Page 45 of A Highland Duke to Claim Her Heart

The rider was not Christopher.

Ewan felt this like a blow to the side of the head. He was not sure if it was regret or relief that he felt as the pain moved through him, nearly making him stagger to the side.

The man was a stranger, gaunt-looking and thin as he reined the horse in sharply and came to a stop right in front of Ewan and Cassandra, nearly spraying them with gravel from the drive.

“Your Grace,” the man said, his voice hoarse. His eyes were dark and sunken, his face very pale, and when he dismounted, Ewan could see that he was unsteady on his feet. He sank into a low bow. “You are the Duke of Calder, are you not?”

“I am,” Ewan said. He was dimly aware that he was still holding Cassandra’s hand, and that his own had grown sweaty. But he did not release hers. Not yet. “You have a message for me?”

“Indeed.” The man’s dark eyes bored into Ewan’s. “My name is Mr. Thomas Wainwright, and I bring news of your brother, Lord Christopher Dunmore. He lives.”

Whatever Christopher had felt when he saw the stranger, all of it was doubled now. The pain was so acute in his stomach that heactually placed his free hand there, as if he might double over. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cassandra raise one gloved hand to her lips.

Reality slipped away from Ewan. The world tilted. It took him several deep, calming breaths to bring the world back into rights.

“My brother,” he heard himself say. “He—”

“He lives,” Thomas finished for him. “I know this must be a shock. The ship that he was on, we were both passengers on it. We were hit by a terrible storm and both of us were thrown overboard. It was only a miracle that we managed to cling to one of the masts that had been knocked into the water. For nearly a day, we drifted, until finally, we made landfall. It has taken some weeks to recover our strength. But as soon as we did, Lord Christopher bade me ride ahead and tell you the fortuitous news.”

Ewan was aware that he was gaping. He managed to shut his mouth, but even so, he gazed at the man in wonder.

Christopher was alive. The words settled over his heart like a balm. Tears filled his eyes all at once, unexpected but not unwelcome. He had not realized how much grief he had been carrying all these days, the ways in which he had been trying to hold it together so that Cassandra would not know how much he suffered.

He had wanted to be strong and decisive in the face of the tragedy. But now he felt his knees buckle, and if it weren’t for Cassandra’s strong grip, he might have fallen forward again.

“This is a miracle,” he heard Cassandra whisper from his side.

“Yes.” Thomas smiled at her. “It is a miracle.”

“But—why did he not write?” Ewan asked. As the new reality started to coalesce in his mind, Ewan realized he had questions. “If it was weeks ago that you came ashore, why did you not send word as soon as you could?”

“Because we could not!” Thomas said, shaking his head. “Your brother was very sick. He spent at least a week delirious. And although I knew his first name, I was not aware of who he was or to whom to send the letters.”

“And where is Lord Christopher now?” Cassandra asked.

“Half a day’s journey behind me,” Thomas said. “He is still recovering from his illness and must travel more slowly. But he wanted me to arrive here as soon as possible and spread the good news.”

“Then we must be ready for him.” Cassandra turned to Ewan now, squeezing his hand as she peered up at him. “We must prepare a welcome dinner. We must tell Cook to prepare lamb and pheasant. We must make it a celebratory feast, so that he knows… So that he knows how much he was missed.”

A dark cloud passed over her face, and Ewan knew at once what she was thinking.

Yes, Christopher had been missed. But he had also been replaced. They had waited only as long as they could, and then Ewan had married Cassandra. They had not even allowed for a full mourning period to pass before the nuptials had taken place.

I should not feel guilty,Ewan told himself.Lady Pembury was insisting on the wedding. I had to do something.

And yet, he could not imagine how his brother would feel, once he returned home and found that the woman he was supposed to have married had not waited for him. Had, in fact, replaced him with his older, more titled brother.

A knot formed in Ewan’s stomach. And from the look on Cassandra’s face, she was feeling the same thing.

The rest of the afternoon, however, did not leave much time for him to contemplate his guilt. There was too much to do to prepare for Christopher’s arrival.

They had to tell Cook, who ordered a lamb slaughtered, muttering about howyou Dunmore brothers are always inconveniencing me.The vicar had to be informed that the gravestone was no longer necessary. And then they had to make sure there was enough wine, brandy, champagne.

There was also Lord Pembury to consider. He took the news of Christopher’s return without comment, or even expression, but Ewan knew that Cassandra’s father must be wondering at this seemingly miraculous turn of events.

The man had been meant to marry his daughter. Then he had disappeared, and the duke married her instead. He was a shrewd man, and Ewan could not help but worry that Pembury might think this had all been orchestrated.

But why? Why would Ewan and Christopher orchestrate something like this? Anyway, it only benefited Cassandra. She was now a duchess.