Dolph busied himself brushing imaginary slivers of ice from his coat and breeches, as George exclaimed, ‘Whoops! I do believe old Dolph here was winded there for a moment, Miss Thame! But how lucky for you he managed to save you from a painful landing.’
Dolph’s immediate relief George had noticed nothing untoward was quickly dispelled by his friend’s wink—a wink that informed Dolph that George had not only noticed but was thoroughly entertained by the entire interlude. Nevertheless, Dolph gave his friend credit for intervening at exactly the right moment to save Dolph from committing the social gaffe of kissing his sons’ governess in full public view.
Whatever had he been thinking? How had he so forgotten himself, and their surroundings, to so nearly be overcome by temptation? He cast a sidelong look at Leah in an attempt to gauge how much she had noticed. Her downcast eyes and the blush tinting her high cheekbones suggested she was fully cognisant of the frisson of awareness that had sizzled between them.
‘Indeed it was.’ If he kept his tone matter-of-fact, as though he’d noticed nothing, hopefully both George and Leah would soon wonder if they’d been mistaken. ‘Think how awkward it would be if Miss Thame broke a bone—who would look after the boys?’
‘Perhaps—’ and the governess’s brisk tone suggested that she, too, was ready to deny that spark between them had ever occurred ‘—it is unwise for me to try again. As you say, my lord, it would not do for me to fall and break something, and quite apart from the effect on the boys’ care and education, I have no wish to suffer such an injury.’
‘That is entirely understandable, Miss Thame,’ said George, soothingly, ‘and I am quite sure Dolph has no desire to see you suffer either. But you cannot give up now. You were beginning to enjoy yourself...and do not deny it, for both Philippa and I remarked upon it. Allow me to offer my assistance. With me on one side and Dolph on the other, you cannot possibly fall.’
Dolph clenched his jaw, seeing no alternative but to go along with George’s suggestion—damn him and his interference. ‘Splendid idea, George. Come, Miss Thame. We will make a skater of you yet.’
And they did. Within half an hour, Leah was skating independently, albeit with both Dolph and George within touching distance in case they needed to catch her quickly. She soon grew overwarm and she discarded her cloak, leaving Dolph to admire her willowy figure, and how the shade of blue she wore complemented her colouring even as he puzzled over his reaction to her. He had met any number of beauties in Europe, but he’d had no interest in them whatsoever and had carefully avoided any hint of entanglement.
Had that been too soon after Rebecca’s death? Was this merely a signal that that side of his life was not over, as he’d repeatedly told himself? Had his body simply decided it had been deprived long enough? After all, such urges were natural for a man of his age—surely he would respond in the same way to any attractive female. They were not triggered by Leah specifically.
‘I need to rest.’ Leah sounded breathless, her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright as she glanced at Dolph, then quickly looked straight ahead again. ‘I am afraid to stop...afraid I will fall if I try to slow.’
Almost before he realised what he was doing, Dolph skated close to her and passed his arm once again around her slender waist, even though he could quite easily have simply taken her hand. He excused his action by telling himself she would feel more secure this way, and he steered her towards the edge of the ice. George followed them.
Miss Strong had already left the ice and was sitting on a chair to remove her skates.
‘It is starting to rain,’ she called as they approached. ‘Mrs Hubbard—’ she indicated an elderly woman who had hobbled across to the pond, leaning on her stick, and settled onto one of the chairs to watch the fun ‘—tells me the pond will be half thawed by tomorrow, because the wind has veered to a south-westerly. It is fortunate we took advantage of the ice when we did.’
‘Indeed it is.’ Dolph peered up at the sky and the grey clouds that had gathered in the short time they had been skating. A fine, cold drizzle hit his face, cooling and welcome. ‘It is a good time to stop—that sky looks like it means business. The temperature does not feel much warmer to me, though.’
‘Not yet, perhaps, but if Mrs Hubbard forecasts a change in the weather, you can be confident it will happen.’ Miss Strong smiled at him, raising her brows. ‘I hope you will still join us at the vicarage for a bowl of soup?’
