Dolph stared helplessly at Steven’s tear-drenched face.
‘I must go, Stevie.’ He rounded his desk, dropped to his knees, put his arms around his eldest son and pulled him in for a hug. Wolf, who had been snoring by the fire, lumbered to his feet and padded across to join in. ‘But I won’t leave until the beginning of next week, and I promise I will only be gone a matter of a week or so.’
He had finally accepted the truth. He loved Leah...had for a while, but he’d blinded himself to his feelings, dismissing them as lust, or friendship, or anything rather than admit the truth. And his reluctance to admit the truth was because he did not believe he deserved to be happy, as George had said. And now he had lost Leah, and he missed her more with every passing day. There was little point in regretting he had not spoken of love when he proposed—he had not been ready to confess his feelings to himself, let alone to her. But he was ready now, and the need to see her again and to be honest with her, to declare his love, was near overwhelming. He’d had to force himself to remain in Somerset—all the time frantic Leah would meet someone new—until the new governess had moved in and the boys settled into their new routine. Fortunately, Miss Pike had proved herself a gem almost immediately but, still, Dolph worried he’d left it too late or that she would refuse him again.
He took heart from her words: If you should decide you want me for the right reasons, my lord, you know where I will be, but he also faced the hard truth that, should she refuse him again—if he had hopelessly messed everything up by not being honest with her, let alone with himself—then his only option would be to return to Dolphin Court and to learn to live with his own failure. However much he loved Leah, he would not abandon his children again by spending weeks on end in London while he proved his love for her.
‘But, Papa...’
A figure darkened the door of Dolph’s study. ‘Stevie! There you are. I am so sorry, my lord, but he slipped away when I was busy with Nicky.’
‘It is quite all right, Miss Pike.’ Dolph stood up, keeping one hand on Stevie’s shoulder. ‘Stevie and I have a few matters to discuss. I shall return him to the schoolroom when we are done.’
Miss Pike had only been with them six days, but the boys had taken to her immediately, helped by her one-eyed pet parrot, Horatio, who could say Fiddlesticks and Stow it, fascinating the boys, and who frequently terrorised poor Wolf, with its swooping, airborne attacks.
‘Very well, my lord. I shall return to Nicky, or he will be up to some manner of mischief, I’ll be bound.’
She flashed a smile and hurried away.
‘Come, Stevie.’ Dolph led his son to the chair by the hearth, sat down and lifted him onto his lap. ‘Listen. It will not be like last time. You have my word as a gentleman I shall return as soon as I humanly can.’
Steven sat still for a few minutes, pouting. Then he scrambled from Dolph’s knee and stood to attention in front of him. ‘Is it business, Papa?’
Love for his small solemn boy flooded Dolph. ‘It is business of sorts, Stevie, yes.’
‘In London?’
Dolph frowned. He had the feeling of walking into a verbal trap set by a seven-year-old. ‘Ye-es.’
‘I am your heir, Papa. I need to help with business. I shall come with you.’
‘Stevie. That is imposs...’ Dolph paused. It wasn’t impossible. ‘Do you know something, Stevie?’ he said slowly. ‘That is an excellent idea. We will all go to London. The whole family. And we won’t wait until next week. We shall go tomorrow.’
‘Hurrah! We’re going to London.’ Stevie capered around the room, Wolf prancing at his heels, his tail waving. ‘Can we go and see Miss Thame, Papa?’
He should have foreseen it. His heart sank. How would they cope with seeing her again when they were only just getting used to her absence? Stevie halted in front of Dolph and patted his hand.
‘Do not worry, Papa. We love Miss Thame, but we know she had to leave us. We won’t get upset again, I promise.’
Dolph grabbed Stevie and hugged him close, not only to hide the tears in his eyes but also his grin of pure delight. How had he ever worried Steven was too sensitive and needed toughening up?
He told George he was going away after dinner that evening, after the servants had withdrawn and while they lingered over their port and cigars.
‘I am pleased you are easier about leaving the children now,’ said George. ‘The boys have certainly taken to Miss Pike and her parrot—I never saw such looks of delight as on their faces when she descended from the post-chaise carrying its cage.’
‘I am not leaving them. They are coming with me.’
George stared. ‘You’re a brave man, Dolph. Don’t you remember the horror of that journey back from Hewton with their ponies?’
‘Oh, I remember all right. That is why I hoped to prevail upon you to return to London too. I can keep you company in your carriage while the children, Miss Pike and Cassie occupy the other.’
