His Word Is His Bond

Austyn shifted his body. ‘If she offended you, I apologise on her behalf.’ Deborah’s hand hung mid-air. ‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘She’s young and a bit of a hothead. She speaks her mind without thinking it through. I guess I’m partially responsible. She acts like this at home and I never correct her. So, if what she said back at the restaurant offended you, I would like to apologise on her behalf.’ His words had the force of a slap. Deborah, stung by the affection in his voice, shot back. ‘She’s her own person. You shouldn’t apologise when she’s the one who did something wrong!’ Austyn looked at her evenly. ‘She’s my wife. We are a team. Her business is my business.’ Deborah refused to acknowledge what he said. She bit her lower lip. ‘I was supposed to be your wife! Why did you marry her in the first place? Do you love her?’ Austyn didn’t answer the question. ‘There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.’ ‘What?’ ‘How did you get back to Stamford?’ He scrutinised her face. ‘How did