‘Delighted to; thank you for the invitation.’
George went to assist Miss Strong while Dolph helped Leah to the chair where he had earlier placed her discarded cloak. His arm was still around her waist and he relished the feeling of her leaning into his support.
‘Here.’ He shook out her cloak, then swung it around her shoulders and fastened it at the neck, gazing down at her bowed head, her face shielded by her bonnet’s brim. A few auburn tendrils had worked free and he admired the contrast of her red hair against the rich blue of her bonnet. She sat, and he knelt before her, his heart hammering faster now than when they were skating. ‘Allow me to unbuckle your skates.’ His fingers trembled, causing him to fumble the straps, and his mouth felt horribly dry as he scrambled around for something innocuous to say.
What the devil is wrong with me? I’m behaving like a green lad.
Was it the awkwardness of not knowing how to behave with a woman he admired but who was out of bounds? This was not like a mild flirtation with a lady at a ball or a house party. Leah was employed by him. She lived in his house. He was responsible for her. His principles forbade him to flirt with her—let alone anything stronger—unless his intentions were honourable. And they could not possibly be honourable. He would never marry again.
He finished removing her skates and, with a profound sense of relief, he stood up before bending to remove his own. Only then did he look at her. Her attention was on the boys, who were still out on the ice. The visibility had lessened in even those few minutes since they had stopped skating. Dolph watched his sons with pride—Nicky had clearly got the hang of his skates, but he was nowhere near as confident as Stevie, who was watching over him as they circled the pond. As they neared the side where the adults now stood, Dolph hailed them, telling them it was time to stop.
‘You should wear vivid colours more often,’ he heard himself say to Leah, his eyes still on the boys. ‘They suit you.’
By his side, he heard Leah’s gasp, quickly stifled. And little wonder—her appearance was far too personal a subject.
‘What I mean is—’ he scrambled to save the situation ‘—there is no need to confine yourself to dull-coloured gowns if you have other garments in your possession. I should not object, and I doubt the boys would even notice.’
‘That would be...inappropriate, I fear, my lord. I should not like to provoke criticism from others within the household or from any in the neighbourhood.’
‘Of course. I understand.’
‘Besides, my usual gowns are more practical for caring for the boys, especially when we are confined to the house and play hide-and-seek. Those secret passages are horridly dusty.’
Dolph was saved from having to say more by the arrival of Stevie and Nicky.
‘Let me help you with your skates, boys,’ Leah said, crouching down. ‘Miss Strong has invited us back to the vicarage for hot soup and sandwiches. It will help us warm up again—Mrs Hubbard might declare the temperature is on the rise, but I cannot say it feels any warmer to me now we have stopped skating.’
The party of five tramped across the village green towards the vicarage as the drizzle turned heavy. The vicarage was warm and cheery, and the Reverend and Mrs Strong were most welcoming. The time passed quickly and, before they realised it, a knock at the door heralded the carriage’s arrival.
Back at Dolphin Court, Leah shepherded the boys upstairs, still avoiding Dolph’s gaze, much as she had both at the vicarage and on the journey home, concentrating on his sons instead. Dolph watched them go, wondering how to deal with the flare of attraction between them.
‘Miss Thame, Dolph?’
He started at George’s quiet question. ‘What about her?’
‘You seem...taken with her. Philippa commented on it as well. It’s the first time I’ve seen a spark of interest in another female since you lost your wife.’
Guilt poked at Dolph’s conscience and he vowed to take more care to keep their relationship professional, most especially when there were others around. He knew he would reap no repercussions should gossip begin to circulate about him and Leah, but her reputation would surely suffer.
‘I confess Miss Thame is growing on me,’ George continued. ‘I have never known a woman I initially dismissed as plain to suddenly appear alluring. When she is animated, she is quite arresting. Most odd.’
