She watched him pour the wine into a glass from the decanter. Her hands still shook when she took the glass from him.
“It’s over now. Drink,” he ordered.
She raised the glass to her lips. “I thought I’d lost…both of you.”
He sat beside her. “I shall have to instill some sense of responsibility into those two, or we’ll have Bella running off with the gypsies and Jeremy hunting for more ruins.”
She looked away from his mouth and took a large swallow, allowing the flavorsome, smooth liquid to slide down her throat. “I am at fault because I spent most of the days with Papa when he became bedridden. I didn’t try too hard to rein them in. They suffered as much as I did to see Papa so ill. Jeremy would escape his tutor, and they’d climb trees in the orchard and feast on the fruit and ride over the fields on their ponies. At mealtimes, they’d come back dirty and exhausted and seemed impervious to any punishment I gave them. If sent to bed without dinner, they would go uncomplainingly, and I suspect send notes to each other planning their next escapade. I was counting the days until Jeremy went to Eaton,” she said with a wobbly smile.
“Perhaps freedom was the best thing for them. You have nothing to reproach yourself for, Carrie.”
It felt so good to unburden herself to him. All the guilt and the worry she’d kept to herself for months seemed to ease. Was it silly of her to feel so good here, so safe, so supported? After all, Nicholas was only doing what he promised her father. “I should delay my trip. Until I’m sure…”
He shook his head. “No, Carrie. I will deal with them. I dislike curbing their restless spirit, but I must to keep them safe.”
She drew in a long breath, frustrated by his answer. “You are wonderful with them, but…”
“No buts. You will go to London as planned.”
She fell silent and studied her drink. It sounded as if he couldn’t wait to get rid of her, and it sent a pang like an arrow to her heart.
Chapter Eleven
The following day Michael Warren arrived at the house, entering through the staff quarters. After they administered to his needs, he came to the library, nervous but as keen as mustard. His fair hair neatly ordered, his new clothes smart and clean, he looked a different man, younger, which reminded Nicholas he must be only in his twenties.
Nicholas shook his hand, welcomed him to his home, and introduced him to his secretary. Paul Williams waited to show him the ropes. Within the hour, with Warren and Williams engrossed in quiet conversation, Nicholas attended to his post.
A light knock, and the door opened. Bella slipped inside. “Nicholas? I broke my pencil.”
Nicholas raised his eyebrows. “I’m sure there’s a good supply in the schoolroom, Bella.”
She crossed the room to him and cast a glance at the two men who rose to their feet.
“Miss Arabella Leeming, my new secretary, Mr. Warren.”
His young ward blushed and fluttered her eyelashes. “We met in the corridor,” she said. “You’ll be staying here, then?”
Warren smiled. “I hope so, Miss Leeming.”
Nicholas opened a drawer and removed several pencils. He held them out to her. “Bella?”
She paid him no attention, her warm gaze still fixed on his new secretary. With a silent groan, Nicholas rose and held her arm. “Allow me to escort you back to the schoolroom.”
He discovered Miss Scotsdale searching for Bella in the upper corridor and sent a footman to find Carrie. She needed to deal with this problem before she left tomorrow. He admitted to being completely out of his depth.
Carrie joined him in the morning room. She looked flustered, her cheeks pink. A glossy auburn curl escaped and rested against her cheek.
She sat on the sofa beside him. “Anna has everything packed.”
He resisted the urge to tuck the curl away. But it was perfect the way it was. “Good. Abercrombie will have your trunk and bandboxes sent down to the hall. We shall leave at first light.”
“I’ll be ready.”
Nicholas swallowed and tried to ignore the hollow sensation gathering in his chest. He would miss her at breakfast. Their morning ride. The card play and chess games after dinner. The house would seem empty. Especially when Jeremy returned to school.
After several minutes, she said, “Did you wish to discuss something with me?”
“I did. Yes, Bella.”
