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Twenty-Five
William fidgeted with the bed covers and groaned from inactivity. He pulled the sheets tighter across his leg, and the subtle movement caused a sharp pain in his knee. He gnashed his teeth. Thankfully, his head wound healed quicker. He prayed his leg would be as speedy so he could get out of this bed and back home with his family where he belonged.
His nerves had been tight and his temper ready to explode since the accident. Of course, it didn’t help when his wife kept herself from joining him in bed, laying blame to his injured leg. She didn’t want to accidentally bump it, she told him. As much as he protested, she had stuck to what the physician said about not moving him. If he could get his hands around the physician’
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Shadows teased throughout the room. Shapes appeared on the wall from the moon’s glare, slicing between small openings on the curtains. William halted his footsteps. The shadows played with his imagination and sent prickles of trepidation dancing up his spine. Floorboards creaked outside the hallway. He spun toward the closed door and listened.Nothing.Only the fierce beating of his heart pounded in his ears, making him re-think his purpose for probing through Colonel Burwell’s study. William had to accomplish his goal tonight, for in the morn he and Mercedes would return home. This would be his l
Let's Pretend (book 1) Twenty-Eight
Happiness and gaiety filled William’s home upon their return. The children ran into their father’s arms and greeted him with kisses, and then turned and rained the same affection on Mercedes. Her chest expanded with happiness.For the rest of the day, she stayed by William’s side as he sat on the couch and played with the children. He touched her often with gentle caresses. Was this all a wonderful, beautiful dream?But all dreams had to end, and William’s problems made her heart sick. When she first decided to play her sister’s role, she was out to prove him unlawful. Yet now th
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Gabriel Lawrence, Watch Brandon Kennedy closely tonight. I have it on good authority that Mr. Kennedy is going to meet Captain Wilkes in secret to sell him some drawings. I fear your friend, William Braxton will be blamed for something, and I want it stopped.Your Friend, Always.William scowled as he glanced at the missive in his hand. &ldquo
Let's Pretend (book 1) Thirty
Mercedes stepped outside onto the back porch and the wind blew against her face. The children were in the nursery. This afternoon, she needed time for herself yet the more she thought about her problems, the more worried she became.With a heavy ache in her chest, she walked toward the stable. The maid, Beth, informed Mercedes of the conversation one of the servants had eavesdropped on while at the bank. Mr. Braxton was meeting someone tonight at nine o’clock to secure a deal. All the servant knew was that the men spoke in hushed tones.Anxiety hammered through Mercedes. Would William tell her about thi
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Brandon Kennedy stalked across the office floor, his hands bunched into fists at his side. He kicked his chair from under the desk and it toppled and landed on the floor. Yanking off his overcoat, he cursed. He tossed it toward the coat rack, missed the mark, and it slid to the ground. Kennedy exploded with another set of curses as he marched over, picked it up and latched it on a hook.William leaned back in his chair, holding back the grin that threatened to sneak across his mouth. He was dying to know what had his partner in a dither. When the grin threatened to make its debut, William quickly rubbed his hand over his mouth, trying to wipe off his smirk. Now was not the time to gloat. “What ails you, Kennedy?”
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