She risked a peek up at him. “The me-loving-you-thing, I mean.”
He took a moment to really look into her eyes and saw the hesitation and concern there.
“Do you?” he murmured.
She dropped her gaze to her lap. “My feelings arenae a consideration here.”
He disagreed. But… “Iwas speaking of the fact your son called me Father.”
“Oh!” Her head jerked up quickly enough to smack against the shelf behind her, but she didn’t flinch. “He just heard Matthew say that, as well. He is verra young, remember.”
Smiling wryly, Cash reached for her hand. As he enfolded it in both of his, he settled down on his arse on the pillows beside her. “He’s not so young he can’t mastermind a series of daring thefts to furnish this fabulous hideawayanddrop a series of clues for us to follow.”
Her lips twitched, but her gaze remained on their joined hands.
“I am certain it was Matthew who was the mastermind behindthathunt.” Before he could object and point out his heir was mild-mannered and bookish, she lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. “Callan only called ye Father because Matthew calls ye that. No’ because he thinks yearehis father.”
“No, his father was an abusive bastard whose nose I’d like to break.” The words popped out before Cash could think better of them.
Athena’s gaze jerked up to his in surprise. She stared at him for a few moments, before finally saying softly, “Which is why I willnae tell ye his name.”
Maybe not now, but one day…
Cash vowed he’d do what he could to help her get the revenge she deserved.Ifthat’s what she wanted.
An unexpected smile tugged at his lips as he held her gaze. Speaking in a normal tone, without looking away from her, he spoke to the door. “Lads, can you hear me?”
“Yes, Father,” they chorused almost in unison, Callan’s little voice half a beat behind Matthew’s.
His smile grew at the sound, and her brows dipped in confusion.
“Go away for ten minutes.”
She blinked at him, and from the other side of the door, Matthew asked, “Ten minutes?”
“Yes, lad. If I can have ten minutes alone with Athena, I don’t think we’ll have to be in here forever and ever.” That had been what Callan had threatened after all.
Her eyes had widened again, and there was a bout of hurried whispering on the other side of the door. When Cash heard Callan hiss, “That means there’ll be trifle leftover!” his smile grew. Then, Matthew said very clearly, “Come along, Callan. They want some privacy.”
There followed the sound of footsteps, and Cash cocked his head to one side, listening to make sure they were really gone. Meanwhile, Athena was staring at him, her hand rigid in his, while her other hand gripped her skirt in her lap.
His smile softened as he understood the signs of her worry. She wasn’t sure what to expect from him, and he couldn’t blame her. He’d been so angry—mainly at himself—when he’d discovered she was an earl’s daughter because it meant he couldn’t have her in his life the way he wanted…as his doxy.
But maybe he could have her in his life the way she deserved.
As Matthew’s mother. As his wife.
Thinking of the way she jumped to discipline Matthew, and the sparkle in her eyes when she’d done it, he asked softly, “You love him, don’t you?”
He remembered the way she’d gently taught him new things beside the river, how she effortlessly touched him as if he were a normal boy, and how gentle she was with him. Shedidlove him.
But the question flustered her further, and she dropped her gaze once more. “Callan? Of course I love him.”
“No, not Callan,” he corrected gently, releasing one hand to raise her chin so he could study her hazel eyes. “Matthew. You love them both.”
She flushed, but because of his touch, she couldn’t look away.
“You love them both,” Cash repeated in a whisper. “And they both love you. Matthew loves you.”
