“I—” Audrey hesitated. “I don’t know about his feelings, but I love him.”
Blythe gave her a swift hug before settling back on the bench at her side. “I knew it,” she said with satisfaction.
Audrey could only laugh. She would not allow her doubts to assail her, only thought of the next time she would meet with Robert, the next time she could show him with her body how shefelt. And she trembled at the memories and hugged them tight to herself all the way home. She wasn’t afraid anymore.
Two days passed swiftly,and Robert enjoyed his own home more than he ever had in his life. Sharing it with Michael and Cecilia made all the difference in the world—as did the knowledge that soon he’d be sharing it with Audrey. Regardless of her “scandalous widow” comment, he knew she wasn’t the type of woman to have an affair and then forget him.
He still saw her face in his dreams, the last time he’d kissed her good-bye, the hope and the tenderness she hadn’t bothered to hide. And when he wasn’t seeing her face, he was remembering her passionate lovemaking until he could barely fall asleep at night for wanting her.
When Michael and Cecilia heard about Audrey’s tenants’ feast, they asked if they could attend, and the three of them arrived together. There were pavilions thrown up across the grounds, tables and chairs being set up by the Sanfords as well as workers Audrey had hired from the village. People scurried about, but with a sense of happy anticipation.
Robert smiled at it all, until he saw Audrey in the garden, holding Louisa Sanford’s little boy, Molly standing nearby, the puppy on a leash. His eagerness to see Audrey felt doused with cold water, and he couldn’t quite understand his own uneasiness.
“Who is the little boy Audrey is holding?” Cecilia asked as they walked through the grass.
“The son of one of Rose Cottage’s maids,” he said.
But Michael’s gaze sharpened on him, as if Robert’s voice had revealed too much to his good friend.
Audrey heard the gravel crunch beneath their feet and lifted her head, her brilliant smile for the boy fading.
“Good morning, Lord Knightsbridge,” Molly said.
Audrey’s expression softened with pleasure, and Robert felt some of his concerns fade—not all.
“Robert,” Audrey said. “I’ve missed you.”
“And I’ve missed you. But before we become all sentimental, I’ve brought Michael and Cecilia, too.”
“What a lovely home you have, Audrey,” Cecilia said.
Audrey’s smile widened to a grin. “How wonderful that you’ve come! All our plans are going well, and everything will be ready for the feast this afternoon. Molly can show you both inside where you can refresh yourselves.”
“I’ll remain and speak with you,” Robert said.
Her expression was quizzical, but she turned to Molly. “Can you return Arthur to Louisa? She must be done helping her mother with the tarts by now. I’ll keep the dog. Bye-bye, Arthur.”
She gave a little wave, and the boy waved back. Everyone headed for Rose Cottage, and Robert squatted down to pet the puppy.
“Does he have a name yet?” he asked.
“Victor,” she said. “Molly came up with it. For Queen Victoria.”
“A good name.” And then he rose to his feet, and they stood there, separated, but so recently joined together. For just a moment, he let the pleasure of looking at her, being with her, overtake his concern.
She smiled almost shyly. “What are you doing?”
“Remembering.” He cleared his throat, then lowered his voice. “Remembering how you look naked, by candlelight.”
She blushed, her eyelids lowered, a sweet smile curving her lips. “Robert, you shouldn’t speak so.”
“I think I’ll have to make love to you outdoors.”
Her eyes flew wide. “Robert!”
He laughed and took both her hands to kiss them, wishing no gloves separated her skin from his lips. “Then I’ll change the subject to something more serious. Perhaps this will discomfit you, but I’m concerned about your closeness to Louisa’s son.”
To his surprise, her smile softened, and she reached up to touch his face. “I cannot believe how well you see what’s inside me, Robert.”
