Page 121 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
‘I am pleased for you, son.’ His father embraced Rob.
John shook Rob’s hand, as Edward took hers.
‘Caroline. I am thrilled,’ he said. ‘I shall be very glad to call you daughter.’
‘This ought not to be a surprise, though, I suppose,’ John said to them both, ‘after the two of you formed such a friendship in the summer.’
‘Caroline, you look peaky. It must have been cold travelling. Come, take off your outdoor clothes and sit near the fire,’ Ellen urged. ‘Helen, would you ring for tea and ask for some warm chocolate too? I think Caroline is in need of something sweet.’
Caro let Ellen help her remove her bonnet and pelisse.
‘I am postponing my journey to Yorkshire,’ Rob told everyone. ‘We will marry in St George’s then leave.’
‘The banns must be read, that will take a month,’ Helen said.
‘Unless you acquire a special licence from the archbishop,’ John replied.
Rob looked at Caro. ‘We will discuss this when I take you home tomorrow.’ Then he looked at Kate. ‘I hope you do not mind, but I said Caro could sleep the night here.’
‘Of course I do not mind. I will ask Finch to let the housekeeper know.’
‘I am sorry. I have nothing to wear for dinner,’ Caro told her.
‘Never mind, there are only a few of us, we may be informal,’ John said.
‘Will you have bridesmaids?’ Georgiana asked.
‘I have had no time to think about that,’ Caro answered. ‘But if there is time to organise bridesmaids, I will, and you shall be one of them.’
‘Me too.’
‘Me too,’ Rob’s other sisters called.
A light knocked tapped on the bedchamber door. ‘Caro.’
Rob.
‘May I come in?’ he whispered.
‘Yes,’ she called back, getting out of the bed. She picked up the candleholder. The wick of the single candle was still alight and illuminated the room as she walked across and opened the door. ‘Hello.’
‘How are you?’ he asked as she let him into the room. He was clothed in his nightshirt, dressing gown and slippers.
He shut the door behind him and turned the key in the lock.
‘I cannot sleep,’ she answered.
‘Nor I. I am excited and terrified all at once.’
‘Joyful and petrified,’ she said in answer.
‘You too…’ He smiled.
She smiled back.
His hand lifted and braced her cheek, his thumb touching her lower lip. ‘In the summer all I wanted to do was make you smile, and now we have a child. I cannot sleep because I am in awe of you.’
Her mind drew comparisons between Rob and Albert. When she told Albert about a child he had never looked as happy as Rob. Now she saw Albert’s emotions were always selfish. He wanted his son to inherit his title, not to love.
