Page 7 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
The words kicked Rob in the gut. Living on John’s generosity was not the life he wanted. ‘I have not decided what I will do.’ That was not true, but he would not share his political aspirations with John because John would take control of them.
‘Except escape Mama’s nest.’
‘Well, yes, that, obviously.’ Rob’s gaze swung away, to discover Caroline watching him. His heartbeat thumped in his chest. She looked away quickly.
‘Will you run riot in town, then?’
Rob’s attention focused back on John.
‘That is Harry’s style not mine. Harry is the black sheep.’
John held Rob’s shoulder. ‘Well, whatever you do, do not become a stranger.’
Rob nodded, and John turned to speak with someone else.
Katherine had moved from the chair beside Caroline, leaving Caroline sat looking at her hands as they rested in her lap, seemingly trying to hide amid the crowd. A phantom again. He was in no doubt that if she were at Drew’s home, she would have left the room by now.
He walked over. ‘Caroline,’ he acknowledged her.
The muscles in her upper body jerked, and her gaze flew up to him. She had not noticed his approach.
Her hair was curled and coifed, with a few short curls carefully positioned to kiss her cheeks, framing her face. The ringlets trained to trail the length of her slender neck had danced with her movement.
She was a slight woman, small, and slender, shorter than average; yet she had an unusually generous bosom.
He sat in the seat beside her, twisting to face her.
She leaned back, appearing to move away from him.
‘I am sorry I upset you this afternoon, but there was no need to run.’
She stared at her hands.
‘Would you look at me?’ Rob urged quietly, sitting further forward in the chair. No one ever challenged her. Everyone protected her. But if she would not challenge herself…
The memory of his youngest sister, Jemima’s, aversion to spiders came to mind. He had caught one and kept it in a glass, so she could look at it, and he had eventually persuaded her to touch it. Now she would let one run across her hand. Fears ought to be faced.
Her head lifted and her eyes stared at him. The candlelight picked out certain flecks of colour in her eyes that turned the hazel to molten gold.
‘I am staying with Drew and Mary for the summer…’ He searched for the right words.
‘I know that, Mr Marlow,’ she answered, then her eyes looked beyond him.
He imagined she was looking for someone to rescue her.
‘Please, call me Rob not Mr Marlow. Look at me, please,’ he said again. If she could feel comfortable talking to him, then maybe he could break her fear – if he made himself the spider in a glass.
She did look at him, but her gaze raged with anger, her eyes narrowing and her lips pressing together, holding in words he imagined she would like to shout. Her expression said,leave me alone.
‘Why do you not feel comfortable?’ he asked.
She moved – about to rise and run again. Instinctively he reached out and held her wrist. ‘Caroline…’
He instantly regretted the action. Only Drew, Mary and the children touched her. Everyone knew she could not abide touch.
It was as though a lightning bolt struck them, her body jolted, and her expression accused him of committing murder. He removed his hand. She stood and fled to the safety of Mary.
Rob felt a heel for trying to persuade her to accept him. He waited for the glance of condemnation from Mary that would confirm it. None came. Caroline must not have told Mary about his faux pas.At least no one else had noticed.
