Page 48 of The Earl and His Lady

Lucas cleared his throat and turned his eyes away, studying a faded tapestry hanging on the wall in front of him. “She’s in mourning,” he said at last. “And she would not have married if she hadn’t needed to protect the boys.”

“You’re playing the gallant hero, Luc, as you always do. But I think you and she are rather meant to rescue each other. Those boys are already worshiping you, even if you won’t tell them where the secret passage is.” Marcus clapped his brother on the shoulder. “And what kind of man would you be if you didn’t notice your wife’s beauty?”

Lucas opened his mouth to protest, but his eyes caught movement on the stairs and he raised them to see Virginia. All thought went out of his head as he took her appearance in. She wore a travelling suit of soft gray, putting him in mind of a dove, with a matching bonnet. But she could’ve been dressed in a gown made from burlap and still looked lovely. The angles of her figure had softened in her time as his wife, the color in her cheeks more often a pleasant shade of pink.

Marcus had spoken truly enough. Virginia’s beauty stole Lucas’s breath away.

He waited to approach her, allowing Edward and Phillip to step forward first, slinging their little arms around her waist and legs.

“What’s this? Darlings, I will be back in a week’s time. There is no need for tears.” But as she bent to return their embraces, Lucas caught the sheen of moisture in her eyes.

Lucas put a hand on Marcus’s shoulder. “Excuse me. Duty calls.” He stepped in behind the boys and crouched down to their level. “Gentlemen. I feel I need to speak to you both very seriously for a moment.”

Phillip wiped suspiciously at his eyes and Edward looked up, not bothering to wipe at his tears.

“You see,” Lucas continued, his mind reaching back to what would’ve soothed him as a boy. “We must exchange duties for a time. I am leaving my estate, and my guests, in your care.”

“In our care?” Phillip asked, incredulous as always.

“Quite right.” Lucas didn’t crack a smile. It was important they knew he was serious, that they knew he held them in high esteem. “I expect you to be good hosts to my mother and your uncle and aunt. Treat them with respect and kindness. See to it the staff fulfills their duties. Be good to Nurse Smythe. And for the time we are away, I will look after your mother. I will protect her and see that she is safe and comfortable. When I return, I expect to confer with you both so we may report on our successes. Does this suit you, Phillip? Edward?”

Little Edward nodded at once.

Phillip regarded him with a frown and Lucas’s heart dropped. He thought they’d been making progress, becoming closer, but maybe not.

“You will keep Mother safe? You promise?” the child asked, his voice quiet.

“I promise.” No one who heard Lucas speak could doubt him. He wasn’t just speaking to the boy, but to everyone in the room. “You have my word.”

Phillip nodded. “I’ll look after things here, too.”

“Excellent.” He reached out to shake Phillip’s hand and the boy nearly smiled at the grown-up gesture.

Edward stepped forward, pulling a folded sheet of paper from the inside of his jacket. “I made you a picture of the house, so you’ll remember it.”

Lucas took the paper and tucked it into his jacket. “Thank you, Edward. May I share it with your mother?” Edward nodded and then, to Lucas’s surprise, he launched his four-and-a-half-year-old body into Lucas’s arms.

Looking up at Virginia, Lucas saw her cover her smile with one hand. He wrapped his arms around Edward, returning the embrace, and his throat tightened up. The little boy’s complete trust, his innocent affection, had been given freely and completely. Lucas didn’t feel worthy of it. He cleared his throat and Edward stepped away, smiling.

“Thank you, Edward.” He smiled back. “I will miss you.”

Then he stood and was swept up in the farewells of the adults, and Virginia with him. Somehow, they finally disentangled themselves enough that Lucas could escort Virginia outside into the warm morning sunlight. It felt like summer at last, and all the rain had turned the whole countryside green and vibrant. If they could have more days like this, the fields would turn gold and lush, and he would not need to worry so about his tenants and farms. But if the rains continued and weather didn’t warm sufficiently, the harvest would be late.

It was a situation he would have to look over at the Heatherton estate as well.

Lucas offered his assistance, helping Virginia into the carriage. Her gloved fingers rested trustingly in his for only a moment, but it was enough for his heart to acknowledge the touch with a skittering beat.

As soon as he climbed in behind her, a footman closing the door, they were alone.

No family. No servants. Nothing to call them away.

He sat down beside her and took off his hat, tossing it on the seat across from them. The carriage would grow warm quickly and he preferred to ride in some comfort.

Virginia finished waving from the window, the equipage started forward, and then she sat back and noted his hat. “That must be pleasant,” she said with half a smile. “I rarely envy the fashion of men, but today I do envy you your hat.”

He chuckled and leaned into his corner of the coach, turned toward her. “You could cast off your bonnet nearly as easily.”

She shook her head. “And spend hours shaking dust from my hair? Or straightening pins every time I step out when we change horses? I think not.”