“You are frowning, Uncle Gawain. Don’t worry about us.”
But he did worry about Reggie. After all, the lad was his only nephew, and Gawain did not want him doing anything reckless.
Durham patted him on the back, a familiarity he allowed because Durham was one of those rare young men of quality. “We’ll keep it short and likely return to the house before you and the ladies do. A round of billiards or card games will do for us while you are still off in town. Reggie and I have it all under control.”
Fiona called for several carriages to be brought around. Gawain had his own mount saddled, an enormous gray by the name of Odin who had been bred for battle. The big beast scared the wits out of Cherish, and she would not go near him. His heartwent out to her, for her fear was real and a palpable torment to her. She had probably made things worse for herself by pretending to be strong and keeping her dread bottled up inside. It had now built up to a point that she might never get over it.
Gawain made certain to keep Odin a safe distance away from her.
“Will you not ride with us, Gawain?” Fiona asked as the ladies went to the waiting carriages to climb in.
“No, I’ll be fine serving as escort.” He had no desire to remain trapped inside one of those carriages with no escape from the ladies or their endless giggling and prattling. Not that whathespoke of was always highly intelligent or of particular note, but it was not conversations about lace gloves or how many curls to style in one’s hair.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, there’ll be more room for you ladies if I ride,” he responded when Fiona regarded him quizzically.
Cherish had already climbed in and was gazing at him and Fiona as they spoke.
Lord, her eyes. They truly were a mirror into her soul.
He could hear her thoughts as though she spoke them aloud, her desire to prove herself brave and her distress in knowing she had not yet conquered her fears. Mixed in was the desire to prove herself tohim.
Of course, there was no need. If only she knew how much he…
No, he dared not consider his feelings for her.
As the carriages rolled away, a few of the gentlemen chose to join Gawain. They rode beside him as they escorted the ladies into town.
It was still early afternoon when they arrived in Brighton. The sun had burned the clouds away by the time theconveyances drew up along the high street, where all the finer shops were located.
Fiona, being a bit of a mother hen, guided the ladies into the nearby shops. The merchants were delighted to be descended upon, and even more delighted when Gawain told all the ladies to buy a little gift for themselves and it was his treat. While the other gentlemen followed them from shop to shop, Gawain made his payment arrangements with the merchants and then stood beside the carriages to await everyone’s return.
To his surprise, Cherish did not go into the shops but merely browsed from outside, doing nothing more than peering into the windows and staring at the colorful displays.
Gawain strolled over to her. “I’ve told the merchants to charge everyone’s purchases to my account.”
She smiled up at him. “Is that your way of atoning to Fiona for hiding out in her library these past two days?”
He chuckled. “Yes. Go in and choose something pretty for yourself.”
“It isn’t necessary.”
“Why are you so reluctant? What is it, Cherish?”
She blushed. “I don’t want anything from you.”
The comment surprised him. “It is a harmless gift that I’ve offered to all the ladies. No one will make anything of it. Why not choose a ribbon or a bit of lace? Or even a pair of earrings.” He tugged lightly on her ear. “It is the only jewelry I ever see you wear.”
She fidgeted a moment, and then released a soft breath. “My uncle will take away anything he thinks is of value. After my father died, I expected him to claim my mother’s pieces, for many of them were part of the Northam family jewels. But he also took my rings and necklaces, claiming they were Northam property even though they had nothing to do with the family’sheirloom collection. He’s just a toad that way. There was nothing expensive among them, so I really should not have cared.”
“Of course you should have. Especially since they held sentimental value for you.” Gawain knew he was going to haul off and punch Northam if the man ever dared approach him. “And you are all about sentiment, aren’t you?”
She nodded. “Yes, silly me.”
“Not silly at all. Come with me.” He did not give her the chance to argue, but took her by the elbow and nudged her into a nearby jeweler’s shop. “Choose something.”
She coughed. “Good afternoon, Mr. Sloane. How are you today?”
