Heaven help her, she was weary to the marrow of her bones, sad to the core of her being. She wondered what her father would say if he could see his family now, divided, each member lost to the others with no hope of reuniting… and all because his wife and son couldn’t appreciate the importance of Somerset to the preservation of their heritage. Miles had volunteered no information concerning Ollie’s injury. Mary admitted to herself that she hadn’t asked for details because she didn’t want to know. She wanted never to know… the reason she’d decided not to see Percy alone tonight. Right now, she longed for nothing more than to dissolve in his arms and have him prove to her that he was home at last. But Miles was right. Percy’s pride would never allow him to marry a woman who served two masters. She couldn’t be sure of his attitude until they talked. But not tonight. She was too tired, too lonely, too susceptible to her need of him, to risk facing him tonight.
