He liked this young man. Liked his forthright nature and dry sense of humor, which was probably because that was exactly how Liberty had been as a young girl. He also liked how easy he was with Florence.
Toby, standing there holding a small girl, with a dog sitting on his foot, chatting to Edward, would shock the people of society if they saw him at that moment.
The thought didn’t worry him at all. In fact, he found he liked it very much.
Chapter Eighteen
“Abreak willbe called before the final, where I will play Lady Liberty,” Mr. Hasslebach said loudly.
Liberty looked to where Toby still stood with her brother and his ward.Toby had a ward.If she hadn’t seen the little girl, she would not have believed it possible. When had she come to live with him?
He held her high in his arms, and hers were around his neck, which told Liberty she was happy to be there. She searched for a maid, or nanny, and saw no one nearby, just Tobias and the child, plus, the golden Labrador sitting on Tobias’s foot.
Where was the girl when she’d seen him traveling from London the day her carriage wheel had broken?
She had so many questions, and no wish to ask them of him. No wish to spend time with that man if she did not have to. He disturbed her, and those feelings she’d long shut away were rising. Especially seeing him smiling at Florence. That smile was one he used to use with her. She hadn’t seen it in many years.
Liberty looked at Edward, who was stroking the top of the dog’s head, seeming comfortable with the man who had crushed her that day many years ago. She started toward her brother… not Tobias.
“I am going to purchase a cup of tea. My throat is parched, Edward,” Liberty said in a harsh tone. The little girl looked at her wide eyed.
“Soften your tone, Liberty,” Edward said, looking at the child.
“Sorry. Hello, Florence,” Liberty said, forcing a smile onto her lips. “My name is Liberty. It’s very nice to meet you.” It wasn’t the child’s fault that the man holding her had become her enemy.
“Have you been eating my brother’s lemon drops and roasted chestnuts?”
“Yes,” Florence whispered.
Edward held out the bag of nuts to her. Liberty took one. “I suppose you ate all the lemon drops, too?” she said instead of,How is it possible you are a ward to this sweet little girl, Tobias?
“All gone I’m afraid. Florence has a taste for them,” Edward said.
“He ate them,” the girl then added, pointing to Edward.
“Not all surely?” Liberty teased her.
“Nearly all,” Florence said solemnly.
“Would you like me to get your tea for you, seeing as I have been basking in your success, while the men around me groan loudly?” Edward asked.
“Excellent. I am useful for something, then, and I can get my own tea,” Liberty said.
“I knew you would come in handy at some stage,” her brother said with a cheeky smile. He then handed his chestnuts to Tobias. “I suppose you want tea too, my lord?”
“No,” Liberty said as Tobias said, “Yes.”
“Would you and Barnaby like to come for a walk, Florence? You can help me carry the cups,” Edward said, ignoring her.
“Yes.” The little girl wriggled to get down.
Toby lowered her to her feet gently. He then dug into his pocket and handed her some money. “You can pay for our tea with this, Florence.”
She nodded, eyes serious, and then took Edward’s hand and walked away.
“Why are you talking to my brother?” Liberty rounded on him when Edward had walked away. “What game are you playing?”
“Those are the questions you want to ask me when I’ve seen your eyes on Florence?” he said calmly.
