Rayne’s heart flipped as she turned her jubilant smile on him.
Hehadn’t lied. Even her lie held one, immutable truth: if she were with child, her family would not celebrate their union. Though, to his astonishment, in this moment, he truly wished she were expecting.
He’d thought to move through his life alone, to preserve the world from any propagation of his line. But with Julia, a happy home seemed possible. Although he doubtedhappyandthe Grangehad ever been joined in the same thought before.
And, of course, if she were with child, Bromton and Markham would have no choice but to accept their union.
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Chapter Nine
Julia pressed her ear against the upper panel of the divided door that separated the foaling room from the kitchen and the wider dining room beyond. After she’d finished her meal, she’d been dismissed with instructions. Rayne, however, had been asked to remain. In the distance, the innkeeper’s low murmur ceased. Then, after a silent pause, Rayne answered, his words equally indecipherable.
Poor Rayne. From the conversation’s tone, Rayne was receiving a lecture more lowering than any he’d likely endured since his school days. And for something he hadn’t done…yet.
Theyetstartled her to standing.
She weighed the word in her heart, finding its density served as premonition more than an urge for caution.Somethinghad changed between them since this morning, and she did not believe either one of them could turn back. Though she didn’t dare dwell on possible outcomes.
Yet…
Julia turned around, surveyed the room, and set to work. She bunched up two piles of hay on opposite ends of the room. She cast a horse blanket over each pile, then stood back to admire her handiwork. Separate beds…just as Mr. Todd had demanded.
The beds wouldn’t prove the most comfortable she’d ever experienced, but she and Rayne were in one piece, thanks to Rayne, and now they would be dry and warm, thanks to her.
And if that didn’t prove they made a good team, she didn’t know what would.
Yet…
She considered the word again, dipping a metaphoric toe in the opaque waters of the future, feeling for the unclear challenges ahead, challenges she longed to face together.
But was Rayne even capable of sharing his load?
Other than Markham, Bromton, and Farring, she hadn’t vast experience with men. While Bromton and Farring had been steady friends and Markham’s jovial teasing hid a well of deep emotion, Rayne was a soupy cauldron of bubbling sentiments. She had no means to separate those sentiments into pieces so she could better understand.
Rayne cared. Hehadto care. Why would his gaze hold such intensity if he didn’t care?
She thought of that intensity, excluding the times he’d been angry or lustful. Instead, she pondered the awkward moments of quiet, when neither one of them knew quite what to say.
Maybe he wasn’t so different from Markham after all. Maybe the truth of Rayne wasn’t obvious on the surface but hidden in his heart. Problem was, unlike Markham, she wasn’t sure evenheknew his heart.
And maybe that’s why she’d stepped up onto the back of that carriage—to see. To find out what he’d do, how farhe’dgo, when the moment demanded action. Now, she had her answer—he’d risk his life.
He’d care for her in times of illness.
He’d ride through storms and fog.
He’d take up her cause, even when that meant suffering the humbling admonitions of a self-righteous innkeeper.
And, though not as threatening as facing an imperiled bridge, that meanthertask was to find a way through, to reach the man who may have made mistakes but also lived the values he’d yet to admit he possessed.
She wiped off her hands as a light knock sounded on the door.
“Are you decent, miss?”
Julia opened the door to the maid who’d given them the helpful warning.
The maid bobbed. “If you’d come with me, I’ll see you suitably dressed.”
