Was she being deliberately evasive? “I hope it is soon. In any event, we are to leave on Friday.”
Her fair brows knitted. “So soon?”
He sighed. “Yes. I have urgent matters that cannot wait.”
She chewed her full bottom lip. “Very well. If we must.”
He wished she wouldn’t do that. It was distracting. “I’m glad you agree,” he said solemnly.
Laura took a hasty sip of wine, then put down the glass. “I’ll go up and see if Mrs. Joyce has managed some of the soup. I had the cook prepare it and a coddled egg, especially for her.”
Brendan watched her graceful form cross the dining room. He had been rebuffed, but at least he had won a round. They would depart early on Friday and reach his home by the late afternoon.
The innkeeper brought the bottle of port. He poured Brendan a glass. Brendan took a sip of the smooth, mellow liquid. It was a surprise Laura proved to be so caring. For a moment, having her fussing over him seemed eminently desirable, but only for a moment. He would hate to be seen as a poor thing in need of care. Ridiculous when he’d been caring for himself since a boy, and had needed no one, even when the headaches had begun. He sharply drew his thoughts away from anything which threatened to dredge up the past. The past was buried. Let it remain so.
Chapter Three
Laura sat oppositeLord Debnam in the breakfast room. His attractive face and good manners had become familiar to her, and she was more comfortable in his company. Growing in confidence, she felt able to stand up for herself. This morning, he wore a blue coat. It made his gray eyes softer and somehow less intimidating. His square jaw closely shaven, she breathed in the scent of his musky soap. How did he manage without a valet? Robert would go nowhere without one and had grumbled when he could no longer afford to pay him. For a foolish moment, she thought she and the earl might become friends. Until his next words reminded her she was there to obey him.
“I am informed they moved Mary into your chamber.”
She concentrated on buttering her toast. “Yes. The child has developed a cough, and I thought it unwise for her to remain with her mother. She needs her sleep.”
He frowned. “So now the child disturbs you?”
Lord Debnam appeared suspicious. Did he suspect another motive behind the move? Perhaps it suited her to have Mary sleep in her bedchamber, even though the earl had not tried to force himself on her in the dead of night. “No. Mary doesn’t disturb me.” She stifled a yawn before it made a lie of her words. “When I was younger, my father accused me of being difficult to rouse in the mornings. He said I would not wake if the house were on fire.”
“Are you still?” He raised an eyebrow. “Difficult to rouse?”
She felt her cheeks burn. Why had she said that? It invited an intimacy she tried to avoid. But the cat was out of the bag now. He studied her speculatively, making her pulse race. She took a bite of her toast and chewed. “Not that it ever happened, thank goodness,” she said airily. “Although Cook did set fire to the roast turkey once on Christmas day, which caused such an uproar in the kitchen. We ate ham sandwiches for supper.”
Debnam sliced into his bacon and the awkward moment passed. “As it is Friday tomorrow, we shall depart from this dreary place. Please order a maid to pack your bag.”
“Oh, is it dreary? I have quite enjoyed meeting new people.”
“I am pleased for you,” he said dryly.
“But it must be tedious for you. I am sorry.”
His eyes met hers as if questioning her sincerity, which made her nervous because he was right. “I have no need of a maid,” she hastened to say. “I will pack myself.” Laura picked up her teacup and drank the last drops, eager to leave the table. She supposed there was no way of putting off their departure? No, he looked determined. Truth to tell, she wanted to see Beechley Park. It might help her understand the man seated opposite. And she realized shewantedto understand him.Neededto. She refused to allow an absolute stranger into her bed and must delay as long as she could.
“How fortunate that you are so…independent,” he said wryly. He picked up the napkin and wiped his mouth.
“One becomes so when one must,” she said, not allowing him to get the better of her.
A slight smile lightened his features.
Might she hope he wasn’t the callous rake she feared? After all, he had gone out of his way to help Mrs. Joyce and Mary, engaging rooms for them and ordering a doctor. But on the other hand, he seemed happy enough to leave them and go on. There were moments when she would have liked to let down her guard and ask him all the questions which buzzed around in her head. But this morning, when she sensed his rising impatience, was not one of them.
She excused herself and stood. “I’ll pack.”
“We shall leave not long after dawn.”
“That early? Before breakfast?”
“I will not allow you to starve, Laura.”
She stared at him, caught by the sound of her name on his lips, then hurried from the room.
