Philip smiled as he pulled his hair over his shoulder. He had to tread very carefully here. “Please understand that I will go as your protector. I do not expect, nor would I feel comfortable with dining with you and your former brother-in-law. It would not be appropriate to have a servant at the table.” When she gave him a concerned look, he added, “Do not worry; I will be close by if any danger comes, but it is important that family sits together.”
She tilted her head in thought for a moment and then nodded. “You are right,” she agreed. “Although, I must admit that I have grown accustomed to having you dine with us. You will be missed.”
“Have no doubt that I will miss you, too,” he said, and without thinking, he reached out and took her hand in his. Her skin was soft and warm, gentle compared to his own, and he let it go rather than fight down those feelings of desire once again.
He forced his gaze to return to the window. “I suppose you will want to speak with Neil,” he said. “I have things to which I should attend, as well.” He gave her a bow and left the room before she could stop him.
Once in the hallway, he paused and closed his eyes for a moment. His heart was pulling him in two different directions, causing him grief. Although he wished only to return to the woman in that room, he pushed it aside. He had a mission to complete—and a letter to write—and that had to take precedence above everything else. Including his heart.
***
After so much planning and patience, Philip was finally inside the home of Lord Neil Hayward, and he could not have been more pleased. The home was large, as would be befitting of the brother of a duke, but Philip was disappointed at the drabness of the place. Few paintings hung from the walls, and the curtains on the windows had not been drawn back fully. The décor lacked color and was as flat as the man who owned it. Yet, none of that mattered; what lay beyond did.
“Well,” Neil said with a wide smile, “shall we head to the dining room?” He placed a hand on Oliver’s shoulder and smiled down at him. “I would guess you are hungry?” When he glanced up at Philip, however, that smile disappeared. “The servants’ hall is through that door behind you. Food will be brought to you shortly.”
Philip gave him a stiff bow. He had pulled his hair back and tied it with a ribbon but allowed it to still cover the sides of his face. Showing his face still did not make him comfortable, but he had promised Caroline that he would meet her halfway. Whether or not Neil approved made no difference to Philip, but he could tell the man did not. Rather than allowing anger to take over, he let Neil’s disapproval slide off him like rain on a cloak.
“Thank you, Sir,” Philip said. “Er…may I beg a favor of you? I forgot my book in my room back at Blackwood Estates. Would it be possible to peruse your library so I might have something to read? I would not ask, but it will keep me occupied while I wait.” He looked to Caroline, hoping she would intervene and hid a smile when she did.
“That would be fine, do you not think, Neil?”
The man gave a half-snort. “My office is in there. Please wait until after you eat; I do not want my books ruined with food dropped by your careless fingers.” Without another word, the man turned and offered his arm to Caroline.
Caroline gave Philip a small smile and then placed her hand on the arm of her host. They walked down the hallway, Oliver falling close behind.
Philip shook his head and then headed through the door Neil had indicated. There he found a long table, probably used by the house servants for meals, with one place setting. A footman was setting a bowl with steam rising from its contents, and Philip could smell the hearty aroma of stew. Beside the bowl, the man placed a plate with hunks of bread on it.
“Thank you,” Philip said to the footman. He pulled out the chair and sat. In the next room, he could hear the clatter of kitchenware and was pleased that no one seemed to pay him any mind beyond seeing that he had received his food.
He was not hungry, but to not eat would arouse suspicion that he did not want. Therefore, as he consumed his meal, he allowed himself a few moments to think about how he had arrived at this point in his life.
The scheme had seemed so simple, but implementation had proven much more difficult than he had anticipated. Upon arrival at Blackwood Estates a year earlier, the Duke had rejected his offer to replace his gardener. Philip had no references; therefore, he had no proof that he had experience. However, when he offered to do the work for significantly less than the going rate, the Duke had accepted. Then, once in position, Philip had allowed himself to move to the background, to blend into his surroundings. Soon, no one noticed him; only the work he had completed with surprising competence.
What he had not anticipated was how he would react when he laid eyes on Caroline. Her beauty and heart had captivated him at that very moment, and he found that he had grown fond of her. However, he had to keep a strict discipline of not allowing his emotions to guide him. As luck would have it, he had better sensibilities than that. Or at least he hoped he did. It was certainly a struggle.
He looked down, surprised that he had finished off all the stew. He pushed the bowl away. There was no time to dwell on the past; only the future was important now, as he was fond of telling Caroline. His future resided in an office down the hallway, and he rose and thanked the cook, who gave him a wave and a smile, her opulent stomach so close to the stove, he feared she would burn herself.
