Healing the Widower’s Broken Heart (Preview)

Chapter One

Great Falls, Montana, 1890

Levi Halloway stood outside in the brisk morning sun. In Montana, the nights and early mornings could carry a hint of chill even in the middle of July. His dark blue eyes scanned the range, but he wasn’t really seeing anything.

The sun was barely peeking up over the horizon, the golden and pink streaks breaking through the dark blue and purple sky. The scent of the wildflowers that dotted the range was carried on the wind. The pink, blue, purple, white, and yellow blooms grew along the fence line, and the rolling hills were absolutely beautiful. Quarter Horses dotted the landscape, grazing on the prairie grass.

Normally, Levi took a moment every morning to survey his ranch. He took great pride in the years of hard work it took to build up the three thousand acres, two stables, a barn, and a nice ranch house. His ranch supplied horses to Fort Shaw as well as the ranchers who needed Quarter Horses to work the cattle. Right now, he had a hundred and fifty head.

The letter in his pocket burned through the fabric against his skin. He’d only read it once, but every word was burned into his memory. The flowery writing on the thin paper was smudged with Julia’s fingerprints. He pulled the letter out again and stared at the words for a moment, rereading them, even though he didn’t have to. He ran his free hand through his grey-streaked, dark brown hair and growled in the back of his throat.

Dear Levi,

By the time you read this, I’ll be gone. I’m sorry for leaving so suddenly, but I can’t go through with our wedding. I knew that I shouldn’t have accepted your proposal to begin with. I agreed to marry you more out of a sense of duty than the real, lasting affection a woman should have for a husband.

Another opportunity has come up, and I feel that it’s one that I can’t pass up.

I wish you and Clara nothing but happiness.

Julia

Growling in the back of his throat, he crumpled the paper and shoved it deep into his pocket again.

Levi shook his head as he led all of the horses out of the foaling stable into the corral. He began pitchforking the soiled straw from the first stall more fiercely than he needed to.

It wasn’t that he was sad that Julia had left him with only a letter. He was frustrated that he didn’t see it coming. He thought everything was fine between the two of them, and Julia was ready to become his wife and be a mother to seven-year-old Clara.

Did I miss something? Was there something she said or did that would have given me a hint that she didn’t really want to marry me? All she had to do was say “no.” It’s not like I would have gotten angry.

“Blame it all,” he muttered under his breath as he scooped the last of the straw from the first stall into the wheelbarrow. “The least she could have done was tell me to my face. It’s not like I’d beg her to stay.”

He shook his head, still wondering about the abruptness of it. Two days ago, they were planning the ceremony. Julia talked about the lessons she would create for Clara, since the ranch was too far from town for his daughter to go to school. The woman had seemed to genuinely care about Clara.

Clara was the reason he was really annoyed with Julia. Clara had already lost her mother, Darleen, who’d died from scarlet fever. How in the world am I supposed to explain to Clara that now, she’s lost another mother figure?

The image of Clara’s disappointed or sad face made Levi’s stomach drop, and tied a knot in his gut.

That was the real reason Levi was so upset. He hadn’t been passionately in love with Julia. At best, he’d enjoyed her company. She was intelligent enough to hold a decent conversation with and to teach Clara.

Julia was pretty. She’d turned men’s heads when she walked through town or attended the church socials.

His relationship with Julia had been built more on practicality than on love. Levi’s heart had stayed with Darleen. She was the woman who made him feel whole and made life worth living. That kind of love only came once in a lifetime.

Julia knew that, but Levi thought that the practicality of the relationship was enough. She’d get stability, and Clara would get a mother.

Levi grabbed the fresh straw and spread it across the stall floor with more force than was necessary. He honestly didn’t know if he was angrier with himself that he’d been so blind or upset because of Clara.

He finished mucking both stables, then moved to the milking and calving barn. Once those were cleaned out, he fed the pigs, chickens, cows, and horses that were kept in the stables. He noted that he and the ranch hands needed to fix the fence in the north pasture before they moved the three-year-olds there. All the while, he tried to figure out what could possibly have gone so wrong, or what he could have done to make Julia leave so suddenly.

As Levi finished fixing the wooden slat on a corral, a high-pitched voice called out to him from the yard. He turned to see Clara running toward him. She raised her skirt above her boots with one hand and held a basket with the other. Her dark brown braids flew behind her, and her bright blue eyes sparkled.

