Page 45 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
Drew smiled. ‘Perhaps not.’
Caro chose another bread roll and began buttering it, as though she were oblivious to the conversation.
Rob was staying in John’s London property initially. He did not want to live at John’s even for a day, but it was a necessary evil because he had done nothing during his stay here to find lodgings. He would search for a suitable bachelor apartment from there. At least he would have the house to himself as John did not plan to come to London any time soon.
Five weeks ago, this move to London had been all Rob wanted. Today, there was Caro…
Confusion and uncertainty marred the exuberance he ought to feel. It was a tug of war. He did not wish to leave her, yet he wanted to progress the plans for his life, and there was no option in between.
He hoped their brief affair was harmless. The numerous apologies and words of forgiveness they shared before they kissed ran through his head.
‘I could ask my friends to help you find somewhere,’ Drew offered.
Rob sighed. He liked Drew, he thought of him as a brother, but Rob was tired of being mollycoddled by the men in his family. In his plan, this was his moment of escape, when he stood on his own two feet and built a life off his own back, something that would make him proud of himself.
‘Thank you for the offer but I will manage on my own, and just as well as you did at my age, I am sure.’
Drew smiled wryly. ‘Sorry, I consider you my younger brother and forget myself. But, yes, at your age I would not have welcomed anyone’s intrusion in my life. Just know, then, that if you need us, we are only a couple of hours away. Please visit whenever you wish. You need not send us any warning.’
Rob nodded. ‘Thank you.’ Yet he would not come because he had become too close to Caro. He could not easily visit and leaveagain. ‘Caro, shall we take the horses out today?’ He must apologise to her again and say a private goodbye.
‘It is a bit hot for the horses,’ Drew commented. ‘They will be run ragged in yards. It is too humid. You should have gone earlier.’
‘Then we will ride out later in the afternoon. It will be cooler by then and we can ride on the woodland paths and stay in the shade. What do you say, Caro?’
Her gaze lifted. Her eyes were a luminous fluid pool of gold. ‘Yes. That would be nice.’
24
Caro had been unable to look at Rob during breakfast, afraid tears would catch her out. But as the morning progressed, while they played with George, they shared smiles often.
Mary suggested they all eat luncheon on blankets beneath the plane tree.
While they ate, George climbed onto Rob’s lap and remained there. Afterwards, Rob and Drew played cricket with George, with Rob carefully throwing the ball to George’s bat, and Drew helping George strike it further than he could alone.
George was going to miss Rob too, as would Iris; when Iris became grizzly with tiredness, Rob had walked about with her against his shoulder until she fell asleep.
Now, Caro watched him walk into the house beside Mary. He was carrying Iris up to the nursery for her nap.
He was close to Mary, so, he would come to visit. This would not be a final goodbye between him and her. It might be awkward between them in the future, but Caro would see him.
‘You are going to miss him.’
Caro looked at Drew. He was sitting beside her, his backresting against the tree trunk. George had fallen asleep on Drew’s outstretched legs, with a thumb pressed in his mouth.
‘Yes.’ She smiled. ‘I am grateful to him. He has done much to persuade me to stop hiding, and with him here I have felt less like a leech on your side.’
‘A leech…’ Drew frowned, his fingers stroking rhythmically through George’s hair.
‘I am a parasite,’ she said bluntly. ‘I am reliant on you, and I am sure you and Mary would rather be alone.’
‘We would not. Ask Mary. She does not think that. You are no parasite, Caro. You are loved and wanted here. So, you may remove that notion from your head. We love you, and the children adore you. This is your home as much as it is ours.’
‘Rob persuaded me to dine with you in the evenings because he felt awkward when it was the three of you. Rob sees things as I do.’
‘He said that to persuade you to come downstairs. He did not say it to make you feel uncomfortable when he left. Caro…’ Drew reached out and touched her hand. ‘Do not condemn yourself to your room when he leaves. You are very welcome to join us.’
‘I know, Drew. I am grateful. But I feel far less like an interloper with Rob here.’
