Overcome, her eyes dropped to her feet, but her hand slid across the seat to grasp his. They continued to their destination in silent accord.
CHAPTER9
Their two hours sped by in the cozy room he had arranged with its crackling fire, well-set table, and comfortable chairs. Flo’s respect for Ethan grew when he insisted Martha and the other servants be served in the same warm room at a table in the corner. He did it for her sake, of course, and Flora loved him for it.
Love him? Is that possible?She knew it would be true soon enough if it wasn’t already.
At first, the conversation had been awkward, while they sorted through the fair, their family, and the bitter weather. Turning to winters they recalled from childhood led to shared stories. One piled quickly upon the next, until Flo laughed out loud over one particularly funny story about him and his brother sneaking out one snowy January night to find the owl that lived in the Welbrook wood. It became less amusing when he explained they had become locked out.
“I might have frozen to death then and Edmund with me. You would think I would have learned something,” he said shaking his head. “Father discovered us gone, of course, and locked the breakfast room window we’d used to escape. We pounded on the kitchen door hoping to alert the night porter, but when the door swung open, we met the wrathful visage of our father.”
Ethan’s smile didn’t quite meet his eyes this time, and Flo cataloged signs of exhaustion—sunken eyes circled in purple, slumped shoulders.
“I’m tiring you,” she said.
“I’m weary,” he admitted, “but I can sleep at my father’s house. I’ll be cossetted and cared for, don’t doubt it. It does grow late, however, and we haven’t talked about your work with the Ladies’ Society.”
“Or your plans,” she said. “Do you have something in mind?”
“You saw my new coachman—don’t raise your brows at me, Flora Landrum. I hired him myself. I admired his loyalty to you. I have an estate. It is rather far north I fear—Cumberland, in fact—but lovely country.”
His voice lulled Flo even as his eyes held hers, and he leaned across the table toward her. She followed his lead, drawn as if by a magnetic force until their hands touched.
“Brookside is mine outright from my grandfather’s will. Edmund saw to it for me, but he fears it will need work before it is ready for…”
He peered at her quizzically.
“For what, Ethan?”
“For residents. A home. For a family, that is, for me to…” He stumbled over his words.
A family…Flo’s heart beat until she thought he must see it pounding.
He broke away to look at a spot over her shoulder. “That is—what I meant to say is—it will take work, and I can employ people. Your brother has no doubt he can supply willing and able men. He has already recommended a housekeeper, a sergeant’s widow, a woman to be reckoned with. She’ll leave for Brookside in a few days to see to the house.”
Flo sat back, stricken. “You’re going to the country? The Season will commence in a few weeks!”Cumberland is so far, her heart protested.And what did you mean a family?
“Won’t you still be in mourning in the spring? I assumed you had no interest in the Season. Your brother thought—”
Her breath caught.He considered me in his plans. He spoke to—“You spoke to Will about me?”
He hesitated. “Yes,” he stammered. “He thought our families might… a house party in October.”
Is he dancing around courtship? Why can’t men just say what they mean?She opened her mouth to ask him bluntly. Before she could speak, the door opened after a preemptory knock and her brother entered. If he approved Ethan’s suit or even thistête-à-tête, his face told a different story, and he wasn’t alone.
* * *
Turning in his seat, Ethan gaped at Will’s companion. Though Ethan had never met him, white blond hair, ice blue eyes, and extraordinary height marked him as the famed Marquess of Glenaire himself.
The Marble Marquess removed his beaver hat and nodded at Ethan’s companion. “Lady Flora, Lord Alcott, well met,” he said with perfect manners.
Ethan started to rise, disconcerted when he had to lean on the table to steady himself.
“Don’t stand! I will be brief.” The marquess gestured Ethan down, and Chadbourn joined them at the table. Glenaire remained standing.
“Excuse me for barging into a private moment uninvited, but Chadbourn thought you would want to hear what I discovered as soon as may be.” The pale eyes glanced at Flora. “He gave me permission to speak in front of the lady.” Ethan found the hint of disapproval of that permission curious.
Flora said not a word. After a questioning glance at her brother, she had kept her attention on the marquess who stood holding his hat with both hands.