A small black and white kitten that she’d named Socks followed behind her. She almost tripped over Rusty, the blue heeler puppy he’d gotten from a neighbor. Although they had other ranch dogs, Clara had wanted a puppy that would be just for her.

She lifted the basket above her head. “Pa. Pa, I brought breakfast for us. Henrietta packed it for us so we could have a picnic.”

All of Levi’s frustrations melted away at the sight of his daughter. He chuckled, sure that Clara had badgered their housekeeper into packing the basket for them. Henrietta had loved Darleen and adored Clara, spoiling her.

Levi set his hammer down on a nearby post and wiped his hands on his trousers.

They sat on a grassy area next to a rosebush Darleen had planted soon after they were married.

Clara beamed as she pulled out a small red and white checked tablecloth and spread it out in front of them. Then, she pulled out some plates, biscuits, jam, bacon, and hard-boiled eggs. Henrietta had packed a small jug of coffee for him and another full of milk for Clara, along with a couple of cups.

Levi rubbed his stomach. “Well, this all looks delicious.”

Smiling widely, she handed her father a tin plate and put a couple of eggs, two slices of bacon, and a biscuit on it.

Levi grinned at her. “Thank you, darlin’.”

Clara blushed and poured him a cup of coffee, spilling a little bit of it on the tablecloth. She moaned. “Oh, no.”

“It’s okay. Some of the best hostesses in the world spill coffee sometimes.”

She nodded, but stuck out her bottom lip. After filling her plate, she poured her milk extra carefully.

After taking a bite of her egg, she looked at him. “I had a funny dream last night.”

“What was it about?”

“I dreamed that there was a wizard who had a long silver beard. He was dressed in a purple pointy hat and purple robes. The wizard’s name was Merlin, just like in the stories. He had a long wand, and when he waved it around, lightning bolts flew out of it.”

Levi’s heart skipped a beat. She looked so much like her mother when she was happy or excited.

“What did this wizard do?”

“Lots of things. He waved his wand, and a unicorn appeared for me to ride. It was pure white, like Snowball, only it had a horn that was gold. It could fly.”

“That sounds like a lot of fun.”

Clara nodded vigorously. “It was. He turned our house into a giant castle with a moat and a drawbridge. Then, he turned some of the horses into dragons.”

Levi opened his eyes wide, pretending to be afraid. “That wouldn’t be good. They would blow fire on us and burn us up.”

Laughing hard, Clara lightly hit her father’s shoulder. “No, silly. They were our friends. They only blew up bad guys.”

“That would be alright, then.” Levi gently tugged on one of his daughter’s braids. “I think maybe you should start writing your own stories instead of just reading them.”

“Ooh, that would be fun. I could draw pictures, too, so other kids could see what the dragons looked like when they read my books.” Clara chattered on about her dream, giving bites of food to Socks and Rusty, while Levi ate his breakfast, his heart full of love for his daughter.

After he finished the last biscuit, loaded down with jam, Levi took a deep breath. There wouldn’t ever be a good time to tell her about Julia.

“Clara, honey, I need to tell you something important.”

She finished the last of her biscuit and looked at him expectantly. “What is it, Pa?”

“Julia … well, she won’t be coming back to the ranch. She … she decided not to marry me after all.”

Levi braced himself for tears and questions.

Clara finished the rest of her milk and wiped the white mustache from her upper lip. “That’s okay, Pa. I’m glad she’s not coming back.”

His eyes opened wide, and he raised his eyebrows. “You’re glad?” He studied her face for any signs of hurt or sadness. There were none.

Clara nodded. “She didn’t feel like a ma anyway. When you weren’t around, she’d tell me to go play with my balls or read a book. She never wanted to spend time with me.” She picked up their plates, cups, and jugs and put them back into the basket. “Julia always sighed if I asked her questions or if she’d read with me.”

Levi stared at his daughter. This reaction certainly wasn’t what he’d prepared himself for. Guilt washed over him like a heavy river current. He’d been so worried about finding a mother for Clara that he hadn’t noticed that Julia wasn’t interested in being one.

