Page 16 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
The room broke into applause. Drew’s smile looked self-conscious. He had never looked as humble as he did in that moment, yet, there was pride in his eyes when he looked at Mary. He had won himself a place in this family and achieved what Caro never would – a good marriage. He deserved this. She didnot begrudge him this moment, nor would she run away and spoil it.
The men shook Drew’s hand, the women congratulated him, and Mary’s younger brother, Robbie, spoke to them, a tall youth who had tried to speak to Caro a couple of times. Mary’s hand lifted as she looked across the room. She pointed Caro out. Drew looked over and smiled. Caro lifted her hand, acknowledging him. She would have risen and joined him, if the room were not so full and he were not surrounded by more well-wishers.
When Drew finally reached her, he sank down on his haunches and took her hands in his. ‘How are you?’
Terrible. Terrified and tired.She wrapped her arms around his neck. ‘Glad that you are safe,’ she whispered in his ear. ‘I am sorry. This was all my fault.’
His arms came about her too, making her feel as though the two of them were on an island in this room, the only two who knew how pain felt.
‘None of it was your fault,’ he whispered back, speaking into her ear too. ‘It was Kilbride’s. Your husband has no moral compass. But it is done with.’
‘I feared for you, but it seems that was unnecessary now you have this family.’
‘I was afraid for me too,’ he jested. ‘This feels strange, doesn’t it? I shall not lie. I am ready to run as much as I am sure you are. This family is nothing like ours.’
‘I know.’
‘The Duke of Arundel, Lord Wiltshire, Mary’s uncle, told me Kilbride is going to sue you for divorce. You will be completely free. Then you may begin a new life.’
Tears rushed to her eyes at the thought of Albert wanting to be entirely rid of her. It meant he would find another wife, a wifewho would bear him children. The pain of that cut her heart in half.
A light touch brushed Caro’s shoulder.
It was Mary. She held out a man’s handkerchief. Her father stood beside her.
‘Thank you.’ Caro forced a smile as she accepted the handkerchief and dabbed it at her tears.
‘All will be well, now,’ Drew said, his hand patting her arm. Then he stood and looked at Lord Marlow. ‘I thought you were hungry. Are we not going to eat?’
Caro walked into dinner beside Drew and sat next to him at the table. But as soon as the meal was over, she retreated to her rooms.
9
TODAY
‘Aun’ie Ca’o, look.’ Caro turned her gaze from the window to George, who held out the wooden horse his grandfather had given him the day before. He was playing with his ark full of wooden animals.
‘I can see, darling.’
His nanny was kneeling on the floor beside him, while Iris lay sleeping in a cradle across the room. There was no need for Caro’s presence in the nursery other than that she wished to be here.
‘It’s nearly three, ma’am. Will you stay here for tea?’ the nanny asked, rising from the floor.
Caro turned fully away from the attic window. Robbie had been due to arrive at two. He was an hour late. Drew would expect her to go down for tea once he came, but Caro was a coward to the core. ‘Yes, I will stay. Thank you.’
George galloped his horse across the rug, she bent and caught hold of his waist, then lifted him an inch or two off the floor. He laughed and wriggled. ‘Aun’ie Ca’o.’
‘Tyke, you will be a monster when you are grown.’
‘Papa says I’ll be a ’ogue and I’is a diamon’.’
‘You’ll be a star and outshine everyone, and Iris will be sunlight, too bright for anyone to look at.’ Caro lifted him to her hip.
Outside, the sound of carriage wheels churning on the gravel and horses’ hooves crunching in the stones told her someone had arrived.
‘Uncle Bobbie!’ George bellowed, pointing to the window with his horse.
Caroline’s heart thumped against her ribs.