The office was easy to find, and he was thankful that sunlight still peeked through the curtains. He walked over to a bookshelf containing a line of brown and blue ledgers. At the least, he had an hour to search for the information he needed, and he pulled one of the books from the shelf and set about perusing through the notations in search of one particular piece of information that would confirm his suspicions. However, he did not find what he needed. Disappointed, he returned the ledger to its place and pulled out the next, repeating the process many times. He could not have been wrong!
As the hour neared and precious light began to fade, he slammed close the cover of the ledger before him in frustration.
“Think!” he whispered. The sum for which he searched was great, and the Haywards were much too meticulous to not have noted it. He had no doubt it was here. Somewhere.
Philip placed his head in his hands, and a pen fell to the floor. As he bent to pick it up, he noticed another ledger hidden on the bottom shelf. He picked up the book and set it on the desk, returning the one he had been looking through back on the shelf so he would not forget it later.
As he looked down at the well-worn black cover, his heart began to race. This had to be it; this had to be the one for which he had been searching. He opened the book and ran his fingers down the page, until finally, his eyes fell on a set of notations. The sum had been lodged and then divided, half sent to a company he did not recognize but a name he would never forget. He wanted to scream for joy as he replaced the ledger where he had found it.
When he turned, his breath caught in his throat.
“What do you find so interesting?” Miss Mary Mullens asked with a smile. She wore an emerald-green gown, her hair in a perfect coiffure. Apparently, her servant days were behind her and she had assumed some role of importance in the house.
“I find many of the books on these shelves intriguing,” he said, cursing himself inwardly for not hearing her approach.
Her eyes looked past him, and she stepped closer, her bosom pressing against his arm, her face tilted up. “I find it hard to believe that you do not know the difference between a book that can be read and a ledger,” she said, her smile more a sneer. “Though, I also find it hard to believe a simple gardener can read.” She placed a hand on his chest, and he had to push back the revulsion that welled up inside him. “Why do you hide behind your hair?” She reached up to push it back and he grabbed her arm.
“If you will excuse me,” he said in a low voice. “I shall go wait in the kitchen.”
He went to move past her, but she shifted, blocking his exit
with a laugh. “Neil will be upset if I told him what I saw,” she whispered in an overly sweet voice. “Though, perhaps we can come to an agreement that will make me change my mind.” Her smile was seductive as her finger traced circles on his chest.
“What do you want?” he asked, angry for having put himself in this situation. Had he been more alert she would not have gained the upper hand. Yet, it was past time for regret, and if she called for Neil, all would be lost.
“I see the way the Duchess looks at you, and I understand why. So, give me a single kiss now, and it will seal my lips.”
He scrunched his brow. What game was this? What man in his right mind would believe a woman such as this to keep her tongue quiet simply by giving her a kiss?
She shrugged. “Very well,” she said and turned to leave.
With no choice, he reached out and grabbed her arm. As much as he hated to do it, he could not allow this woman to expose him. Therefore, he leaned over and touched his lips to hers. She reached her arms around his neck and tried to pull him closer, but he pushed her away.
“You got your kiss,” he said. “Now, let me by.”
She smiled at him. “And it was a lovely kiss,” she said. “Perhaps I can receive more at another time.” Then she walked out of the room.
Philip shook his head, staring after her for a moment. Then he left the room, and the ledger, and returned to the servants’ hall.
Chapter Twelve
Caroline stifled a giggle as she watched Neil interact with Oliver. The man had truly changed, and it warmed her heart to know good did exist in him. They had completed their meal, and a footman returned for the third time this evening to refill her wine glass. The drink was making her lightheaded, making her louder than she intended.
“I apologize for my laughter,” she said as she covered her mouth with a hand. “I believe the wine is stronger than I anticipated.”
Neil look her way and smiled. “Please, there is no need for apologies. We all need laughter. Is that not right, Oliver?”
The boy nodded, a wide grin on his face. “Oh, yes,” he replied. “I like to laugh.”
“As do we all, Nephew,” Neil said.
Caroline took another sip of her wine, happy that what had been broken before was now mended. Oliver needed his family, including his uncle, and it was only right that he get to know the man in a different light. In the past, Oliver had said he did not like the man, but now, his smile told a different story.
Now that Oliver was taken care of, she needed to turn her attention to Philip and the pain he carried. Although she knew the man would be resistant at first, she believed he would come around if she was able to show him how healing life could be.
“Would that be all right with you?”
Caroline started. “I am sorry,” she said, shaking her head to clear away the thoughts—and the effects of the wine. “What was that?”
“I was speaking of my journey to France tomorrow. When Oliver is older, perhaps he will be able to accompany me.”
Oliver’s face was alight. “Oh, I would so enjoy such a journey!” he exclaimed. “Might I, Mother? I promise to behave for Uncle Neil.”
Caroline chuckled. “Yes, when you are older, you may,” she replied. “For now, however, you must continue with your studies. You have a great responsibility as the Duke of Browning, and you must be ready to assume those responsibilities when you are older.”