What else did I miss? I had no idea she didn’t want to marry me and no clue that she didn’t want to be Clara’s stepmother. Maybe that’s why she left. If that’s the case, then I’m glad she’s gone, too.

“Why didn’t you tell me?

Clara shrugged, tugging at a loose thread on her shirt. “You seemed like you were happy. I didn’t want to make you sad.”

Levi’s throat tightened. He’d been so worried about Clara needing a mother, but all this time, his little girl had been trying to protect his feelings.

He pulled her into a tight hug and tickled her.

“Pa…” She giggled loudly.

After a few seconds, he let her go. “I guess I’d better get with David so that we can assign work for the day.”

She narrowed her eyes. “He’s your foreman. Can’t he do it by himself?”

“Yes, but I like to feel like I’m in charge even though you and I know that David is. Even I do what he tells me to.” He helped her fold the tablecloth. “I have to go into town this morning to get some supplies. Do you want to go with me?”

Her eyes lit up. “Yes.”

“Okay. Tell Henrietta to have her list of supplies that she needs for me.”

She ran back to the house, and Levi went in search of David. He found him outside the ranch house, giving instructions.

The men looked at Levi, and David nodded. “You were late for the party, so I got started.”

“Clara brought me a picnic breakfast. I couldn’t resist.”

Hank, a big, burly man, laughed. “No one can resist her. All she has to do is bat those eyes of hers, and her wish is our command. She asked me to have tea with her the other day. I sat right down and had some.”

Everyone chuckled, and David gave out the rest of the assignments.

“I’m going into town. Do you need anything?”

David nodded. “Yeah. We need another roll of wire, and I need more nails.”

Jeb, who was seventy if he was a day, and who kept the bunkhouse clean and the men fed, limped over. “I need more flour, coffee, salt, and bacon.”

“You got it.”

***

Clara talked the entire two hours it took to go into town. She chattered about what she would do if she had magical powers and a Pegasus. She wanted to have a white Pegasus like Snowball. She would name it Starwhisper.

Levi managed to get in a couple of comments, like when she asked what he would do if he had magic, but mostly he listened with a smile.

The general store was busy when they got to Great Falls. Jim and Ellen, who owned the place, were busy waiting on other customers, so Levi gathered the supplies he needed while Clara picked out a book called The Blue Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang.

Sam Arlington, Levi’s best friend, who was more like a brother, walked in a few minutes later. “I thought I recognized Prince and Sampson hooked up to the wagon.”

Everyone glanced at the deputy as he walked by. Half of the single women were smitten with him. His six-foot-three-inch frame meant that he towered over everyone. According to Henrietta, who was full of such knowledge, what really made the girls’ hearts beat faster was his blond hair and brown eyes. Plus, Henrietta had assured Levi that the deputy was very muscular, which made the silly young women practically swoon when he walked by.

Levi held out his hand to shake. “Howdy. Anything exciting happening in town?”

Sam shook his head. “Everyone’s behaving, even the town drunks.” He cocked his head and looked at Levi with a curious expression. “Have you heard from Julia?”

Sighing heavily, Levi ran his fingers through his hair. “Not in person. Julia left me a letter tacked to the front door.” He pulled the crumbled paper from his pocket and handed it to Sam.

After reading it, Sam whistled and handed it back to Levi. “Well, I’ll be hanged. That’s a coward’s way of breaking things off.” He hesitated for a second. “I can’t say that I’m surprised, though. I know she was seen talking to Bob Miller, that fella who made it rich in Oregon. I guess his mine struck gold. He sold it and is spending money like it grows on trees. I heard tell that she ran off with him. I wasn’t sure whether it was true or not.”

“I guess it was. Some part of me had an idea that she wasn’t interested in marrying for any other reason than I’m doing pretty well with the ranch, and I’m the only large rancher in the area who’s single.” Levi shrugged.

Sam grimaced. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. It’s not like I was in love with her anyway. I was trying to find someone who’d be a mother figure to Clara. She’s good as gold most of the time, but every once in a while, she gets into a mood. I figured having a woman around would be good for her.” Levi glanced over at Clara, whose face was planted in the book. “She said Julia wasn’t good mother material anyway.”

Sam chuckled. “You know what they say. Animals and children are good judges of character.”

Levi nodded. “That’s true.”

