Page 137 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
At Pembroke House, Rob helped her down from the carriage. ‘Put your arm about my shoulders and I will carry you.’ She did so, and he picked her up. He climbed the steps steadily and carried her through the hall to the dining room, to the applause of their guests.
Of course, only a few of them knew why he carried her.
He kept a hold of her, determinedly hiding his limp and carried her all the way to a chair in the centre of the table.
‘Mrs Marlow.’ Finch bowed to her.
The name struck Rob in the chest. She was Mrs Marlow, Caroline Marlow. The novelty of it clutched about his heart.
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Their journey north was slow and nerve-wracking, but at each inn where they stopped, she had Rob to share her bed and kiss her to sleep.
It took a week to reach their new home.
‘I believe this is it,’ Rob said, when they turned off the road.
‘You believe…? Have you not seen the house before?’
‘No, never.’ He grinned. ‘But I trust my uncle.’
She lifted her feet from the cushions and sat upright, to look through the carriage window more easily. It was a charming red-brick house with a wisteria growing across the front. ‘I am in love with it on first sight.’ It had six sash windows along each of the two floors, and garret windows in the roof. There was a portico, a small half-circle with two pillars supporting a decorated roof, where a cherub aimed a bow at them. ‘It is beautiful.’
‘It is,’ Rob agreed, looking at the house as keenly as she was.
When the carriage halted, the front door opened and their new servants came out as a young man hurried across the gravel to open the carriage door – their groom.
Then she recognised a face. ‘Beth.’ She looked at Rob.
‘Drew suggested I hire your housekeeper as you knew her well. She happily agreed to join us.’
Beth smiled broadly, waving as Caro waved.
A tall, middle-aged man stood beside Beth, a man who must be their butler, and another younger man and woman – a footman and a maid to support their small household. Rob had hired them all in London.
‘Sir, madam, welcome.’ The young man who held the carriage door greeted them first.
‘Sir.’ Beth bobbed a curtsy as Rob climbed out and turned to hold Caro’s hand.
Caro climbed down and stood beside him.
‘We have been keeping an eye out for your arrival, ma’am. This is Mr Birch, your butler, and Mr Brown, the groom.’ The men bowed.
‘It is good to meet you,’ Rob said.
‘And this is Keith, the footman, and Polly, your maid.’
‘Hello,’ Caro said to them all.
‘I will carry you in.’ Rob turned and lifted Caro off her feet and into his arms.
She wrapped her arms about his neck, as they crossed the threshold into their home, followed by their new servants.
Rob’s left leg had become stronger and stronger as he had carried her each day. He was quite able to manage her now.
The house was bright, with tall windows, and the rooms were large.
‘Would you rather recline on a sofa downstairs or go up to our room?’ Rob asked.
