And the promise of tomorrow was nestled in his heart.
Surprisingly, Cash managed to accomplish rather a lot of things the rest of thatafternoon, and the following morning as well. There was the usual pile of correspondence, and the household budget from his townhouse in London, where his mother and much younger sister Carlotta usually resided, but his secretary helped him manage much of it. Although the poor mandidwonder at his employer’s rush.
It was almost noon when he went to collect his son from the Dumpkins schoolroom. When Mother had insisted on this summer “adventure,” Cash had been unwilling to leave Matthew behind at Cashard, anymore than he’d been able to leave his work behind. He cherished the time he was able to spend with his son, and was looking forward to this afternoon for more reasons than just being able to see Athena again. He and Matthew stopped at one of the outbuildings to have the gamekeeper supply them with poles and buckets.
Thus loaded down, the pair of them began the hike to the river. It seemed closer today than usual, and Cash was cognizant enough to realize it was just his perception of things. This might also explain why he had been so eager to complete his business that morning.
He had a compelling reason.
One with bright red hair and an alluring smile.
Said smile—or rather, the memory of those lips around the apple—mightalsoexplain the vigorous hand-frigging he gave himself last night, but he supposed, as a gentleman, he shouldn’t dwell on that.
It seemed his son was just as enamored of their visitors as Cash had been, although he assumed Matthew’s interest was less base. The lad chatted constantly about his newfriend on their walk, which made Cash wonder how starved the lad had been for companionship.
“Do you think Callan and his mother are from the area, Father?”
“I’m certain of it. One of the local clans is Oliphant.”
“I think the clans are interesting,” his son said seriously. “They’re like large families. If they’re local, I suppose it’s likely they just don’t travel in the same circles as you.”
Cash twitched a brow at his son’s observation. Had the lad turned into a bit of a class snob, then? He’d hoped, by keeping them both in the country—the far north country, at that—and away from Society in London, Matthew would grow to think of men as equal.
But perhaps not quite equal to you, hmm? Being a duke is second only to a prince really.
That was his father’s voice, he knew.
“Well, lad, no matter her rank, I would expect someone as lovely as Miss Oliphant to stand out.”
Matthew snorted softly. “That’s true. I like her.”
“I like her too, son.”
The lad glanced at him when he said that, and Cash hoped his tone hadn’t given away too much. But then they were at their swimming spot, and Athena and Callan were already there. There was much exclaiming from the boys as their parents shared a smile, and they soon settled into the business of fishing.
While Cash supervised the boys in their attempts to find worms, Athena began to lay out the picnic lunch. She madethem all wash their hands in the rushing river, and even made a show of examining under Cash’s fingernails, which sent Matthew into peals of laughter.
Luncheon was surprisingly complex. No simple farmer’s fare for Athena; she’d brought delicate tea sandwiches and fruit tarts and lemonade. If she had access to a kitchen to produce such delicacies, Cash began to wonder if she was a guest at one of the nearby manor homes. After all, she and Callan obviously walked to this spot each day, so she couldn’t be staying too far away.
Could she be…staying with aman?
Although she’d said she wasn’t married, that didn’t mean she didn’t have an arrangement with one of the local lords. Cash was honest enough with himself to admit he was already considering the proposition to her himself, and if shewastaken, he was confident he could offer her enough to break off her existing liaison.
She didn’t seem to begrudge him his deep thoughts as she teased the boys into laughter while they ate. She wasgoodwith them, and the thought sent a shot of longing through him he hadn’t expected.
Before he had time to examine the reason behind it, he heard Callan say matter-of-factly to Matthew, “Mama is the best Mama. And the funniest, and I have so much fun with her.”
Matthew nodded as he bit into his tart. He was careful to wipe his mouth with one of the linen serviettes Athena had provided, before cutting his eyes toward his father. “I think having a mother like your mama must be the best thing in the world.”
And here comes the guilt.
His son was subtle; Cash had to give him credit. But last year, he’d begun to hint to Cash he’d very much like a sibling, and when Cash—thinking the boy was old enough to have a frank discussion on the matter—had explained it wouldn’t be a legitimate sibling without getting remarried, Matthew had asked him why he hadn’t found another wife.
Somehow, the argument of, “I don’t have the time, and frankly, I like things the way they are,”hadn’t impressed the ten-year-old.
Cash might like things the way they were, with it being only him and Matthew together, but it was clear Matthew wanted more.
So Cash had agreed to put some effort into finding a new wife. Notmucheffort, granted, butsome. He’d put it about that he wouldn’t be averse to finding his name on a few of the local hostess’s guest lists, and the matrons had been thrilled by the news. Of course, there was a limit to the number of social gatherings expected so far away from London, and he only accepted a minimum of invitations within those.
