5
The general went back down the stairs and walked to one of the large windows on the first floor of the library in silence as if thinking about his words before asking Hugh his reasons for not marrying Anneliese, as if it was a matter already set in stone.
“Sir, with all due respect to your idea, Anneliese is just a girl and, hell, general, I can’t marry her just because you want me to.” Hugh had a sudden crazy desire to say, Sorry, sir, and rush back to Lakeside Manor where even his mother knew not to speak about marriage, brides, or babies around him. “Besides, what about her desires? Does she want to marry me? And what for, really? I have already promised you I’ll stay here and protect her until this mystery is solved.”
“She’ll do as told, plus she likes you well enough.”
“A passin
