She lifted her chin. “I see a man who is scared to be himself—to be judged and found wanting.”
Robert’s finger stilled. “I do want.” He began to lift his free hand to Louisa’s cheek, but stopped himself short, letting it fall to his side.
She pinched her eyes shut. “We should go to dinner,” Louisa said, her words rushed.
He wanted to press her further, but now was not the time. Their guests were waiting for them. “Very well.” He dropped his hand, gesturing to the door. “Lead the way, Duchess.”
The room was filled with hushed whispers as Robert and Louisa took their seats, but Louisa pasted on a smile and acted as if nothing strange had just occurred.
“Violet,” she began, looking across the table at her sister-in-law. “Did you end up ordering that small side table you had told me about? I think it would look darling in your sitting room.”
Lady Wood gave Robert a nervous glance before turning to Louisa to answer. “Yes, it should arrive tomorrow.”
“Another table?” Lord Wood asked with a slightly scolding tone. But his smile defied him. “How many tables does one lady need?”
“It is not about a need, Henry,” Louisa said, unbothered. “And I do believe Colin broke the leg on the last one Violet ordered.”
“Ah. Yes.” Wood nodded. “He was playing some sort of pirate adventure and tied a rope to its leg, then pretended he was hoisting it up into his ship. As you can guess, it did not end well for the table.”
Robert’s mother-in-law put a napkin across her mouth, attempting to cover her smile.
Louisa propped her elbow on the table, leaning forward as she laughed. “Sounds rather imaginative to me. I hope you were not too hard on him, Henry.”
Lord Wood swallowed a spoonful of soup before answering. “No, nothing too serious.”
Violet scoffed. “Nothing too serious? I would say hardly anything at all. Henry practically applauded him.”
“No, you didn’t, Henry?” Louisa asked, chuckling as she turned to her brother.
“Oh, yes,” the dowager agreed. “I believe the only punishment that was administered was a piggyback ride to Colin’s nursery, where they then continued on with the game.”
Robert’s heart did a strange twist as he listened to their light rapport. While Robert was sure his father had loved him, their dinners had been a more quiet, solemn affair where matters of business or household affairs were discussed. Nothing like this. He glanced over at Louisa, where she still had her elbow onthe table, her chin propped in her hand as she laughed and talked with each member of her family. She was so relaxed and beautiful that it nearly made his heart burst to look at her.
She turned toward him, her smile softening. He swallowed, wondering what he was supposed to do. A discussion about the House of Lords hardly seemed appropriate amidst all the talk of little Colin and his antics. But could he do something? What did he have to contribute when he did not even know the little boy?
Louisa was still watching him, and then, as his mind whirled and scrambled, she gave him a gentle nod—as if beckoning him to try.
Robert swallowed as the urge to nervously clear his throat clawed at him. But then, against his natural instincts, he opened his mouth. “Next time you visit, you should bring Colin with you. We shan’t even require entertainment, it seems, as he would provide all we need.”
All the faces at the table swiveled toward him, and Robert gave a small smile so they did not misunderstand him.
Violet nodded, a warm grin spreading across her face. “That would be lovely, Your Grace. I’m sure he would love to come. Oh, what mischief he would love to get into with Prince,” she added, giggling as she looked back at Louisa.
He took another lungful of air. “Robert.”
All the faces turned back to him as the laughter quickly dissipated. Silence permeated the room except for the faint clink of a spoon against china.
“You may call me Robert,” he said, forcing the words. “We are family, are we not?”
Violet blinked a few times, as if she had not heard him correctly. But then she smiled. Robert wasn’t sure if he had seen someone so truly kind and gentle in spirit before. “Robert,” Violet said, giving a decisive nod.
He turned to Louisa, whose eyes glistened in the candlelight as she stared down the table at him. Violet spoke to her, but Louisa’s eyes lingered on him. And then she smiled, and for a moment, all seemed right in the world.
Chapter twenty-four
Louisa had never feltso exhilarated as when she attended Robert’s matches. It was fascinating how it brought out another side of him. And watching him in his element? Well, it was nothing short of exciting. The other men tolerated her presence but did not speak to her. And when the match came to an end and Robert rang victorious once more, Louisa couldn’t help her wide smile as she ran to his side.
“That was brilliant,” she said. “I cannot even fathom how you stand it.”
