Page 14 of Dark Tidings on the Thames
She had learned to administer the estate at her mother’s knee. With her mother’s example, Kara had grown to understand the necessity of fairness and kindness, and the grave responsibility of having staff, tenants, and villagers in the scope of her care. Her mother had taught her the importance of beauty and the beauty in making others feel comfortable and valued. She’d showered her with affection and shared her love of sponge cake and reading. Catriona Levett had taught Kara about grief and bereavement, as well, when she’d grown ill and died when her daughter was just eleven years old.
Kara blinked back sudden tears. She hadn’t cried for her mother in years. She let surprise chase such sad thoughts away when Niall came striding out of the house to meet her.
“I thought you would still be in Town,” she said, stepping down,then flushing as he took her up and swung her around. “Did you not find Stayme at home?”
“Oh, we found him—already packed and ready to return here for an extended stay,” her husband said with a grin.
“Oh, good.” She peered toward the house. “Where is he? Where is everyone, for that matter?”
Niall began to tick off the list. “Stayme and Harold are busy in the library. The footmen are unloading and unpacking. Turner went to warn the kitchen about our unexpected guest.” He looked over her shoulder. “But where is Gyda?”
Kara sobered. “There’s been an incident—”
He stopped her with a kiss. “No. Shh… No incidents. No worries. Everyone is busy at the moment—and I mean to occupy your time for a while.” Taking her hand, he pulled her toward the house.
Kara hesitated. “Niall, I really should write—”
“Let it wait,” he urged. Lifting her hand, he kissed it. “How often do we get a free moment together during the day?”
She shivered. The heat of his mouth sent a fire racing through her veins. “You’re right.” Grinning, she lifted her skirts and hurried toward the stairs at his side.
They made it to her room without spotting a soul, but when he eased open the door, they both heard her maid humming to herself in the dressing room.
Niall closed it again. “My room,” he whispered.
It was blessedly empty. Niall let her go long enough to lock the door behind her, then crossed to lock the door that connected to her room. She laughed at his expression as he stalked toward her. “What has got into you?”
“You have,” he answered, his tone gone low and rough.
He moved his mouth to her wrist, and she shivered.
“You are in my heart, my mind, my very blood, Kara. You have filled my life with a happiness I never expected to have, and I am soincredibly grateful.”
“We’ve been so lucky,” she whispered.
“And I say a prayer of thanks every day. But earlier, I watched Stayme and Harold together, and I realized there is one more thing I want.”
Desire, excitement, and worry struck her like forked branches of lightning. “A son,” she whispered.
“A child,” he corrected her. “Boy or girl, I don’t care. Either would be a joy to add to our family.” He touched her face. “You will be such a warm and loving mother. So different from my own. I can’t wait to see it.” He sobered. “Watching Stayme today, after these weeks away, I was struck by the changes in him.”
Kara understood. She’d had to face the same realizations about Turner. Both men were growing older. She reached for Niall, trepidation spiking. “I’d thought perhaps, by now…”
“No, no. I don’t want you to worry. You said yourself that it took your parents several years before your mother got with child.” He grinned. “I’m just proposing that we work a little harder to put the odds in our favor.”
Kara’s mouth twisted into a grin. “Perhaps we just need practice.”
He laughed. “Now that sounds like a sensible course of action.” Niall swung her into his arms and headed for the bed—only to pause as a knock sounded on the door. “Ignore it,” he whispered.
But the knocking came again, louder.
“Your Grace,” Turner called, “there is a man downstairs. He insists he must see the duchess.”
“Tell him to come back another day,” Niall said loudly.
“The maninsistshe must speak with her right away,” Turner said, the apology clear in his tone.
Niall shot her a quizzical look, but Kara merely shrugged. “Did he give his name, Turner?” she asked.
