His Obsession (32 page)

“Your grace,” Kate murmured, curtsying to the
old man.

Slowly, George Tremaine raised his eyes and
Kate held her breath in wild anticipation. The old man looked Kate
over from head to toe, while Richard steadied his wife with one
hand.

George’s green eyes stared at Kate for a few
moments, noting the curve of her cheek and her delicate chin so
reminiscent of Brioria’s. Although Kate’s hair was a little lighter
red than his daughter’s, her gaze was exactly the same. The shape
and color of her eyes mirrored those of his cherished daughter. At
last, George began to hope in miracles.

Then he saw it. There, on the back of Kate’s
right hand was a small birthmark. Stepping forward, George Tremaine
gently took Kate’s right hand in his wrinkled fingers and inspected
the mark more closely. The small strawberry mark was roughly in the
shape of an hourglass. The birthmark had been passed down in the
Tremaine family from ages past. Every one of them bore the mark on
some part of their bodies, but it did George good to see the mark
so prominently displayed on his female visitor, proudly proclaiming
her peerage for all to see.

On Kate’s other hand, the ducal signet ring
glistened on her finger. The eyes of the rampant lion winked back
at him as George slowly shook his head incredulously.

“I cannot believe it,” George whispered.

Kate frowned in puzzlement.

“You are here. You are here at last, my
dear,” George murmured, once more lifting his eyes to Kate’s
face.

As Kate stared, George Tremaine began to
weep. Tears of joy gathered in the corners of his eyes and he
smiled as he finally noticed that Kate was carrying a child, the
heir to all he held dear.

“You bear the mark,” the duke told her.

“I don’t understand, your grace,” Kate
replied.

“There on your hand. You carry the mark of
the Tremaines from that rascal Stalchase Tremaine to today,” George
went on. “Your mother, Brioria, had the same mark on her arm. Even
I bear the mark in – well, in a more private area.”

Richard chuckled.

Kate stared at George Tremaine incredulously.
Could it be true? Was she really the granddaughter of a duke and
duchess?

“This mark - my parents and my family all had
it?” Kate inquired.

“Yes, of course,” George Tremaine
acknowledged.

“I don’t know what else to say, your grace,”
Kate murmured. “It’s too incredible to be true.”

Kate and Richard stood poised in front of the
ducal estate, uncertain of the duke’s judgment. Despite his
advanced age, George Tremaine remained a pillar of strength in an
uncertain world. What decision he’d made about his visitors, he
hadn’t said and Kate remained a little nervous about what her
future might be.

“Your grace,” Kate began, her voice hushed
before the servants.

“Yes?”

“Is there – is there anything else you’d like
to tell me?” Kate inquired.

“Only this,” George said, opening his arms
wide. “Welcome home, my dear.”

Kate suddenly burst into tears of joy as the
old man gently cradled her against his chest. Richard looked on
fondly as the couple embraced. Each was now speaking quickly,
apparently trying to make up for years of lost time.

Chatting happily, Kate and George Tremaine
ascended the steps to enter the castle. At the top, however, Kate
turned back, suddenly realizing that Richard was not behind
them.

“Coming, my dear?” Kate asked, her eyes
twinkling in delight.

Richard chuckled and grinned up at his little
wife, his life and his future.

“Of course,” Richard agreed.

In four steps, Richard embraced his wife and
kissed her passionately. The duke chuckled as Kate blushed in
embarrassment.

“Of course, my love,” Richard laughed. “I
wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

The End

Ann B. Keller

Ann B. Keller has been writing novels and
screenplays for over forty years. In addition, Ms. Keller is a
veteran of the stage, singing and starring in the lead role as the
tomboyish Princess Winifred in Once Upon a Mattress, which gained
her an invitation to audition for the Metropolitan Opera in New
York. She has received the National Thespian Award and has appeared
in numerous additional theater productions in New York, Michigan
and Maryland, including The Admirable Crichton, The Crucible and
The Pajama Game.

When she is not writing novels, Ms. Keller
enjoys bringing the gift of music to all within the sound of her
clear, bell-like soprano. She lives in the western suburbs of
Cleveland, Ohio with her three active sons.

Titles by Ann B. Keller:

Briggen (Book One of the BRIGGEN Trilogy)

Crenellations

His Obsession

My Colorado Love

So, What Is Love?

Terminal Facet

The Devil’s Crescent

The Torrent Seed (Book Two of the BRIGGEN
Trilogy)

Vortex of Revelation: The Last Days

Vortex of Revelation: The Second Coming