“I shall gather all the information necessary and then discuss my findings with you.”
Confident that he could help Mrs. Torbett come up with a sufficient excuse, he nodded. After all, his housekeeper knew exactly where he went on his “trips.” “That is acceptable.”
She started toward him then halted. A blush filled her cheeks, and she changed her direction, stopping before the settee and bending over. Though she was discreet, it was obvious she’d picked up the stained cravat and hid it in the folds of her dress. “I think I will return to my room and rest before I prepare for tonight’s activity with the children.” She glanced at the sky, which had become more clouds than sun. “I just hope it’s a clear night. Peter is so looking forward to seeing Draco.” With that, she strode toward the door and quickly left.
She seemed to take all the light from the room as she exited, for the sky turned completely gray and portended rain. He felt as if the universe was mimicking his actions, to dampen Ellie’s excitement over the ball like he had. It was as if he was the very monster he called himself in his darkest of moods.
Now his simple gift seemed highly inadequate for showing how grateful he was that she had married him. He should allow the ball…for her. But how could he?
Chapter Thirteen
“What’s that?” Maggiepointed to Peter’s drawing.
“A planet.”
“A planet can’t be square.”
“Yes, it can.”
“No, it can’t.”
Peter stood, holding his paper aloft. “Yes, it can!”
“No, it can’t!” Maggie rose. “Mother!”
Ellie strode toward the table where the children stood. “There’s no need to raise your voices.”
Peter pointed to his sister. “She said I can’t have a square planet. But you said there is a lot of the universe we don’t know about. So just because she doesn’t know about a square planet, doesn’t mean there isn’t one.”
For a five-year-old, Peter’s logic was impeccable. Rather than explain why that was highly unlikely, Ellie decided they needed a distraction. It had been raining for five days straight, and the children seemed to be on edge. Probably because St. Nicholas Day, which they couldn’t wait for, was only two days away.
When she was young, she’d walk in the garden when she was upset by something her brothers had said to her, but there was no walking in the garden today. However…
“Let’s go for a walk.”
Maggie frowned. “We’ll get wet.”
“Yes!” Peter dropped his drawing on the table. “I’ll go.”
Ellie chuckled. “No, we’re not going outside.”
Peter crossed his arms. “Then I don’t want to go.”
“Where are we going to walk, then?” Maggie looked at her curiously.
Ellie put her hand on her hip. “I propose a race.”
Peter dropped his arms, but didn’t say anything.
Ellie continued, “And I know the perfect spot. Of course, Peter, if you don’t come, then you lose.”
“Where?” He looked at her skeptically.
In that moment, she could see Darius in him. His little eyebrow actually lifted a bit. “Well, if you want to find out, you’ll need to follow me.” She turned her back. “And do keep up.” She headed for the door, but didn’t look to see if they followed.
Once outside the nursery, she turned down the corridor and headed for the stairs. She distinctly heard two sets of footsteps behind her and grinned. When she reached the grand staircase, she descended the five steps to the center landing, then went up the five steps to the other side of the house. Once she was in that corridor, she picked up her pace. When she reached the end, she turned to face the long corridor that ran south to north and ended at the back of the house. In her opinion, Hawthrone Park’s square layout was perfect for rainy days.
“Are we going to run down there?” Peter stepped up next to her and pointed.
