Page 38 of The Rogue's Runaway Bride
While Belle had gone to change into another dress, he settled Carrie into her playroom. As the child occupied herself with a set of colorful wooden puzzle blocks, he assisted Mrs. Gilroy to the sitting room where she propped her leg upon a footstool.
“Are ye planning to leave me here all by my lonesome? It doesn’t feel right... me sitting about, playing lady, while ye’re up and about.”
“I’d hardly call this work,” he said, getting comfortable in a chair by the window. Meeting Mrs. Gilroy’s half-smile, he allowed himself a rare moment of relaxation.
“That’s better,” she said. “I know ye count on me. It’s not in my nature to let ye down.”
“You certainly have not done that,” he said, stretching out his legs. “You’ve worked tirelessly to keep up with the changes about this place. I must tell you I appreciate that.”
“What else would I do?” she questioned, her tone more gentle than usual. “I take pride in this household.”
“Well-justified pride,” he said as Belle joined them. She’d changed into a pale green dress he vaguely recalled his sister wearing the previous year. Of course, when Macie had worn the garment, its hem had skimmed the floor. But on Belle, the lower edge of the dress was a full hand’s breadth from the floor.
Mrs. Gilroy’s eyes widened as Belle crossed the threshold, and she seemed to hesitate. “My, doesn’t that look nice,” she said eventually, even as her brows lifted in mild contradiction.
“It is rather fetching,” Belle agreed, her expression as doubtful as Mrs. Gilroy’s had been. “Pity I can scarcely take a breath.”
Mrs. Gilroy offered a sage nod. “Ah, ye could never tell, Miss.”
“You wouldn’t say something simply to make me feel better,” Belle said, a faint smile tugging the corners of her mouth, “would you, Mrs. Gilroy?”
“No one could know it’s too tight but ye, lass. But do stay away from the spices,” the older woman said with a soft chuckle. “We wouldn’t want another sneeze to come upon ye. Now, would we?”
“Most definitely not,” Belle agreed.
“I think you look pretty,” Carrie said. “Like a doll.”
Jon rubbed the back of his neck, working loose a sudden knot in his muscles. He couldn’t betray that his gaze was drawn to Belle like a magnet to iron ore. The modest, high-necked garment she wore was, as Carrie had said with a child’s honesty,pretty. But the word didn’t begin to describe the woman wearing the dress. Even now, standing there in a snug, too-short garment that was not her own, she was beautiful. By God, Belle was a true diamond.
“Thank you,” she replied half-heartedly. “I suppose it will do.”
“For the time being,” he agreed. “I expect that Miss Blake will be helpful in remedying this situation.”
“Miss Blake?” Scrunching her forehead, Mrs. Gilroy seemed confused. “Miss Macie’s friend, the one who always seemed to be there when Miss Macie got herself into fixes?”
“The one and only,” he said. “Eleanor Blake is... an original.”
“That is putting it mildly,” Mrs. Gilroy said. “I hope she doesn’t get Miss Frost wrapped up in her shenanigans.”
“Now that perks my interest.” Belle’s expression brightened. “I do believe I’ve heard of her.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it,” Jon said. “She’s drawn to society balls like a butterfly to a flower.”
Mrs. Gilroy gave her head a slow, rueful shake. “’Tis not my place to speak my thoughts about the miss and her taste for mischief.”
“Come now,” he said with a smile. “When has that ever stopped you?”
“’Tis admittedly a rare occurrence.” Her eyes twinkled with amusement.
“Regardless of a penchant for shenanigans, as you put it—the vast majority of which were instigated by my dear sister—Miss Blake is someone we can trust. At this time, that’s the most important thing.”
Belle nibbled her lower lip. “Does she understand the circumstances that led me here?”
He read the unspoken questions in her eyes. “She knows discretion is of the utmost importance.”
“Heaven knows she should be good at keeping quiet,” Mrs. Gilroy agreed. “After all, she kept Miss Macie’s secrets from ye all those years.”
Jon’s attention darted to his housekeeper.Macie’s secrets?He kneaded his neck again, deciding against pursuing the subject. God knew his younger sister had brought about more than one gray hair on his head. But if Miss Blake had been able to resist spreading tales of Macie’s amusing exploits, he’d no doubt Miss Blake would be able to keep Belle’s presence in his home a well-guarded secret.