“You know, if you need help, you could advertise for a nanny or governess. I’m sure you’d be able to find a nice woman who would be able to teach Clara the basics and be a mother figure to her.”

“I’ll have to think about that.”

About that time, George, one of the usuals at the saloon, rushed in. “Deputy, Evan sent me. Ernest is in one of his moods again, and it looks like he’s going to try to start a fight. The last time Ernest got into a mood, Evan had to replace most of his beer glasses.”

Sam grinned at Levi. “It looks like my boring day just got interesting. Take care.”

“You, too.”

Levi quickly gathered everything Henrietta, David, and Jeb needed, plus some ammo and a couple of other necessities, as well as the new book and a stick of peppermint candy.

Clara told him everything she knew about fairies and how she was going to try to find one during the ride home.

One thing about Clara … she can talk a person’s ear off if she gets the opportunity. He’d seen her talking to the ranch hands, including Jeb, every chance she got, asking questions about what they were doing and telling them all about the stories she’d read. No one minded, though. Everyone loved Clara.

***

After tucking Clara into bed that night, Levi sat on the front porch, nursing a cup of coffee. The night air smelled like pine and sage, and a million stars twinkled in the cloudless sky. Somewhere, in the distance, a coyote called out to the rest of his pack, and an owl hooted from somewhere across the range.

Sam’s suggestion of hiring a governess or nanny circled continuously in Levi’s mind. Clara needed someone who could teach her, not only about reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also about all the things that a woman should know. Henrietta helped out a lot, but her chores kept her constantly busy.

His thoughts drifted to Darleen as they always did in the evenings. She loved sitting on the porch, looking up at the sky. At night, she stared at the stars, searching for constellations. She especially loved Orion, Cassiopeia, and Pegasus. She’d tell Clara stories about the queen’s bravery, Pegasus’ journeys, or Orion’s adventures.

I guess that’s where Clara gets her love for Greek mythology and all those creatures.

His heart ached. It had been two years since Darleen had passed, but it seemed like it was only yesterday.

He took a sip of his cooling coffee and thought back to when he’d met Darleen at a church social. She’d been in Great Falls to visit her aunt. As soon as he’d laid eyes on her, he knew that she was the one.

It was more than just her beauty, with her dark, curly brown hair that had flowed down her back and flashing blue eyes. She had a quick wit and was incredibly intelligent. He’d asked her to dance, and, from that moment on, they’d been a couple.

He courted her properly for three months. They went to all the church socials and the summer festival together. He escorted her on chaperoned walks and visited with her at her aunt’s house.

Levi smiled as he remembered the night he’d approached Darleen’s Aunt Florence and asked permission for Darleen’s hand. Aunt Florence chuckled and asked what took him so long to ask.

The next day, Levi asked Darleen if she’d go for a walk with him. She’d glanced at her aunt, who’d nodded at her with a smile. They’d strolled to the apple orchard behind the church and sat under a large tree. She’d spread her blue skirts around her in a circle and fiddled with the blue ribbon tied at the end of her long braid.

It had been a very warm day. Bees had buzzed around them, and the air was heavy with the smell of the fruit.

His heart had hammered in his chest, and his throat closed up. He’d tried to get the words out, but they wouldn’t come. Levi had rehearsed what he was going to say about a thousand times the night before, but now, the words had deserted him.

Finally, he pulled the ring out of his pocket and thrust it at her. “Will you marry me?” he’d blurted out.

She nodded. “Yes.”

Their first kiss had been soft and tender. The world had disappeared, and there were only the two of them, together.

And now, she was gone, taking his heart and soul with her.

Chapter Two

Boston, Massachusetts

The ivory silk gown clung to Vivienne Rourke’s figure perfectly. It was meant to be a wedding gown, but it felt more like a funeral shroud. Her father, Elias, had decided that she was going to marry Camden Garber and wouldn’t listen to her when she protested.

She stood stiff in the parlor, avoiding looking in the full-length mirror as two seamstresses tugged at the dress, their pins and needles flying as they made the final adjustments. The silk fabric and beautiful lace that edged the sleeves and neck had been imported from France. A row of mother-of-pearl buttons trailed from the neck to her waist at the back of the gown.

Any woman in the world would be excited to have a wedding dress as beautiful as this—any woman except for Vivienne. Every stitch represented a prison forming around her that she’d never be able to escape.

