“Well, I must say I’m shocked.” And surprised to find her opinion of the butler as a moody loner mourning Amanda had beenwrong.
Nathaniel sighed. “It would be amusing, I grant you, if things at Wolfram were not so dire.”
“You will question Rudge?”
He raked both hands through his hair. “I’m afraid I must.”
“I wish I could be there.”
“Well, you can’t.”
Laura gathered up her skirts. “Then I shall go and see Cilla.”
“Not until I’m free to take you.”
“Oh, Nathaniel. We women need to talk freely. Without a man’s presence.”
He raised his brows. “What on earth about?”
“Women’s concerns. It was all right yesterday, was it not?”
“I need to talk to Rudge. As soon as I can, I’ll replace him.”
Relief flooded through her. “Well, that’s the best news I’ve heard in a while!”
“Teg will escort you. Take the dogs again. Remain with Cilla until I come for you.”
“Your wish is my command, sire.” She sashayed pasthim.
Nathaniel spanked herbottom.
Secretly delighted that her husband was unbending a little more each day, Laura spun around with a look of fake shock. “Nathaniel!”
“Then you shouldn’t wiggle your hips like that, my dear.” He pulled her onto his lap, taking her mouth in a passionatekiss.
Laura’s breath caught. Her response to his nearness remained as swift and heated as ever. “After last night, husband, I believe you to be greedy.”
Nathaniel laughed and released her. “Off with you then before Rudge finds us making love on this desk.”
“As if he can talk.” It troubled her though. If it wasn’t Rudge who attacked her, then who was it?
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Teg left Laura at the cottage gate. Cilla watched him walk away. “Nathaniel is taking no chances with you, I see. We’ll finish today. I’m very pleased with your portrait; I believe it’s one of my best.”
“That’s wonderful.” Laura couldn’t wait to see it, but she would wait until Cilla was ready to show her. Her mood seemed to have improved since yesterday, and Laura didn’t want to stir the waters. She settled into her chair. “How long will you be away?”
Busy with her paints, Cilla frowned. “I don’t intend to return to Wolfram.”
“Never?”
Cilla blended blue and green with a dab of yellow paint on her palette. “My time here is over. After the exhibition, I’m returning to France.”
Laura didn’t feel as sorry as she’d thought she would at the news. Cilla’s mercurial moods made friendship difficult. “Paris seems the perfect place for you to work.”
“And live the kind of life I choose without being frowned upon and treated like a leper.” She shrugged. “I’m confident I can put my sad past there behind me. Write a new chapter.”
How difficult it must be for Cilla. “You may meet someone who you could love, who will love you.”
