Sarah edged closer and gently swept an auburn curl from Phoebe’s forehead. “You like having the little ones around. You’re such a good help with them, I know they will miss you, too.”
“It’s not so lonesome when they’re here,” Phoebe sighed.
Sarah frowned. Of course the little girl would be lonely. The estate was filled with adults who up until recently had been dealing with the passing of her beloved father. The fact that she was alone here, with no one her age to play with, would weigh heavily on her.
“Perhaps they’ll come back again soon. Or you’ll see them in London,” Sarah said. “And there are children in the village. I’ll speak to His Grace about allowing us more trips there to meet some girls your age.”
Phoebe shrugged. “That would be nice.” Her eyes lit up. “And the maids were saying Kit would marry soon. That he has to because he’s duke now and all dukes get married. Maybe he’ll have babies, too. Then I won’t be so alone and I’ll be an auntie.”
Sarah bent her head at the sharp reminder that Phoebe was exactly right. She’d said it herself, multiple times. Kit was duty-bound to carry on his father’s legacy. He would do that with a woman of quality. Someone who would bring more prestige to the line of Kingsacre. And Phoebe wasn’t wrong that it would likely happen sooner rather than later.
“Shall we go down?” Sarah asked, rising to her feet and blinking hard at the tears those facts had brought to her eyes.
Phoebe grabbed for her hand, grounding her back where she was meant to be, and smiled up at her. “Yes.”
They walked from the room together and down into the foyer. Already Sarah could see the carriages gathered outside. After luncheon, the departing guests would include Matthew and Isabel. Her heart hurt as she thought of her dearest friend riding away. Sarah had felt reconnected with her these last few days and would miss her advice and laughter. They would write, but…but it would never be as it was before Sarah’s fall. No matter what Isabel said.
Of course, Kit was there, too, standing in the midst of his friends, talking to them, smiling as they said their farewells. When he saw Sarah, he nodded to her, his gaze held on her, but then he was back to being duke.
And that was how it was supposed to be. She accepted it.
Phoebe ran forward to cuddle with the children, Sarah sidled up to Isabel. Her friend slid an arm around her and drew her away from the fray gently. “You look pale,” she said. “Are you well?”
Sarah managed a delicate shrug because she couldn’t lie. Not to Isabel. “It’s a long story. One that is not appropriate to tell at present.”
Isabel’s brows lifted. “Then perhaps once the carriages are on their way, you and I should take Phoebe for a walk. While she picks wildflowers, you can tell me all about it.”
“I would like a few moments with you,” Sarah said, resting her head on Isabel’s shoulder. “Before you leave me.”
“I’ll come back,” Isabel said with a smile.
“It won’t be the same.” Sarah found her gaze sliding to Kit again. He looked at her again, then stepped away, turning his back. Her brow wrinkled. It seemed her conversation with him after they made love had been accepted. He would hardly look at her now. She was back to being his servant.
And that meant she had done the right thing. Now she just had to convince her aching heart. The one that loved the man and the one that knew it didn’t make a difference.
Kit stood on the terrace, watching as Isabel, Sarah and Phoebe walked along the garden path away from the house. His sister was skipping ahead, her auburn curls bobbing in the sun, while Isabel and Sarah had their heads together in what looked to be a serious talk.
About him?
He could only guess. And only guess what Sarah would say about him after last night. He knew he had been standoffish with her in the foyer. He had to be. He was still too shocked by what he’d read from his father’s journals to be anything but.
It turned out he’d mentioned Sarah a great deal over the years. Enough to fill half his father’s Foolishness journal.
“Why were you so cool to Sarah today?” Kit turned toward Matthew as his friend stepped up beside him on the terrace and looked out at the departing women together. “Especially if you’re going to immediately moon after her as she walks away.”
“I’m not mooning,” Kit muttered. “And I wasn’t cool. I was simply focusing on my departing friends.”
Matthew arched a brow and Kit sighed. There was no use lying to his friend. Matthew would just wheedle until he had it out. And right now Kit needed advice.
“It’s everything,” he admitted. “I was trying to convince myself that the connection I’ve built with Sarah these last few weeks has been one born of grief and gratitude, nothing more. But evidence keeps mounting that I’m wrong.”
“Such as what Meg said to you,” Matthew said.
Kit rolled his eyes. “Of course that information has circulated.”
“It’sus,” Matthew laughed. “I know she offered a theory that you liked Sarah and that’s why you were so angry about the situation with her and Simon and Meg.”
“I tried to push that off, tried to pretend it couldn’t be true, but it’s needled me. And this morning I discovered…”
