“And what about you?”
“Hopefully, I’ve made it back in time to carry Maggie down for breakfast.I promised her I’d eat with her this morning.”
She rolled her eyes.“You don’t know how to rest, do you?”
He merely shrugged.
“May I join you?”she asked.
“This is your home.You are always welcome.”He looked at Simon.“And of course, you’re invited to join us, as well.”
“I’d be grateful for a good meal.And I can’t leave until after Maggie shows me her pony.”
Trent chuckled.“You don’t have to indulge her, you know.”
“He might seem stern and intimidating,” Samantha said softly, “but deep down, he’s actually sweet.He never tired of finding ways to make me laugh when I was a little girl.”
Simon groaned.“You didn’t tell him the horse story, did you?”
She couldn’t control her burst of laughter.“Well I hadn’t, but I expect I’ll have to now.”
“As long as I can continue to hear you laugh, you can tell him anything you’d like.Even my most embarrassing secrets.”
Once inside, Samantha settled next to Simon at the dining table while Trent went up to fetch Maggie.
A footman came to stand behind them.“Would you like tea or coffee, sir?”
Simon looked at the footman over his shoulder.“Coffee please.”
“You’re being spoiled up here,” he whispered into Samantha’s ear.
“I am,” she said, taking a sip of the tea that had been deposited in front of her.
“You deserve it.”
He sipped his coffee and closed his eyes with a groan.“Oh, that’s good,” he said to no one in particular, making her giggle.
She leaned her head against his shoulder.“Thank you, Simon.”
Every time she laughed throughout the meal, which was often with Maggie around, Simon looked at her with the same grateful smile.She hadn’t realized before, but he’d also been damaged by what she’d been through.
After breakfast, they all walked out to the stables to see Ashley.Heavy clouds had rolled in, and the temperature was chilly.Summer would soon be coming to an end.
As they approached the stables, Maggie turned toward Simon with her finger over her lips and whispered, “We have to be quiet around the horses.”
“Oh,” he whispered back.“Thank you for teaching me.”He offered his hand and Maggie wrapped hers around his index finger, pulling him along.He was so good with children.Hopefully one day he’d have his own.She’d love to have nieces and nephews to give her love to.Especially since she would never have any children of her own.
When they eventually made their way back to the house, a carriage was being readied for her brother.
“Are you sure you have to leave?Wouldn’t you like to get at least one night of good sleep first?”
“I can sleep on the train,” he said with a shrug.He placed his hands on her shoulders.“As much as I’d love to stay and witness more of your astonishing progress, I need to get back.But you know where to find me if you need me.Perhaps I’ll stop in on my way up to collect Madelene in a week or so.”
“I’d like that.”
He wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug.“Take care of yourself, Samantha.I’m so incredibly proud of you.”
As the carriage rolled down the drive away from them, Maggie waved from Trent’s arms.“Goodbye, Mr.Allister!”
