geoffrey snarled and stumbled toward the open door.
    Prevented his grand exit by Miss McRae’s entry Geoffrey swatted aside the tray she carried. The tea pot and cups clattered onto the floor in a splatter of hot liquid and a spray of porcelain chips.
    Saddie knelt and began to pick up the pieces. “He didn’t mean any harm,” she said.
    With an abrupt shake of her head Daphne crouched to help her.
    As they cleaned up the mess, Saddie tried again. “You should tell him what really happened that night, Miss Daphne. ‘Tis wrong that he blames you.”
    Daphne swallowed. Tears threatened. “Don’t, Saddie.”
    The lady’s maid bit her lip as she pushed a stray strand of hair back beneath her cap. “It wasn’t your doing,” she dared with the familiarity of one who has been with her charge since the young woman had been in leading strings.
    “But it was,” Daphne said abjectly. Even Lady Laurissa’s forgiveness had not eased her conscience. She began to gather up the duns as Saddie put the last pieces of broken china on the tray. Daphne stood up and helped her lady’s maid to her feet.
    “I need some fresh air. Do you think you could walk to the lending library with me? I have a book to return.”
    Saddie bit back further argument. “Course, Miss Daphne. I’ll be but a short bit to take this to the kitchen. Then I’ll fetch your