The overwhelming scent of fresh roses filled the air, making it hard for Vivienne to breathe. The pink and red blooms, cut from her stepmother’s conservatory, were carefully arranged in silver vases. Her stepmother, Elaine, always made sure that there were fresh flowers in every room to remind everyone how wealthy they were.

Sunlight streamed through the large windows, lighting up the row of portraits that hung on the wall. Vivienne refused to look at the family portrait that was painted of her, her father, and her mother, Virginia, when Vivienne was young. She felt her mother’s hazel eyes staring down at her from the portrait painted of her right before she was murdered. Vivienne had only been eleven when her mother was killed in a robbery. She missed her so much that her heart hurt.

She glanced in the mirror and bit her bottom lip. Vivienne looked exactly like her mother. She had the same long, thick, strawberry blond hair, hazel eyes that changed color depending on her mood, and an oval face. It was partly why Elaine disliked her so much.

Vivienne glanced up at the picture, and tears stung her eyes as she looked at her mother’s gentle face and eyes full of quiet understanding. Her father hadn’t been any kinder then than he was now, but at least then, she’d had her mother. Elias had married shortly after Virginia had been murdered. Elaine hadn’t wanted anything to do with the grieving eleven-year-old except to bark orders at her.

One of the seamstresses looked up at Vivienne. “Miss Rourke, would you want the trim to be higher along the neckline or lower?”

Vivienne blinked. She’d been so lost in her thoughts that she’d blocked the seamstresses out of her mind.

Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. The question almost made her laugh. What difference does it make? I’ll wear this dratted dress one time. I hate everything about it.

Elaine, who was sitting stiffly in one of the dark red brocade, wing-backed chairs, stopped embroidering for a moment and looked up. “The trim needs to be higher. It’ll suit her shoulders a lot better.” Her dark brown eyes looked Vivienne up and down as though she was appraising a horse for sale. “The hem needs to be shortened by about half an inch. We don’t want her tripping down the aisle.” Her voice was cold and haughty, as it always was, unless she was with her high-society friends.

“Yes, ma’am.” The young woman instantly knelt in front of Vivienne with her tape measure and put in pins.

It really doesn’t matter what I think anyway. Elaine is the one who picked out the dress design and the fabric. This is just another one of her social events. She’ll play the part of mother of the bride perfectly.

Vivienne inhaled as deeply as she could with the corset cinched tightly around her waist. Her mother’s voice carried more weight than Vivienne’s ever had. Her father never asked what Vivienne’s thoughts, opinions, and feelings were about anything. Vivienne was simply another one of her father’s possessions.

She tried to stand still, the tight bodice suffocating her. The fabric rustled with every move, and it was very soft under her touch. And the longer she stood in the parlor for the last fitting, the more she loathed it. Vivienne wanted nothing more than to rip it off her body, shred the fabric, and run down the hill with her hair flying behind her. She could almost feel the cool grass under her bare feet and the warm breeze washing over her.

The image faded as quickly as it had come. It was replaced by Camden’s icy cold grey eyes, like a stormy day, dirty blond hair, and paunchy belly. He was only thirty-two, but looked a decade older.

She gritted her teeth in anger and touched her face where he’d slapped her the night before. Camden had tried to kiss her, and she turned her face away from him, completely revolted.

He’d hit her hard enough to make her head snap back. Camden had painfully gripped her chin and hissed, “You’re mine to do with as I please. You’d better get used to that.”

A cold chill coursed through her, making her shiver, in spite of the hot room. Her stomach rolled, and she wanted to throw up. Biting her bottom lip, she swallowed the bitter bile that threatened to come up.

That would serve them right if I threw up all over everything. I’d do it if I thought that it would get the wedding put off. Elaine would just make these poor women clean the dress, and I’d still have to wear it.

Her father’s words echoed in her mind as she stood in place with her lips tightly pressed together. He’d informed her, not asked, that she’d marry Camden, the son of Elias’s business partner. It’s a fine match for business and power. You’ll be one of the richest young women in New England.

She’d tried to argue. “But Father, I can’t marry him. I hate him. He’s cruel and awful.”

Elias had glared at her. “I guess you don’t really have a choice now, do you?”

