She looked to Cedric to smile her thanks at him and found that he was already looking at her, an expression in his eyes that she had not seen before and the softest smile on his lips. A smile thatwas not for charm or to distract or tease, just a smile, a real one. Then the moment was gone and he looked away quickly.
Oh,she thought, feeling her cheeks flare so hot that she feared she must be glowing.Oh I want him to look at me again. I don't want him to stop.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
"Aunt Louisa, you can't catch me!"
There was a shriek of laughter as Abigail drove her fat little pony Caterpillar down the path, Kenneth following at a more cautious rate.
"Careful to stay on the path, Abigail dear!" Louisa called after her, urging her horse, a light brown mare called Dandelion, on to a faster trot. The weather was beautiful and the children were getting more and more comfortable going on little excursions with her. The search for a governess for them had been successful and Louisa had been pleased that the successful candidate was a woman who seemed both competent and kind.
But it was still a delight to be able to have fun with the twins, exploring the estate, playing in the gardens or going horse-riding like today. Abigail was happy to ride her little pony as fast as she could encourage the creature to go, while Kenneth was afraid that his own little steed might suddenly become aginormous Clydesdale and take off with him, the way he was clutching at the reins.
"Abigail!" Louisa called again. "Oh Kenneth, she is quite beating us back to the estate. Why don't we try to catch her together, I am sure that we will be able to manage if you help me."
Kenneth looked up at her with big surprised eyes. "Really, Aunt Lady?"
No matter what Cedric or she said, Kenneth had stuck on the title of Aunt Lady and to be honest, Louisa would have been sad to hear him call her something else at this point. She smiled at him encouragingly. "Let's see what your little Warrior can do, shall we? Like I taught you just give him a little tap with your foot. Not a kick, darling, because we don't want to be mean. Just a little encouraging pat."
Kenneth listened seriously and tried the smallest kick that Louisa had ever seen in her life. it was so light that she was sure it wouldn't encourage a flea, but Warrior was used to children and picked up his pace in a solid, dependable way.
"Wonderful!" she cheered. "Abigail, come back here and see what Kenneth is doing!"
Just as she had expected, the spirited girl heard her and whirled back to check on her beloved brother. The attitude of 'elder sibling' was so strong in Abigail that sometimes Louisa could almost forget that the children were twins, no matter how much Abigail reminded everyone that she was 'seven minutes older'.
"What is it?" she cried, joining them again. "What did I miss?"
Louisa winked at Kenneth, who looked so awed at her sneakiness that she almost felt proud of herself for her little trick. "He's got Warrior to trot. Come on, dear, show her how you did it."
Obediently, Kenneth did his little kick again and Warrior picked up his pace to the prancing trot of a well behaved pony. Abigail gave a whoop of encouragement and got her own little devil to trot as well, joining her brother in laughing and cheering as they made their way down the path.
It had been the perfect morning, except for the fact that Cedric had once again not been able to join them. Ever since their moment together at the lunch table it had felt like he was avoiding her, taking meals more often in his office, not coming to listen to the stories at bedtime and finding reasons not to join her or the children in their little outings. Even today Louisa had tried to invite him out on his favorite stallion with them, but he was too busy with correspondence.
It had nothing to do with correspondence and she knew it.
"Aunt Louisa!" Abigail called. "We're nearly home, can we keep playing?"
It made her heart clench a little to hear how easily they referred to the estate as home for not just them but her too. "Of course, sweetheart," she said lightly. "What would you like to play?"
"Hide and seek! Please, Aunt Louisa!"
"Yes, yes!" Kenneth said, grinning as he clung to Warrior for dear life. "Hide and Seek and Uncle too?"
"I'll do my best, Kenneth," Louisa said, and as she saw him droop a little at the idea his uncle might not join them she pressed her lips into a thin line. She would do her best indeed. Enough avoidance, Cedric Pembroke. It was time to hunt him out.
Leaving the children in the capable hands of the governess and running her hands through her hair to tidy it, Louisa strode quickly towards Cedric's study, enjoying the free movement of wearing the breeches that she had ordered with her last batch of clothing. Ever since trying on one of her father's old pairs she had found that they were just so much more convenient for activities like running and riding and had longed for a pair of her very own. Now that she had one she could not understand why it was not more the fashion!
"Husband?" she said, knocking on his study door. "Cedric?"
"Come in," he called, sounding as busy as he had told her he would be. She pushed open the door and stepped into the study, finding him stood by the window instead of sitting behind his desk, gazing pensively out at the grounds.
"We are to play a game, my lord," Louisa said, walking up to stand a little behind him. "Will you not join us?"
"I told you already, I am far too busy for anything today."
"Kenneth asked especially for you," Louisa said sternly. "I will not go back to that boy and tell him his uncle is too busy to see him."
Cedric turned, the light catching his face and setting it into sharp relief. His brows were drawn together but there was a hint of surprise in his gaze as though perhaps he hadn't expected to be asked for. "Kenneth did?"
