Page 30 of If The Fates Allow
“My brother?”
“I told you, a group of them meet. The girls from Port Michaelson, Paul, your brother, my brother, and… me.”
She had no right to want to claw his eyes out. He was her doctor. She was his patient. There was nothing else to it. No matter their long talks in the library. No matter that she had opened up to him more than anyone.
“I see.”
The evil man grinned. “Oh, do you?”
“I do.”
“No, I don’t think you do.”
Crossing her arms, she refused to allow the quick prick of jealousy to rule and kept her voice even. “Where do you meet? In your little ‘medical’ cottage?”
Both she and Lucy had seen the place. It was surprisingly stocked, outfitted with equipment sent by Noah’s friends from up north.
His infuriating grin deepened. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were jealous, Wilhelmina Fairweather.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Noah was completely upon her. Swooping in to wrap an arm around her waist, their bodies collided together. “Yes, you do.”
“This is my brother’s doing,” she said, her body warring over whether she should try to wiggle free from his hold or stay put. “Cal and father have been arguing endlessly over Cal’s wild idea to end the mill and focus more on something called land development.”
“It’s a sound plan,” Noah replied, having the audacity to agree. “Advancements in lumber processing are happening far faster than the Anderson or the Fairweather mills can keep up with. The end is near, Willa. Ulrich already agrees it’s best to sell once Paul takes over their company in a few years. He’s begun looking into other ventures that will work best for our family, just as Cal has been trying to do with your father.”
“But if the mills unite and I go to Richards, both families can survive.” She pounded his chest with her fist. One good solid strike to make herself feel better. “We can make it work.”
He took her beating, almost looking happy to do it. “But for how long? It’s no longer possible to go on for endless decades like they’ve done before. The world is changing, Willa. Every corner of it.”
And she would have no idea. Tucked away at Haven House, she would have no idea what changes were occurring in the world or what new possibilities were on the horizon.
“I’m going to murder Cal.” She shoved Noah away so she could continue her march onward. “He’s been away all afternoon, but he’s here, isn’t he? He’s meeting with your women!”
“They’re not my women, Willa,” he called after her, his denial only enraging her further. “I leave before things turn…well—before things begin.”
That had her stopping. “What things?”
“Things I’m not about to explain.”
Willa’s eyes narrowed into slits, mainly because of the sand blowing about in the wind, but she measured the look with just enough distaste that she hoped it made him think it was because of his reply.
“It’s Jennie.” She wrinkled her nose. “The one with the freckles and the ample bosom. That’s the one you like.”
Noah tipped his head back and said something to the sky before giving her his attention once again. “No, I don’t like her.”
“Why not?” she asked, seemingly upset on Jennie’s behalf, even though if Noah did find her attractive, she would hate the woman for life. “She’s stunning and seems to be lovely.”
“She is lovely,” he said as he edged closer. “And kind and clever and well-read.”
Well, there it was. Willa had never had a mortal enemy before, but she had always wanted one. A real Caroline Bingley to her Lizzie Bennett, and it would seem Jennie fit the bill. Lovely, kind, clever, and well-read Jennie.
“How wonderful for her,” she replied, pure acid dripping from every syllable. “It must be exhausting to be so very accomplished.”
Noah barked out a laugh, the sound competing with the roar of the waves. “I would imagine so, especially when using those accomplishments to make Cal fall in love with her.”
Her mouth dropped open. Cal? No. He wouldn’t dare. He knew his place. He understood the requirements of being an heir and would never jeopardize his position. “That’s not possible.”
