Page 105 of The Duchess' Replacement

“I wish your brother had told me this.” Her words were broken, her throat felt like shards of glass.

Eli let out another deep laugh. “That is the point of me telling you this.” Eli came to her and pulled her up to stand in front of him.

“He has spent almost fourteen years fighting for this family, protecting it from any ill intention from every direction. The concept of someone from the outside being on his side is foreign to him. In his mind, you shouldn’t exist. You confuse him. Hell, you might even scare him.” He said with a wink.

Sarah couldn’t help but smile from his words. And she had to admit he was rather charming when he wanted to be. She could see how so many women fall into his trap.

She let out a cleansing breath. “Thank you, Eli, truly. Thank you for seeking me out, again, to let me in. It’s honestly all I’ve ever wanted.”

Embarrassed by her truth she lowered her eyes.

Eli lifted her chin with his hand. “Come now, he’ll come to his senses. I promise you. It’s the one thing Charles is good at is not letting loose ends go.”

Sarah chuckled. “First a mistake, now I’m a loose end.” She teased.

Eli laughed at her joke as he rolled his eyes. “You are a smart one. He definitely won’t let you go.”

His words sobered Sarah. “Do you think so?”

Heavens, she hated how small her voice sounded.

Eli cocked his head to the side and looked at her. He nodded solemnly. “I know my brother. He cares for you but he has trained himself to expect the worst in people.”

Sarah’s shoulders sagged.

Eli’s hands reached out to her shoulders. “Look at me, Sarah. He’ll come around. I just know it.”

Sarah forced a smile as his arms wrapped around her in a soul soothing hug. She relaxed against him and let the comfort of a friend take hold of her.

Just as her eyes fluttered shut she saw the outline of a giant step into the sun and place one enormous hand onto Eli’s back.

“Why is it every time I see you, you are hugging my wife?” Charles snarled as he grabbed Eli and pulled him back so forcefully Eli went tumbling behind them.

“Charles!” Sarah’s eyes widened. “What are you doing here?”

Eli laughed from where he landed. “See? I told you he’d come for you.” He coughed a few times as he tried to stand up.

Sarah’s eyes rounded. How hard did Charles throw him?

Charles ignored Sarah’s question as he stomped over to Eli.

“I thought I told you I didn’t want you anywhere near my family?” Charles lunged down and picked Eli up by the collar. Holding him at arm’s length Charles pulled his one arm back, ready to punch Eli.

Sarah yelped as she darted to jump in between the men.

“Sarah,” Charles seethed through clenched teeth. “Get out of the way.”

Sarah scowled. “I will not. Once again, Eli has shown progress and has come here to make amends, on your account, mind you. If you want to be mad at someone be mad at me for hearing him out. But, if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here talking with you.”

Charles lowered his arm, and raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“He gave me some much needed insight into your family’s past.”

Charles’s eyes darted behind Sarah to look at Eli.

Sarah moved her head so her eyes clashed with Charles’s. “And before you start throwing your weight around here, may I remind you that I am a part of this family now. Eli came to me as a brother to tell me some important information about why my husband is the way he is.”

Charles’s shoulders went up and his rose a hand. “Wait just a minute…”

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