Page 75 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
He wanted to go to Caro’s room but he could not. Instead, he stepped forward. ‘I called early so I might see the children.’ He embraced Mary briefly.
‘I will ask for them to be brought down,’ Mary said, and crossed the room to speak to whichever footman was hovering outside the door.
‘We are planning an outing.’ Kate sat forward in her chair and patted the seat beside her. ‘Will you join us? We intend asking all the family. We thought to take the children out somewhere they will have space to run.’
‘When?’ he asked, as he sat down beside Kate.
‘In a fortnight, when Mama and Papa are in town,’ Mary answered, as she came to sit the other side of him.
‘Rob. Hello.’
His head spun, as Caro walked into the room, and he stood, smiling as his heart strings played a solitary violin. He crossed the room, probably too eagerly, and took both her hands. Her skin was pale, and dark circles rimmed her eyes. ‘Mary said you were not well…’
‘I was tired. I did not sleep. Forgive me for not coming down earlier, Kate.’
As Caro looked beyond him, he remembered himself and released her hands.
‘I understand entirely,’ Kate responded.
‘Are you here this early for a reason, Rob?’ Caro asked, casually, as he returned to the seat.
‘I called to see the children.’ He felt awkward and tongue-tied.
She settled herself in an armchair near Kate.
John’s children, Paul and David, were brought down from thenursery with George. John’s second son was a similar age to George, and Paul not much older. The boys vied for Rob’s attention and so Rob’s concentration and energy were absorbed, while the women planned the family outing.
When the time came to eat luncheon, John was still busy in his library, working on something, so they ate at the table in the morning room with the children.
When they finished eating, Rob smiled at Caro. ‘You look as though you could do with some fresh air, Caro, and perhaps it may be an idea to escape the house before the calling hour. Why not come for a drive? I have my phaeton with me. We could visit the Tower of London. Have you been there?’
She was sitting at the table with George on her lap. She met his gaze. ‘No, I have never been there. That would be kind of you, Rob.’
‘Then we will go for a drive, in the opposite direction to Hyde Park, and escape all the nosy gossips.’
A smile parted her lips slightly. ‘I would like that, thank you, Rob.’
‘You do not mind if I steal her away for the afternoon?’ he said to the other women.
Mary smiled her gratitude. She had seen nothing odd in his offer. ‘Not at all, it will be good for you, Caro. George, come here, poppet.’
‘Fetch a bonnet and something warm to wear, then, and we will be off.’ Rob nodded to Caro. ‘I will ask the grooms to bring my curricle to the door and await you in the hall.’
Caro handed George to Mary and left the room.
He said goodbye to the children, Mary and Kate, and left to have the curricle prepared.
When Caro came down the stairs, if anyone in the family had seen her haste, they would have guessed there was somethingbetween them. Her smile was broad and happiness glittered in her tired eyes.
She wore a moss-green pelisse and a matching broad-rimmed bonnet decorated with white rose buds, and she also wore kid-leather gloves and a thin cream silk scarf. She looked impeccably beautiful.
The footman held up Rob’s greatcoat, so he could slide his arms into the sleeves. He smiled towards Caro, as he pulled on his gloves, then accepted, and put on, his hat.
‘We will be a while,’ Rob said to the footman. ‘If anyone calls to speak to Lady Kilbride let them know she is out for the afternoon.’ He doubted they would ask for Caro, but hopefully when they discovered she was not here, they would not bother calling again.
When the door was opened, he offered his arm to Caro. Her hand settled on his coat sleeve. His palm pressed over the back of her hand as jubilation made his heart skip.
He handed her up into his curricle as the grooms held the horses, then he walked about the far side and climbed up to the driver’s seat.