Nothing would induce Dolph to admit as much. Her eyes haunted him. Her smile kindled his blood. He’d thought he’d been seized by a peculiar fancy for a woman not his usual type simply because he had not been intimate with a woman for so long. Now...ought he to wonder if there was more to it?
But George’s words did prompt Dolph to retort: ‘George. You are not to flirt with my governess.’
George laughed and held up his hands in surrender. ‘Nothing could be further from my thoughts, Dolph. I should hate to upset your domestic arrangements. Just sayin’, in case you hadn’t noticed. I know what a monk you’ve become since you lost Rebecca.’
‘Well, you and Miss Strong are both mistaken if you imagine my interest in Miss Thame is of a personal nature, George. I admire her ability with the boys. She is good for them, and I appreciate her work. Nothing more.’ Dolph led the way to the drawing room. ‘You know how it is with governesses—they are more than servants and yet not really part of the family. It is a fine line to walk.’
‘Indeed it is. Especially when said governess is from good bloodlines.’
‘George! You make her sound like a racehorse. And marriage to anyone, as I have repeatedly told you, is not on my agenda.’
‘Oh, you know what I mean. Philippa told me about Miss Thame’s family—her father was a vicar; a younger son. And his mother was a Weston—Baverstock’s family, you know.’
The Earl of Baverstock’s country estate was also in Somerset. But Leah’s breeding made no difference. Dolph remained firm in his resolve to never marry again—never to risk driving another woman to suicide. Besides, she was still his governess—he had no wish to invite scandal onto his family name.
‘A bit like Philippa...’ George continued, his expression turning dreamy. ‘Her parents are from excellent families too. Her father told me he is the grandson of Grosdale, and her mother was a Davenport. All good stock. Very respectable.’
His thoughts dragged away from his own difficulties, Dolph stared at his friend and wondered anew at his intentions towards Miss Strong, particularly after having spent time in their company and seeing for himself the ease with which George made himself at home at the vicarage. If he didn’t know George so well, he might well believe he was truly in love this time. But he did know his friend and he had seen all this before. He knew the ease with which his mercurial adoration could shift from one lady to the next.
He changed the subject. ‘Talking of racehorses, that reminds me... Frinton knows of a farmer over towards Hewton whose children have outgrown their ponies. If Mrs Hubbard is right, and the thaw has begun, I shall take Steven and Nicholas to view them one afternoon this week. I’ll see what the weather is like in the morning, and send one of the grooms over with a note if the ground has softened sufficiently. Would you care to accompany us? You can help entertain the boys on the journey.’
‘Delighted, old chap. Will Miss Thame come with us too?’
‘Of course not. Buying horseflesh is a matter for us men. We can look after the boys between us.’
And that will leave Leah free to visit Miss Strong and hopefully confide in her about whatever is causing those sleepless nights.
‘Now.’ He slapped George on the back. ‘Shall we indulge in a glass of brandy?’
‘Yes, let’s.’ George, easily distracted, grinned. ‘I need something to chase the chill out of my bones.’
Leah brought all three children down to say goodnight later, as had become her routine. Dolph always looked forward to this quiet time, and he enjoyed the chance to cuddle the sleepy Matilda, for, during the day, she was too lively to submit to being held for more than a few minutes before wriggling free. As Leah walked through the door, carrying Matilda, he drank in the sight, his heart twitching with sadness that Rebecca was not here to see her children grow, and that Matilda would never know her mother. Her arms were wound around Leah’s neck, and she sleepily fingered a loose tendril of hair. Dolph went to them and held out his arms. For one heart-stopping second, Matilda clung to Leah before allowing the governess to pass her to Dolph, but he noticed, as he sat down, that his daughter’s eyes followed Leah as she ushered the boys towards Dolph.
‘Well, boys.’ He pitched his voice low so as not to rouse Matilda too much. Leah had told him that, often, Matilda was asleep by the time they reached the nursery again. ‘How did you enjoy the ice skating today?’