“I can always say no.”

He’d grinned evilly at her. “You do that, and I’ll have you put away in one of those asylums for crazy people. I’m sure the doctors would give you the full treatment there.”

Vivienne had no doubt in her mind that he’d do it. She’d glanced at Elaine, who was silent but was smirking. Vivienne was sure that her stepmother was fully enjoying the situation. Elaine was looking forward to having Vivienne out of the house, even though she’d always made an effort to stay away from her stepmother, even when she was young.

When, at long last, the seamstresses had left, Vivienne slipped out the front door, walking the short distance to her best friend’s house. She and Lydia had been friends since they were both in diapers.

Vivienne still felt the shackles even though she was away from the Persian carpets, Queen Anne and Chippendale furniture, and polished crystal chandeliers. She raced toward the large, grand house down the street.

The maid opened the door and smiled warmly. “Miss Vivienne. How are you?”

“I’m well, Christine. I hope you are.”

“I am. Miss Lydia is in her bedroom.”

“Thank you.” Vivienne stepped past the maid and hurried up the stairs.

Lydia was just stepping out. “I didn’t expect to see you here. I figured you’d be tied up all day putting the finishing touches on your wedding dress.”

“Ugh. I did, and they finally got done. I snuck out of the house before that wretched woman could find something else for me to do.”

“I was just about to go for a walk. I need some fresh air.”

They walked to a nearby park, their skirts swooshing against the green grass. Flower gardens were in full bloom, and the trees whispered in the air above them. Normally, Vivienne loved the walks in the park, but she was so agitated, she couldn’t see the beauty in anything.

At first, neither of them spoke, as each woman was lost in her own thoughts.

Lydia broke the silence. “I can hardly believe it.” Vivienne could hear the excitement in Lydia’s voice. “This time next week, I’ll be on a train heading to Montana. James is at Fort Benton, which is on the Missouri River. He says the land goes on forever, and the sky is endless. He says the place is almost surrounded by mountains.”

Vivienne was only half listening to her friend. “It sounds beautiful.”

“Mama and Papa will go with me and stay until the day after the wedding. Then, Papa has to come back.”

“I’m glad you won’t have to make the trip alone,” Vivienne said absently.

Lydia linked her arm with Vivienne’s. “You have to see it someday. I wish you could come west with me.”

Vivienne pictured it for just a moment. “I wish I could, too, but I’m pretty sure my father would hunt me down. He’s determined that I marry Camden.” A shiver went through her as she said his name.

“He is such an odious man. Everyone knows he’s mean. He can’t keep servants because he treats them so badly.”

Touching her cheek where Camden had slapped her the night before, Vivienne bit her lip to keep the tears from falling. “I know. I saw him kick the stable boy because he didn’t saddle the horse fast enough.” She wanted to tell Lydia about how Camden had hit her, but pride made her keep quiet.

“You should come with us. Mama and Papa wouldn’t say anything to your father. They only tolerate him because he’s invited to all the parties and other events. The West is very big. He’ll never be able to find you.”

“I wish I could. I would do anything to get out of marrying Camden. But what would I do once I got there?”

“I’m sure you’d be able to find a suitable husband. You heard James when he visited. There are a lot more men than women out that way.”

“That sounds like exchanging one devil for another.”

Lydia shrugged. “Maybe, but what’s the alternative? You could stay here and marry Camden.” She looked up at the sky and sighed. “I guess I’d better get back. Can you stay for supper?”

“I wish I could, but I’m sure that Elaine will be expecting me, so she can talk about her social event of the year.”

They hugged, and Vivienne dragged her feet as she walked back home. As soon as she stepped onto the front porch, her stomach clenched with dread. She practically had to force herself to walk inside.

Elaine appeared instantly, her face pinched with anger, her fisted hands on her hips. “Where have you been? Camden has been here for almost an hour waiting for you.”

Vivienne’s heart stopped for a moment, and she was sure she was going to be sick. It took every ounce of her willpower not to turn around and run back to Lydia’s house. She knew that Camden expected her to be at his beck and call and would be angry. She quickly took off her hat and gloves and followed Elaine to the parlor. Her stepmother flung open the door and quickly closed it again after Vivienne reluctantly walked inside.

Camden stood up, and his face turned bright red as he walked over to her. “Where have you been?”

