“I’m sure there will be others,” Sarah said. “Especially now that you are back in Town. Granted, many families have gone away to the country for the holidays, but some are still here, and with our yearly Christmas ball coming up, I know for a fact there will be at least three eligible bachelors present. Considering the Duchess of Camberly’s article in the Mayfair Chronicle this morning, your reputation will be restored and—”
“Thank you, Sarah, but I am really not eager to form an attachment,” Mary said. When her mother had pushed the paper under her nose and forced her to read it, she’d been stumped by the duchess’s admission of guilt on her late husband’s behalf. But as much as Mary appreciated the sentiment and the effort Caleb must have gone to in order to make it happen, she wasn’t as excited by the prospect of having her reputation restored as she knew she should be. “Unfortunately, I believe it is too late for me, regardless. At five and twenty I am well past my prime.”
“Oh, you mustn’t say that,” Lilly admonished. “Plenty of women bear children well into their thirties, so it is not as if you’ve lost your chance to start a family.”
“I don’t know,” Mary hedged. “It is not so simple.”
They caught up with Cassandra and Emily, who had managed to gather the children together in one energetic clump. “We weren’t sure whether to hire skates or continue walking,” Cassandra explained.
“That depends on what everyone wants,” Mr. Clemens said. “Those in favor of skating say, ‘aye!’”
A chorus of ‘ayes’ followed, and Mr. and Mrs. Clemens both laughed. “I think it is unanimous,” Mrs. Clemens said. She crossed to the stand where skates could be rented and proceeded to make the necessary arrangements.
Soon after, they were all gliding along the length of the Serpentine while Mr. and Mrs. Clemens watched from the lakeside. Grasping hold of Daphne’s hand, Mary helped the girl keep her balance as they followed the rest of the group.
“Can I try to skate on my own now?” Daphne asked after a while. “I would like to try and do what Peter is doing.”
Mary sought out the boy and saw he was spinning around while staying in place. “You might fall,” Mary warned, knowing that this was why Daphne had always been hesitant on the ice, because she’d once hurt herself badly after losing her balance.
“I know,” the girl said, “but I am not going to get any better unless I take that risk.”
Impressed by her wisdom, Mary released her hand, and the girl skated over to Peter. She waited for him to stop spinning, then asked him to show her how it was done, which he proceeded to do with a surprising amount of patience for a boy his age.
“Miss Clemens,” a deep voice called, and Mary’s heart promptly lurched in response while her pulse began to flutter with jittery discomfort.
Turning, she saw the man to whom the voice belonged. Caleb was skating slowly toward her with a warm, welcoming smile, while his deep blue eyes reflected the late afternoon sunlight. God, he was handsome, his hair slightly mussed with careless abandon in a way that took her back to the days he’d spent fixing the roof of Clearview House, to a time when he’d been just a man. A very charming, endearing, and thoroughly intoxicating man.
Mary tipped her chin up as he slid to a halt beside her. She’d known she might meet him if she came to London; she just hadn’t though it would be quite this soon.
“Mr. Crawford,” she said, deliberately greeting him as she had grown accustomed to doing before she’d learned of his title. “You are looking very well.”
“As are you.” Dropping his gaze, he raised it slowly, sliding it up the length of her body until she pulsed with awareness. Pausing on her lips, he reminded her of the kiss they had shared, provoking a spark that charged straight through her. His eyes met hers. “Have you been in Town long, Miss Clemens?”
Mary started. The question was posed with unexpected casualness. Was he not aware of the effect he had on her? Had he not felt the same? “We arrived yesterday.”
“And how long will you be staying?”
He caught her hand as if it was normal for him to do so – as if his touch did not set her soul on fire. Oh God, she was losing her mind. Or perhaps she already had? “Three weeks, I should think,” she managed to say.
Skating slowly in a wide circle, Caleb pulled her along with him. “Are you visiting your parents?” He drew her toward him, turning her slightly until they were hip to hip. Skating forward in tandem, he slid his arm around her waist, holding her closer than most would deem proper.
“We’ve made amends,” she said. “Thanks to you, in part, from what I understand.”
“I merely offered some necessary clarification,” he murmured, close to her ear.
“Did you also ask your mother to writer the article printed in the Mayfair Chronicle this morning?”
“I confess, I may have suggested she do her part in compensating for the way our family has treated you.” He quietly added, “We are all very sorry indeed.”
She ought to be angry, furious even, for the lies he’d told. But how could she be when he was doing all in his power to right a wrong that wasn’t even his own? It just proved him to be a better man than she wished to give him credit for.
Swallowing her pride, she said what needed to be said. “Thank you, Mr. Crawford.” She angled her head and caught his gaze while the world drifted by around them.
“It was the least I could do.” He straightened himself and stretched out his arm, breaking the intimacy by adding an appropriate measure of distance between them.
Mary tightened her hold on his hand and held on tight. She did not want to lose him again, but at the same time, how could she trust him?Because he tried to tell you the truth, she told herself as they skated further away from her family. But if he’d really cared about her, would he not have made sure she knew, no matter what?No.
He was scared.
