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ANGER WAS A GREAT MOTIVATOR, and it helped Clayton finish the work on the garden and house much more quickly than he had expected. The glass arrived from London, and he got it up with Rex’s help. He wondered if Lord Chadwick was going to offer to help since he spent the entire day hovering over them, but he never did. Instead, the man just watched them as they worked with a sour expression on his face. When they were finished, he insisted on a full walkthrough inspection of the house. Clayton wasn’t surprised when it met his high standards.
“Perhaps I will contact you after my wife and I have returned to London,” Lord Chadwick said. “You do great work, and our townhome could use a little of it.”
“If I make it to London, I will be sure to call you then.”
Clayton wouldn’t be setting foot in London until it was time to board the ship that would take him home again to Cape Town. When the house was finished and approved, Clayton and Rex took their leave. He never said goodbye to Rory, and she never came looking for one.
At the inn, the two men took care of their business quickly. Clayton would have preferred to stay one more night, but Rex had grown tired of the rough beds and loud noises. He was ready to find comfort in a real home, and Clayton owed him that. Rex deserved to find a little peace, even if Clayton knew going home would bring him none.
The house was exactly as Clayton remembered it from his boyhood, down to the smallest details. Just stepping into the foyer, he could capture the same scents from his memory. The butler who opened the door was the same and hadn’t aged a bit. He had been old even when Clayton was a boy. Rex was looking at everything with intense curiosity, but Clayton already knew every inch.
Both his brother and his mother descended the stairs, along with a woman he had never met. She was glowing with the anticipation of motherhood and moving slowly. Catherine started calmly down the stairs, but she moved faster as she got closer, then ran into her long-lost son’s arms.
“My boy, my sweet boy!” she said over and over as she cried against him.
He couldn’t speak, choking on his own emotion. He just let her hold him as long as she wanted and listened to her. Her voice was exactly the same as when she used to read to him before bed. The scent of her, wild roses, was just as he remembered. When she pulled back to look at him, he saw a few wrinkles around her eyes and mouth, but it was otherwise the same beauty she always had.
“Let him up for air, Mother,” said Thomas from the stairs. “He’s just had a very long journey and probably wants to rest.”
Clayton was grateful that Thomas had decided to continue his lie. He was happy to be introduced to his new sister-in-law, and he introduced Rex to the group.
“I hope you brought a set of evening clothes in that bag,” said Eloisa. “Your mother has been planning your welcome home all week.”
His mother waved her hand in the air. “It’s just a little get-together that one of our neighbors is hosting. Nothing too big, I promise. We are just so glad you’re home.”
At the watery tears in his mother’s eyes, Clayton felt his stomach clench. “Of course, I always travel well prepared.”
“Good. This neighbor is a very sweet young lady.” His mother wiped her eyes. “Very attractive as well.”
“I’m only home five minutes, and you are already matchmaking?” Perhaps a joke might lighten the mood.
“A woman likes to have grandchildren.”
“It looks like Thomas is already working on that.”
“One can never have too many.”
Clayton still knew he had to tell his mother the truth, but it didn’t need to be today. He could allow her to enjoy his coming home for at least that long.
“Come into the parlor and we can catch up.” His mother dragged him in that direction without waiting for his consent. It reminded him of his childhood, and he allowed it to happen. Inside the parlor, she insisted he sit beside her on the sofa while Thomas gave the other chair to his wife. Eloisa was smiling at him and rubbing her belly. She looked exactly as a wife should.
“Tell me about your trip.” His mother started with an easy question.
“It was good. Rex and I traveled comfortably.”
“You should have let Thomas wait and go with you.”
“I knew he was eager to get home, and I had some business things I needed to wrap up.”
“What kind of business?”
Clayton wasn’t sure how his mother was going to respond to his new lifestyle. “I’m a contractor that specializes in building homes.”
She was silent for a moment, with an expression he couldn’t recognize. Then a smile broke across her face. “You always were talented at making things. It’s a blessingthat you were able to put that to use.”
Her acceptance made him feel relieved. There were so many things she could reject him for, and it was a relief to know that wasn’t one of them.
“What was your life there like?” his mother asked.
“Good. I made myself a good life there.”
“But difficult? I know that there were losses.”
Now the questions were going to get more difficult. He wasn’t ready to answer all of them.
“There are always losses,” he said, not sure how to begin or if he was ready. “I’m afraid I’m going to need to rest before I share them all.”
“Yes, you must rest. We are attending a ball in your honor, so you must be rested.”
While Clayton was unpacking his things, including his suit for the ball, a servant brought him a note. It had been delivered to the inn, and they sent it on ahead. The person delivering it said it was marked as urgent. The only person who thought he was at the inn was Rory, and for a moment his heart skipped a beat.
Inside the envelope he found one of the invitations for the ball along with a handwritten note. Even before he read the words, he knew it was written by her. The contents surprised him. She was inviting him, as Mr. Murdoch, to the ball as her guest. Considering how horrified she had been at the thought of doing such a thing, it was unexpected. In the note she apologized for her behavior, both the night of the storm and after. She told him that she greatly admired him and wanted to be friends. Not the declaration of love he had hoped for, but at least he might be able to leave on good terms with her.
The note also requested that she meet him in advance at the cottage. She said it was to go over the terms of their agreement in relation to the sale of the house. He had left in such a fit, he realized they hadn’t sorted that part out. She wanted to meet him before the party, and without a second thought, he knew he would go.
