Page 101 of Lord Hartwell’s Refuge

This time he did smile, however reluctantly. “I suppose I must.” Leopold looked toward Roman. “You have nothing to add?”

Her husband had risen with Tamsin, and now met her gaze. He looked back at Leopold. “Nothing whatsoever.”

Tamsin loved him a little for that, and the knowledge made her breath catch.

Loved him not just a little, but a little more.

Oh dear.

After Leopold muttered something beneath his breath about newlyweds, he took his leave and departed. The room was quiet for several moments while Tamsin stared at her husband, her thoughts already leaving her brother’s issue behind.

She remained standing until the sound of the front door closing reached them, then exhaled. She needed a distraction from the turn her thoughts had taken before she did something strange, such as giving in to the impulse to run and throw her arms around her husband.

The man was still standing beside his chair, the folded paper remained in his hand.

Ah. The perfect distraction. Tamsin gestured to it. “What is that?”

“Something Hargrove sent.”

As she had suspected before. Her stomach sank. “Is it important?”

Roman nodded. “Yes.”

“And you were going to your study?”

“I planned to speak to you about luncheon, first. The kitchen is likely waiting to send it up still, if you are yet hungry—but then I heard Leopold, and I wanted to know if you needed me.”

Her heart lifted, just enough to ease the ache in her chest. “You could have ignored him and gone directly to your study.”

“I considered it.” Roman’s mouth twitched. “Very seriously.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

He seemed surprised by the question. “I wanted to know if you needed me. You asked me to stay.”

The simplicity of the explanation caught somewhere beneath her ribs. “But you wanted to be in your study?”

“Yes.”

Tamsin laughed softly.

Roman crossed the carpet to take her hand again, a strange look in his eyes. “I am trying, Tamsin.”

Her laughter faded. “I know.”

He bent nearer, his gaze fully upon her, an intensity she did not know how to mediate.

She looked at the paper still held in his hand, then at him. “I did not need you to step in.”

The upward twitch of his lips again. “No, of course you did not.”

The truth slipped from her. “I think I would have been angry if you had.”

This elicited a solemn nod of agreement from him. “I know that now.”

She had to bite her lip to keep from grinning. “You learned quickly.”

“I had considerable incentive.” Roman’s head tilted to the side, somehow managing to bring them closer.