‘Ah.’ George fell silent, staring at his glass while he twiddled it between his thumb and forefinger. ‘The thing is, old fellow... I am not quite ready to go yet.’
Dolph waited, watching a succession of expressions flow across George’s face. Eventually he looked up.
‘You may take my carriage—it’ll be more comfortable than all cramming into yours or hiring a post-chaise. Winters can return here for me. There’s no rush...as long as you have no objection to my staying here?’
‘Not at all.’ Still Dolph waited, until the words burst from George in a torrent.
‘You see...the thing is... I didn’t expect... I never expected...’ He snatched up his glass and gulped the remaining port in one swallow. ‘I don’t want to leave her, Dolph. I cannot leave her.’
‘So...what do you intend to do about it, my friend?’
‘I shall ask her to marry me.’ George poured another measure into his glass and shook his head in disbelief. ‘It very much looks as though we are both on the brink of entering the parson’s mousetrap, Dolph.’
‘In my case, there will be bridges to mend first. I can only hope I shall succeed.’ He raised his glass. ‘To you and Philippa, George. I hope you will be very happy together.’
‘Thank you, my friend.’ George’s glass chinked against Dolph’s. ‘And, in my turn, a toast to wish you luck on your mission to repair those bridges in London.’
Two weeks to the day after Leah’s arrival in London, Mrs Butterby suggested they take advantage of a dry afternoon by taking a drive in the Park in Lady Tregowan’s barouche.
Barely had they arrived in Hyde Park when Aurelia said, ‘May Leah and I walk for a spell, Mrs Butterby? The crowds are sparse enough that you won’t lose sight of us.’ Only then did she look at Leah and add, ‘If you should like to walk with me, that is, Leah?’
‘I shall be happy to.’
‘Of course you may.’ Mrs Butterby peered all around and then tutted. ‘’Tis most vexing. Lord Sampford assured me he would ride in the Park this afternoon. Veryan too.’ She sighed. ‘Oh, well. ’Tis early yet... I dare say they will be here later.’
Leah smiled at their chaperone’s disgruntled tone even as she wondered how long it would be before one of their approved admirers, such as Sampford or Veryan, joined them. Not long, she suspected—their possession of a tidy fortune each had guaranteed the persistent attention of several gentlemen of the ton. Mrs Butterby was kept on her toes warning the undesirables away, but both Sampford and Veryan had earned her approval as being suitable marriage prospects even though neither Leah nor Aurelia could stand either gentleman, whose conversation appeared to consist entirely of tittle-tattle.
Without warning, Dolph’s image materialised in her mind’s eye. His conversation had never been dull or trite. She sucked in a deep breath, willing her emotions down, determined to reveal no sign of distress as she swallowed past the aching lump in her throat. When would it get easier, this sense of loss? She missed him. She missed the children. She missed her home. This—she cast a sweeping glance around the Park as she and Aurelia strolled, taking in the members of Polite Society who had already returned to Town and who, like them, were promenading in order to see and be seen—this was not what she wanted.
‘Leah...’ Aurelia halted and faced Leah, a tiny crease stitched between her fair brows. ‘I wanted to talk to you alone... Oh! Not about your precious Dolph,’ she added quickly. ‘I promised, did I not? No. It is Beatrice. We can delay no longer... We must go down to Somerset to rescue her. I have an uneasy feeling, right here—’ she pressed her hand to her midriff ‘—and it will not go away.’
‘Rescue her? Do you imagine her brother has her locked away?’
‘I would put nothing past him,’ Aurelia said darkly. ‘She was scared of him. I know she was.’
‘Yes. I know it too. I am sorry. I have been preoccupied—it’s almost a week since we agreed to talk to Prudence, isn’t it? I quite forgot, I’m afraid.’ Guilt curled through her. ‘I have been selfish.’
Aurelia tucked her arm through Leah’s, and they began to stroll once more. ‘As you said, you have been preoccupied. We still have time.’
‘Then we shall talk to Prudence today.’ Leah’s heart sank at the sight of two gentlemen on horseback. ‘Uh-oh. Here are Veryan and Sampford. Prepare yourself for another sparkling display of wit and intelligence.’
Aurelia giggled. ‘You wicked woman! You know you ought to be grateful for their condescension in even noticing us.’
‘Oh, I assure you, I am fully aware of the honour they do us,’ Leah murmured.
