As Caroline walked back through the house, the large clock in the hall chimed half eight. Murmured voices and the clink of utensils on china floated down the corridor from the breakfast room. She approached the half-open door and stopped short as she heard her name.
“I won’t make Caroline marry Devonshire if she doesn’t want to, Mother. You know how I feel about this. Must we discuss it again?”
“All I am saying is you could use your influence to persuade her to choose someone finally. I am concerned that she is never going to settle down. How can a dozen men all be unsuitable? What is she even looking for? I am at my wit's end. She listens to you.” There was a loud rattle of china as though her mother set down her cup with too much gusto.
“Caroline listens to no one. We both know that. I’ve already asked her to seriously consider Devonshire. I’ve allowed him to come by to court her, but has he shown any effort, no. Any man who sits back and expects receiving my permission will win him Caroline doesn’t deserve her.”
“Perhaps you should talk with Devonshire and encourage him to show more attention.”
“Mother, I am not in the matchmaking business.”
Caroline heard the rustle of a newspaper, a sure sign her brother was done with the conversation.
“Well, far be it for me to worry about her, I’m just her mother after all. I would like her to be as happily settled as you and your brother.”
Caroline sighed. Her mother worried because she loved her children. And she had continued to expand that love to include her sisters-in-law and their families without any reservations. Her mother had a huge heart, and family was everything to her.Caroline had no idea how to explain that it wasn’t a matter of unsuitable suitors but that she didn’t want a husband at all.
A wet nose nuzzled her hand. Caroline looked down to find Fergus had snuck up on her while she had been eavesdropping. She petted his large head, giving special attention to scratch behind his ears as he liked. His tongue lolled out as he panted in appreciation.
“Where is your mistress?” she whispered.
“I’m here. I’m just quite a bit slower these days.” Emma shuffled toward them.
Her belly had grown exponentially the past two weeks. Surely it wasn’t normal to be quite that large at eight months. Although, to be fair, Caroline hadn’t exactly had lots of experience with pregnant women. Vivian had spent both her pregnancies at their home in the Bahamas. They hadn’t shown up with little Robert until the babe was almost six months old. And Caroline hadn’t even met one-year-old baby Elizabeth yet.
Emma lowered her voice. “Why are you skulking outside the breakfast room?”
“They are talking about me,” Caroline replied. “How I will never choose a husband.”
“Ah, that conversation again.” Emma laughed low. “Perhaps you should pick someone so we can all be saved from that conversation.”
Caroline frowned. Did they often discuss her life behind her back?
“I’m jesting. You’ll know when you’ve finally met your match.”
The front doorbell rang, echoing softly down the hall. Caroline knew immediately it must be Morgan. “I won’t keep you from breakfast; go on in. It’s most likely safe now.” She winked at Emma before turning to hurry down the corridor toward the front hall.
Rhodes was just taking Morgan’s card when she arrived at the front door. Impeccably dressed in a gray morning coat and a blue vest, his cravat crisp and white, Cage stood in the doorway the very picture of a handsome lord. But his eyes were a bit wild as they darted around the front hall as though expecting to see Grace standing nearby with a bag in hand.
Caroline grimaced. This was not going to be an easy conversation. “Good morning, Lord Wrotham. Rhodes, Lord Wrotham is here to see me. Can you have tea brought to the rose room?”
Usually staid and expressionless, Rhodes’ eyebrows rose fractionally at her statement. The rose room was for receiving friends, ladies generally. Typically, any male visitors would be received in the drawing room. Ever professional, the butler intoned, “This way.”
Morgan entered the room ahead of her, and Caroline watched him glance around at the decidedly feminine space. The sitting room’s floral theme was not subtle. The carpet and curtains were a dusky rose color. The pillows floral patterns vied for attention with the green striped fabric of the sofas. Even the lamps had roses carved into their wooden bases.
She stepped closer to Rhodes. “Can you give us fifteen minutes before telling my mother we have a guest? Please?” she implored. “I need a few moments to speak to him. Then my mother can join us for tea.”
Rhodes frowned, and she waited while he weighed the impropriety of the request with his fondness for her.
Caroline gave him a tentative smile. “Rhodes, it’s so hard to get to know a suitor when your mother is sitting right next to you.” She added a small dramatic sigh for effect. “Please?”
Rhodes nodded. “I will give you fifteen minutes. But not a minute more.”
Caroline closed the door halfway, hoping to garner some privacy. Morgan stood in the middle of the carpeted area; his hands clasped behind his back. He didn’t move a muscle, but his disquiet was palpable. “Won’t you sit down?” she asked.
“I’ve come to collect Grace.” He didn’t move from his spot. “How is she?”
Caroline sighed.All right, just be forthright; there was no time to beat around the bush.“Physically, Grace is fine, but emotionally she is overset. She doesn’t wish to see you right now.”