The cottage was quiet as he approached it. Clayton stopped outside and watched Rory through the window for a moment. She looked beautiful in her gown, ready for her ball. She had chosen a dark burgundy color that played with the red in her hair. The trim was white, though, and edged the low-cut neckline enough to attract the eye.
She didn’t see him as he approached, too busy pacing the floor to notice he was there. Her cheeks were flushed, and her brows were furrowed. Her fingers twirled in the fabric of her skirt, and he knew she was wishing for something to nibble on. Remembering how much she enjoyed a good snack made him smile. He knew it was terrible of him to let her continue to worry, but there was something endearing about knowing she was feeling that way about him.
“You wanted to see me?”
When he entered, she stopped and froze like an animal in the wild. Her hazel eyes looked greener tonight, as he remembered them from their passion-filled night together, and they were wide as he closed the door behind him. She stood there with her mouth open, not saying anything.
“Rory?” he asked, speaking gently in case she was upset with him.
“I needed to see you,” she blurted out. “Before the ball. I needed to see you to tell you something.”
“I’m here now, so go ahead.”
She was biting on her bottom lip and her fingers were twirling again. “I find that I’m nervous.”
“That’s what you wanted to tell me?”
“No, but I’m nervous about telling you what I wanted to say.”
“You have no reason to be nervous. It’s just the two of us here.”
“That makes it more difficult.” She looked like she might want to run as she tried to get to the point. “When I’m alone with you, I find it difficult to think straight. My mind is too distracted.”
“Distracted by what?”
“You.”
A feeling swelled inside him, and he thought it might be pride.
“The ball will be starting soon. Your companion and brother will notice you missing and come looking for you.” Clayton didn’t really care but knew she would. “We don’t want to be caught alone out here, so you should tell me quickly.”
“I’m very impatient.” She took a slow step closer to him. “I often say things before I think about them. I often make decisions without considering the outcomes. I am impulsive to a fault.”
“These are things I already knew.”
“When I went to bed with you, it was an impulsive act, and one I didn’t consider the consequences of.”
She was coming closer to him at a snail’s pace. Clayton stood very still, letting her approach at her own speed.
“You said it was a mistake. Mistakes are often made that way.”
“I’m not so sure it was a mistake anymore.” She was finally within inches of him, close enough to touch if he wanted to. He definitely wanted to.
“What do you mean?”
“I think the mistake was sending you away.”
“You were very clear that you had no feelings for me.”
“I didn’t give myself enough time to realize how I felt about you.”
They both held their breath for a moment, waiting for her next words.
“After you were gone, the house felt so empty and cold. I couldn’t smile, laugh, or even eat.”
That would be a drastic change in her.
“Are you saying that you no longer want me to leave?” he asked.
She placed her palms on his chest and let them slide up and around the back of his neck. She pulled him in closer. He was happy to oblige, but he wanted an answer. He stopped her just before their lips met.
“Well?”
“I want to leave with you.”
That was all he needed to hear. He captured her lips with his. The kiss was intense, longing pouring out of both of them. They would have continued, but there was a loud knock on the door.
“If there is anyone in there, you might want to finish up.” It was Rex outside warning them. “Guests have started to arrive, and people are looking for the hostess.”
“I guess we must part ways.” Rory placed gentle kisses across his cheeks and nose. “For now, at least. After the ball, we can sell the house and use the money to run away.”
“You honestly want to leave?”
“No, I’m afraid to venture out of the world I know, but I also can’t bear for us to part. If this is the only way, then I’m ready.”
“Even to go to Africa?”
He expected her to refuse but she looked at him with determination.
“You were happy there and I would be happy with you.”
Clayton swallowed at the trust and faith he saw reflected in her eyes. “What about your brother?”
That’s when he saw the hesitation in her expression, even if it was brief. “He would still not approve, so I think its best we leave without telling him.” There was a slight catch in her voice that squeezed Clayton’s heart. “I will write to him as soon as we set sail. It will take him time to follow us, and by then we will be married.”
He was thrilled that she was willing to give up everything for him, but he was painfully aware that she did that without knowing who he actually was. He had been deceiving her this entire time, and now was his last chance to be honest with her.
“There is something about me you need to know.” He was trying to find the words to tell her who he was when the door opened. Darla stood there, glaring at them.
“Unhand her!” She charged toward him, arms swinging like a windmill.
“Darla, no!”
The women struggled with each other until Darla finally calmed down. She was breathing heavily, and Rory pressed her arms to her sides. Darla still glaring at them, but now she was more focused on Rory.
“You did this. You planned to meet him here,” Darla accused her ward. “You snuck out here when I wasn’t looking. You know your brother trusted me to watch out for you.”
“I’m a grown woman, and I’m old enough to make my own choices.”’
“You choose this?” Darla waved her hands around the tiny cottage. “You are going to give your life away for a man you barely know?”
“I know him better than you think.”
The truth of that sank in, giving Darla a reason to be shocked. “Get inside before your brother finds you here.”
“I will go in when I’m ready.”
“You will go in now, or I will fetch him myself.”
Clayton needed to tell her the truth, but he was no match for Darla, who dragged Rory off by the arm. There was nothing left to do but make his own entrance to the festivities, knowing that the truth would be revealed to her. He could only hope that her love was strong enough to forgive him for his betrayal.