I don’t answer to you. Not yet, at least. Vivienne didn’t dare voice her thoughts. “I was visiting my friend, Lydia.”

He paced back and forth across the Persian carpet angrily. Elias and Elaine slipped out of the room, leaving them alone.

Camden stopped in front of her. “Visiting your friend for hours. You didn’t bother telling anyone where you were going?”

She held her chin up and narrowed her eyes. “I don’t need permission to visit Lydia.” The words slipped out before she could stop them.

The vein on Camden’s neck throbbed, his teeth clenched, and his face turned purple. She was sure that he was about to explode. Vivienne refused to flinch.

“I came here to dine with you and brought you a gift.” He gestured to an open jewelry box that had a gold necklace with a diamond and ruby pendant on it. “I waited for a long time, and no one knew where you were.” He ground out the words, and Vivienne knew that he was furious.

Vivienne still didn’t step back. “I was unaware you were coming.” Or I would have accepted Lydia’s invitation to have supper with her.

“I don’t care if you were unaware that I was coming.” He was practically screaming at her, his eyes bulging and his nostrils flaring. “A proper fiancée would make herself available at all times. Who else were you with?”

Trying to keep her voice steady, Vivienne put her hands behind her back and twisted her fingers together. “No one. We went for a walk in the park and talked.”

“About what? What could the two of you possibly have to talk about for so long? Were you talking about some kind of crazy scheme to do before she runs off with that trader out West?”

“Don’t be ridiculous…” Vivienne started.

Camden backhanded her so hard that she tasted blood. “Don’t you ever talk to me in that tone of voice.”

Tears rolled down Vivienne’s face, and she rushed toward the door, but he caught her arm and threw her back into the room.

He picked up the necklace. “Stand still. I bought this for you, and you’re going to wear it at supper tonight. You need to remember that I’m in control. You belong to me.”

She pushed past him as he said, “When we’re married, I’m going to rule with an iron fist. You’ll obey me, and you won’t dare speak to me like that.”

Vivienne ran to the doors to flee, only to find her father and Elaine staring at her.

“Father, you can’t make me marry him. He’s horrible.”

“I can and you will,” he said coldly before walking off.

Vivienne’s heart sank, and fear made her stomach turn. She’d always known that her father didn’t love her, but she’d hoped that he had at least a little decency to protect her from a man who’d likely end up killing her.

Elaine followed behind him, without looking at Vivienne. She knew better than to expect any kind of sympathy from that old witch, anyway.

Dinner was tense. Elaine kept up a constant stream of chatter. Vivienne never said a word. She simply pushed the food around on her plate. Camden and Elias occasionally replied to something Elaine said, but neither man acknowledged Vivienne’s presence.

Finally, dinner was over, and Camden left. Vivienne quickly fled to her room.

Once she was in her room, she sat on the cushioned seat in front of her vanity. The outline of Camden’s handprint was bright on her face and starting to bruise. Her shoulders slumped as she gingerly touched the tender skin.

She glanced over at the ivory silk gown hanging on the wardrobe door, reminding her that her life was about to become a living hell.

Gertrude, the sixty-year-old personal maid who’d been with them since her mother and father first were married, knocked softly on the door before she came in. The older woman was silent as she got out Vivienne’s nightgown and turned down her bed. She unbuttoned the back of Vivienne’s dress and untied her corset.

After Vivienne pulled on her nightgown, she sat back on the stool in front of her vanity while Gertrude brushed her hair. The silver-backed brush had belonged to Vivienne’s mother, and she always felt closer to her when Gertrude brushed her hair.

Vivienne stared at the mark on her face. She nibbled on her bottom lip and asked, “If a man doesn’t care about his child, does that child owe the father any loyalty?”

Gertrude knew instantly who she was talking about. She looked pointedly at the bright red mark on Vivienne’s face and shook her head. “If my father never cared about me, as his daughter, I wouldn’t feel the slightest bit sorry about disobeying him, especially if he was ordering me to do something as hideous as your father is doing to you.”

Vivienne looked into Gertrude’s eyes in the mirror and nodded slowly. She felt a lot better knowing that she wasn’t such an awful person. Lydia’s words about traveling out West played in her mind, and in that instant, Vivienne made her decision.