They curtsied as Their Lordships halted their horses and bowed.
‘Good afternoon, Miss Croome; Miss Thame. What a splendid afternoon for a stroll.’
Leah smiled dutifully. ‘Splendid indeed, my lord.’
‘You have escaped the clutches of the good Mrs Butterby today, I see.’
Veryan’s patronising tone set Leah’s teeth on edge.
‘Not entirely,’ Aurelia responded. ‘She is being driven in the barouche. Miss Thame and I wished to enjoy a quiet stroll together.’ She tilted her chin. ‘So, if you will excuse us, we shall be on our way.’
‘Now, now, Miss Croome. I know you do not mean it, for I am familiar with your teasing ways. Indeed, I have a fancy to take a stroll myself,’ said Sampford. ‘What say you, Veryan? Shall we take a turn about the Park with the ladies?’
Aurelia cast a speaking look at Leah as Their Lordships dismounted and handed their reins to the groom riding in their wake. Leah knew her sister was quite capable of sending this pair of peacocks packing, if Leah did but give her the nod. But even though she resented the interruption to their conversation, she was aware the Season had a long way to go yet, and there was little point in insulting prominent members of the ton just for the sake of it.
Their Lordships proffered an arm to each of the sisters. Leah sent a resigned smile to Aurelia before laying her hand upon Veryan’s forearm. This might spell the end of their conversation about Beatrice, but she would not allow herself to become distracted from the subject again. How awful if they did nothing and Beatrice was in trouble.
As the four of them strolled, Leah directed her gaze straight ahead.
‘Oh!’ The exclamation escaped her before she could stop it.
‘Are you well, Miss Thame?’ Veryan laid his hand over hers and squeezed it solicitously. ‘Shall I summon your chaperone?’
‘No. Indeed, I am well, my lord.’ Leah could not tear her attention from the figure approaching them. His head was tilted down, and the brim of his hat was low so she could not fully distinguish his features, but the set of those shoulders...the power of those breeches-clad thighs striding along... She swallowed, her pulse fluttering. Could it be?
Veryan followed her gaze. ‘Well,’ he tittered, looking past Leah to Lord Sampford, ‘Dolphinstone’s vow to shun Society did not last long, did it? I wonder what could possibly have prompted him to come up to Town so soon after losing his governess?’
Leah cringed inside. She knew what he implied—she’d made no secret she’d worked as a governess, most recently for Dolph, and she’d heard the snide comments as to why he had let an heiress such as her slip through his fingers. But she would not gratify Veryan by rising to his sly dig.
Not so Aurelia. ‘What is it you imply, sir?’ Her eyes snapped fire.
Veryan smiled mockingly. ‘Nothing that need concern you, my dear.’
‘Then you should not have mentioned it,’ said Aurelia. ‘It was impolite.’
Leah caught Veryan’s barely disguised smirk, and anger at his superiority roiled her insides. No wonder Aurelia resented these arrogant aristocrats. And then her fury was further fuelled by anger at Dolph for breaking his word by leaving the children again.
Dolph nodded at Sampford and Veryan but clearly had no intention of stopping. Then his gaze met Leah’s, and shock flashed across his expression before he successfully blanked it. He halted, raised his hat and bowed, his jaw muscles bunched, brows low over frowning eyes.
‘Well met, Miss Thame.’
Leah curtsied, determinedly blanking her own expression. ‘My lord.’
‘You are in good health?’
‘I am. Thank you.’ She longed to demand why he had left the children, but refrained, knowing any hint of discord between them would only encourage further gossip. ‘Will you allow me to introduce Miss Aurelia Croome?’
‘Indeed. I am pleased to meet you, Miss Croome.’ Dolph’s smile did not reach his eyes.
Aurelia curtsied, her smile equally cool. ‘I am fascinated to meet you, my lord, after hearing so much about Miss Thame’s life at Dolphin Court.’
Dolph’s eyes narrowed and he shot a questioning glance at Leah. Who lifted her chin. Dolph’s jaw firmed again.
‘If you will excuse me, I have a meeting I must attend.’ He studied Leah, and she felt her colour rise. ‘I shall call on you if I may?’
Leah dropped a curtsy. ‘Of course, my lord.’
She did not turn to watch as he walked away although every fibre of her being screamed at her to do so...to run after him...to know why he was here. Instead, she battened down her emotions and set herself to the interminable exchange of small talk that passed for entertainment in Polite Society.