Read Fortune Said: A Valentine Haberdashers Tale for Free Online Page A

Josh, she was yours. That was always clear."
    Dibbs stared for a moment, thrown by the turn their conversation had taken. His voice, when he spoke again, was more temperate. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Whit, but what does that have to do with what you've done to Miss Devonport?"
    Whit sighed. He felt like he'd already used up all of his energy for the day. He closed his eyes. "I haven't done anything to Miss Devonport."
    "Even if you don't want to admit it, you have." Dibbs lowered his voice. "She's not just a maid, Whit. This was very poorly done."
    Whit opened his eyes again. "No, she's not just a maid. She's a living, breathing person with feelings and opinions and talents. I'm not the one who sent her out of the room like a naughty child."
    "You're not understanding me, Whit. You must marry her."
    Whit chuckled. "Why would you do that to her?"
    Josh drew close enough to speak in a hushed tone. "She's not just a maid. She was born of minor gentry. The earl agreed to accept her into service as the family had fallen on hard times, but his agreement was to protect her."
    Whit experienced a moment of panic. "Well, you shouting when you came in here certainly wasn't helpful. We might have kept this among the three of us."
    "You're right, me shouting was the crux of the problem. Not you seducing her into your bed."
    "Dammit, Josh, why do you always assume the worst of me?"
    "Experience?"
    Whit plucked at the counterpane for a moment. "I just want you to know that I did not seduce her. I did not compromise her. Everything about our evening was completely innocent."
    "Then why were you in bed together?"
    "She was grieving her family, Josh. Facing the feeling of having nothing, a feeling I can identify with all too well."
    "Don't be so melodramatic, Whit. You have plenty."
    "Of the things that matter? No. I survive on your mother's leftover affection and your approval."
    " My approval? What do you mean my approval?"
    "Who do you think raised me, Josh?"
    The butler's mouth opened but no sound came out. He finally closed it as though realizing he might gather flies.
    Whit rubbed his hand over his face, feeling a headache coming on. "As I can't storm out of the room in a huff I would appreciate it if you could remove yourself instead. Come back to pester me later if you like, but I would like some time alone."
    He heard the door close with a soft click.
     
    * * *
     
    Sissy paced around the small room that served as her quarters. The earl's wealth was such that even his servants had luxuries, such as having their own bedrooms rather than sharing. She wished that she could find it in her heart to appreciate that as she should. If she lost her position here she didn't know what she would do.
    On the other hand, in the middle of everything else going on, she had experienced a moment of pure bliss. When she had awakened, she and Mr. Whitman had been in a completely relaxed, warm embrace. Nothing in the world had ever felt better than that moment.
    When she had paused to straighten her gown outside the door of the red bedroom she heard something of the exchange between Mr. Whitman and his cousin. Enough to hear Whit defend her. Enough to know that he felt he had nothing. Hearing him say that, hearing his voice so raw with emotion, had made her feel oddly bereft.
     
    * * *
     
    Dibbs found his wife in their quarters. Her pleased surprise at seeing him quickly turned to concern. 
    "What's wrong?"  
    He shook his head, not able to explain in words just yet. He enfolded  her in a hug that she returned. Then he sank to his knees and lay his head against her belly, leaning into her.
    "What's wrong, Josh? You're scaring me."
    When he answered her his voice was barely above a whisper. "I've done a terrible thing. I've done a terrible disservice to my cousin."
    "What do you mean?"
    "I became so used to watching out for his antics, to correcting him, that I fell into the habit of thinking that's what always needed to be done."
    She ran her