Page 122 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
‘May I share your bed? I think if I hold you, I will sleep.’
She nodded, her loosely plaited hair brushing across the shoulder of the borrowed nightdress.
She put the candle down beside the bed, lifted the covers, shuffled over to make room for him and lay down beneath them. He lay beside her and snuffed out the candle.
‘Snuggle up against me.’ She heard his smile in his voice.
Facing away from him, she lay with her body pressed upagainst his, her thighs against his, her bottom against his groin, her back against his chest.
His arm wrapped about her, and his palm rested on her stomach. Then he kissed the skin behind her ear, and whispered, ‘Goodnight.’
67
When Rob turned on to the drive of Drew’s property, his heart thumped.
This morning, before leaving town, they bought a special licence. Because of Caro’s divorce, it had been more trouble than he imagined, yet with a hefty donation and a lot of persuasion, the licence was approved. They would be able to marry within a week. If they had waited for banns to be read, Caro might have begun to show.
It was just as hard to convince the vicar of St George’s to undertake the marriage of a divorced woman. If Rob was not connected to so many dukes the answer would have been no. It was probably the first time in Rob’s life he was glad for his family’s status.
After visiting the vicar, he left the carriage outside Brooks’s for a few moments, with Caro waiting on the seat, and told his friends about his marriage before they saw the announcement in the newspaper.
They had congratulated themselves, considering they had been,‘right all along’.
Rob handed his reins to a groom who had come running to help, then climbed down with ten times more caution than he would have needed a few months ago. He walked about the curricle and helped Caro.
The front door of the house opened.
‘Caro, Rob…’ It was Drew, with George in his arms.
‘Aun’ie Caro! Uncle Bobbie!’ George’s arms stretched out. Caro covered the distance and took George from his father, hugging him tightly. His arms wrapped about her neck, and his legs about her body.
In scarce months, it would be their child in her arms.
George twisted and held his arms out to Rob.
‘I am still healing, George. I cannot walk and hold you, you are too big these days. Sit on my lap later.’
‘Come here, rascal.’ Drew took George back from Caro.
‘Where is Mary?’ Caro asked.
‘Feeding. She will be down in a moment. But, more importantly, why are you here?’ He looked from Caro to Rob. ‘Together…’
‘May I speak to you privately?’ Rob asked.
Drew put George down. ‘George, take Auntie Caro up to the nursery and show her your new soldiers.’
George grinned, caught Caro’s hand and pulled her away. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled a goodbye.
Embarrassment flooded Rob’s skin with heat. It was far too late for this conversation, but it was the right thing to do.
Drew gave him a nod and lifted a hand, encouraging Rob to follow Caro inside.
‘Will Uncle Bobbie play later?’ George asked Caro as they climbed the stairs.
‘I am sure he will.’
Rob’s heart played the beat of a drum, thinking of their own child again, as he turned to the drawing room.
