Page 90 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
‘The next time I see him, I will hit him,’ Drew stated bluntly, his left hand holding his right fist.
‘I think he really believed I might accept. He was always arrogant. He thought he could still control me. He cannot. He knows that now.’
Rob was too angry to look at her any more. He wanted to be able to defend her. He looked through the window into the darkness. He could defend her if they announced their engagement.
When they reached Pembroke House, Drew offered Rob a drink as they walked upstairs to the family drawing room. ‘God knows I need one,’ he said. ‘And Caro, you should have a brandy too, it will calm your nerves and help you sleep.’
As Caro sipped the brandy, Rob watched Drew watching her with a look of remorse, a look that said he wished he could wrap Caro up and protect her from the world. But that was what Drew had unwittingly done for years; it had not been the answer. Carowas now dealing with her past in the way it ought to have been dealt with, defying it, and Rob wanted to be the one at her side while she did.
What had she thought when Kilbride made his offer? Irrational envy prickled across Rob’s skin. He had watched her dancing with Kilbride and remembered her telling himsheloved the man.
‘I am going up to bed,’ Mary said. ‘Iris will want a feed soon.’
Rob wanted to speak to Caro alone, but Drew did not retire. When a single chime rang from the mantle clock, Rob gave in and stood. ‘I shall say goodnight.’ Caro must be tired, she would want to sleep, and Drew must be waiting until Rob left before he went to bed.
Drew nodded. ‘Shall I call for your curricle?’
‘No, it is too late. I will walk. It will clear my head.’
Caro stood.
Rob bowed his head and lifted her hand to kiss it, then said, ‘Goodnight. I hope that what happened this evening does not disturb your sleep.’ Then perhaps because he was tired and the night had been emotional, he leaned in and kissed her cheek, as he might kiss one of his sisters. ‘Goodnight.’
Her skin reddened as he released her hand. He smiled at Drew. ‘Goodnight.’
‘Rob,’ Drew said bluntly, with a nod.
Rob walked from the room. It would be a dark and cold walk home, and it was still raining.
47
The draught that swept across the room as Rob closed the door caused all the candles in the room to flicker.
Caro had hoped Drew would leave her and Rob alone, it was the only reason she had not retired to bed earlier.
‘Sit down again, Caro,’ Drew said with a weary note in his voice. The tone did not express tiredness but some other sort of exhaustion.
‘I am going to bed.’
‘I need to speak to you. Give me your glass and I will pour you another.’
She picked up her glass from a table and gave it to him. At least the liquor might help her sleep.
He returned holding two glasses containing a finger width of brandy. He gave her one and sipped from his as they sat in chairs that faced each other.
‘What is it?’ she pressed. She was tired.
He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his thighs, and shook his head. ‘God, Caro, I do not know how to say this to you.’
‘Say what?’
He swallowed, although he had not taken another sip, and looked down at the floor. ‘He is infatuated with you.’ He looked up and looked directly into her eyes. ‘It is obvious to me. It must be visible to others too.’
‘Who?’
‘Robbie.’ He held her gaze, waiting to see how she would respond.
She sipped from her glass. The brandy burned her throat as a blush burned beneath her skin.
