She was a widowed duchess for heaven’s sake! Of course, they would assume he’d slept on the floor. Why would anyone believe anything differently of her?
“Hello Auntie”
Good Lord! It wasn’t only her nephew who’d come, but Sophia, Cecily, and Mr. Nottingham as well.
Having dressed and donned her coat and bonnet, Loretta had dashed through the tamped down snow along the path and into the back door of the manor. The feminine voices carrying throughout the foyer, alerted her immediately that the younger ladies had indeed, ridden along with their husbands.
Before she could speak a single word, the shorter of the two girls rushed forward and threw her arms around Loretta. “I was so very worried, your grace.” Sophia squeezed her tightly, trembling, before stepping back and smoothing her gown and coat in some embarrassment.
Inexplicably, Loretta fought back tears. She and her daughter-in-law had been through many trying times together, but never showed one another outward signs of affection.
Of course, Loretta admired her greatly.
And of course, she loved Sophia like a daughter, but she’d never thought the younger girl would welcome such physical displays from her. Loretta had watched over Sophia closely when she’d been married to Harold — too closely. She’d meddled too much and Sophia had eventually, firmly but delicately, but her in her place.
The mother-in-law — daughter-in-law relationship was one often rife with landmines.
“Sophia has been frantic with worry for you, your grace, even though I assured her that my father would take good care of you.” Thomas’ daughter laughed and filled in what could have easily become an uncomfortable moment. She glanced around and gestured at the expansive foyer. “It is not as though the two of you have been stranded on the side of the road, however. The house is beautiful. Do you know if my father has decided to purchase it? He thinks I’ll stop worrying, you know, if he purchases a property and appears to settle down. I know better, though. He’s wandered the world for my entire life. I doubt seriously he’ll suddenly find himself content to live in the country alone.”
These words brought a rush of heat to Loretta’s face for some unknown and ridiculous reason. Flustered, she turned away and walked toward a window.
In her mad dash to the manor, she’d not truly taken in the white wonderland outside. “He has not said yet what his plans are. I find the design to be lovely, though, as far as estates go. And, much like travel from Eden’s Court, it is not an overly long trip to London.”
A tumult of emotions spun around inside at the notion that Thomas Findlay might choose to remain in England rather than sail off to some unknown land.
A sinking of her heart ensued at the thought that he would not.
Ridiculous.
One night did not change a man’s wandering ways. And she’d not expect him to. She’d not given him indication that she would wish to extend their affair. Because she didn’t want that either.
Did she?
Might she?
“Prescott assured me you would be safe,” Sophia explained behind her. “But I hated the thought of you having to do without Millie. And Millie was beside herself as well. She’ll not rest, I’m sure, until we have you safely home.”
Sophia was not meaning to insinuate that she could not do without the services of her maid for even one night, but the fact that she wasn’t so very far off pricked at Loretta. And, ah, yes. Millie would have been quite overwrought. Even more so in light of her opinion of Thomas.
Of Mr. Findlay.
A distant opening door and masculine footsteps halted the conversation. “Ah, Aunt. There you are. And you look none the worse for wear.” Prescott, her nephew approached and dropped a kiss on her cheek.
Loretta touched her hair self-consciously. She wondered what Dev really thought. Thomas’ daughter seemed to watch her carefully, although Sophia merely appeared relieved to have found her safe.
“Did you ladies wish to see the estate, or ought we to travel back to Eden’s Court right away?” This from Mr. Nottingham. Thomas entered lastly. Although he stood slightly behind his son-in-law, Loretta felt his gaze upon her.
She swallowed hard, remembering the activities they’d participated in only a few hours ago. The intimacies she’d shared.
And she’d told him about Prescott and Harold! Why had she done that?
“The sky is clear now, but let’s not take any chances on another storm moving in. Besides that, Rhoda and Carlisle are expected any day.” This from Sophia.
Loretta refused to meet Thomas’ eyes.
She could not.
“Now I’m Afraid”