Steven puffed out his chest. ‘I loved doing it, Papa. I can spin circles.’
‘You were particularly good, Stevie. And you, Nicky...you soon got the hang of it too. Well done.’
Nicky’s eyes brightened at Dolph’s words. ‘I liked it too, Papa. I’ll soon be better than Stevie, won’t I? And I’m already better than Miss Thame.’
Leah smiled, and their eyes met. His heart jolted as a bolt of energy surged through him. He swallowed hard as she wrenched her gaze from his, blushing.
‘Well, I am not sure about that, Nicky,’ he said, willing his voice to remain even. ‘Stevie seems to have a talent for skating, so, although you might be as good, you may never overtake him, but that is all right, for you have other talents, do you not?’
‘I can climb higher than him.’
Dolph had watched from the window one day, his heart in his mouth as his sons both climbed the same old elm he had used to climb as a boy. Nicky had scrambled up, as agile as a monkey, while Stevie had been far more cautious and clearly did not enjoy the experience.
‘That is true. And I have good news. The thaw appears to have set in, so, either tomorrow or the next day, we shall go to view those ponies Frinton told us about. What do you think of that?’
‘Hurrah!’
Both boys shouted simultaneously, and Nicky jumped up and down, waving his arms, while Stevie grabbed Leah’s hand, shaking it while grinning up at her. Their sister stiffened in Dolph’s arms. Her face screwed up and, as she let out a wail, Leah sent him a fulminating glare, and Dolph sent her an apologetic look in reply, knowing she disliked the boys getting too excited at this time.
‘Quiet, boys.’ Dolph tightened his arms around Matilda, cuddling her into his chest. ‘Hush, Tilly,’ he whispered, and feathered his lips across her soft forehead.
Leah had grabbed hold of Nicky to restrain him and put her other arm around Stevie.
‘That will give you both something to look forward to,’ she said calmly. ‘Now, it is time for bed, children.’
She walked towards Dolph, who stood up and handed Tilly to her. Their hands touched in the exchange, sending sparks sizzling through his veins. How did she have this effect on him? Her eyes remained downcast, but he was almost certain she experienced that same ripple of excitement. He bid the children goodnight and watched as they all left the drawing room, his stomach stirring uneasily as he wondered where this inexplicable attraction between him and Leah might end.
During dinner that evening, Leah appeared subdued, but George was as talkative as ever and appeared not to notice her mood. Dolph buried all his uncertainty beneath a light veneer of conversation, and the meal passed quickly.
‘I shall go and practise on the pianoforte, if you gentlemen will excuse me,’ Leah said when they finished eating.
The two men stood as she left the room, and they settled down to a glass of port. To Dolph’s relief, George did not return to his earlier teasing about Leah and, instead, the conversation veered onto their experiences of estate management and tenant farmers, with the distant piano music providing a pleasant background. Before long, they joined Leah in the drawing room, where Wolf sprawled in front of the fire. She glanced up as they entered, a smile in her eyes, her pleasure in the music plain to see. A feeling of calm settled over Dolph as he sat down, leaning back and closing his eyes to listen. But when the piece ended, George’s voice interrupted his reverie.
‘My apologies to you both.’ Dolph’s eyes opened. George had remained standing. ‘I am very tired and ready for my bed.’ He nodded to Dolph and bowed to Leah. ‘Beautiful piece, Miss Thame. Was that Mozart?’
‘It was.’
‘Good old Wolfgang, eh?’
At the sound of his name, the dog opened one eye and gently thumped his tail.
‘Goodnight, then, Dolph; Miss Thame. I shall see you in the morning.’
As they both bid George goodnight, Dolph silenced the inner warning voice demanding he follow suit. With a full belly and after a couple of glasses of both wine and port, he felt relaxed and mellow but not yet ready to sleep. He watched from under heavy lids as Leah rose to her feet.
‘Do not retire just yet,’ he said. ‘Come. Sit down a moment so we may talk.’
A frown twitched between her brows, but she did as he asked.