Neil gave her an appreciative nod. “Your mother is right. You must study daily, and most importantly, listen to her, for she knows what is best for you.”
The bolt of pride that struck Caroline was a surprise. This man, who had once been cruel and calculating, had become endearing. She would never have thought it possible if she had not seen it with her own eyes.
“I realize you must be leaving soon,” Neil said, rising from his chair, “but there is something I wish to give you.” He walked around to stand behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders.
The old fears returned, and she stiffened beneath the intimate touch. Had she misread the man? Was he back to his old ways, attempting to seduce her as he once had? She prayed all he had shown her was not an act.
“My mother raised Reginald and me with love and compassion,” he said, “Our father, however, was a brutal man who was strict and had a heart of stone. Mother was not strong enough to stop the man from twisting our minds, but she did what she could to see we learned something of love.” He sighed heavily. “Nevertheless, when I was younger, she gave me a very special gift that I was to give to my wife. Seeing as I have never married, it is only fitting that such a lovely necklace go to a deserving woman. Would you not agree, Oliver?”
“Yes, Uncle,” Oliver said with an emphatic nod.
Caroline did not look up at Neil. Her confusion, as well as her fear, froze her in place, and it was only when the man removed his hands from her shoulders that she relaxed at all.
He walked over to a small table where a box she had noticed before lay. When he returned, in his hands he held a necklace that was beautiful and appeared quite expensive. It displayed the largest sapphire she had ever seen, the light glinting off its perfect angles as it hung from a silver chain.
“This is for you,” Neil said. Without asking, he returned to stand behind her, his fingertips grazing her skin as he placed the necklace around her neck, the blue pendant falling between her breasts. “Now, what do you think?” He adjusted the pendant, and Caroline found it difficult not to shrink back from his touch.
“It-it is beautiful,” she managed to say, although her heart pounded in her chest. “But I cannot accept such a gift.”
He gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze and then returned to his seat. “You must accept,” he said. “I will not take no for an answer.” He turned to Oliver. “Your first lesson, Oliver. Remember it well.”
“I will,” Oliver said with a smile.
Neil raised his glass. “To family. May we stay by each other through the best and worst of times.”
Caroline forced a smile as she lifted her own glass. Had she read more into the manner in which the man had touched her? His attention had returned to Oliver, and he gave her not a second glance. Had those old fears attempted to ruin what was clearly a gracious gesture? As she watched the man once again interacting with Oliver, she realized that she had come close to doing just that.
After some time passed, filled with laughter and talk, the tall clock in the hall chimed. “It is getting late,” she said, finding it strange she felt a bit of reluctance to leave. “I will have Philip see the carriage brought around. Oliver, behave yourself.” She smiled down at him knowing full well he would.
As she walked past him, she fingered the pendant. It was a beautiful necklace, and what Neil had said was true. He had no wife of his own, so what better way to fulfill the wishes of his mother than to see the necklace remained in the family. She would not have been unhappy if his wife, if he had one, had received the piece, but the gesture had been touching. She could not wait to show it to Philip and hear his thoughts about it, for she thought a lot about his opinion.
She had to pass several rooms on her way to the foyer, and as he passed one that had its door open, she stopped in shock as she watched Philip pull a woman into his arms and kiss her.
It was not the kiss itself that had set her heart to plummet to her feet, although the thought of him kissing another left her breathless. No, what sent her over the edge was the person who was on the receiving end of that kiss, for it was none other than the adulterous and treacherous woman who had been mistress to Reginald.
She placed her back against the wall in order to will her lungs to take in breath. As she stood there, the room reeling around her, Miss Mullens walked out of the room. Thankfully, the woman had not seen her, and Caroline pursed her lips, readying herself for her encounter with the man she had thought had been her supporter.
When Philip walked through the door, she had her emotions under control and she for
ced a smile.
“Are you ready?” she asked, startling the man.
“I am,” he replied, returning her smile easily.
How the man had duped her! When her eyes had been focused on whether or not Neil would somehow weasel his way into her life, Philip had sneaked in from behind. Well, she would not allow him to get whatever it was that he wanted from her. What that was, she did not know, but she intended to find out.
***
Caroline nursed a glass of brandy, her third since they had returned home two hours earlier, as she stood on the veranda that looked over the gardens. The stars offered her little consolation, for she could only replay that dreaded moment when she saw Philip kiss Miss Mullens. How was it she could allow the man’s actions to hurt her so? He was free to pursue whomever he chose, was he not? Many mysteries existed in the world, yet the one that bothered her at this moment was herself.
“You are still drinking I see,” Philip said as he came to stand beside her.
Caroline studied the hair that covered his features. She should have seen it before in that simple stance; he hid everything from the everyone; therefore, why should it be any different for her?
“And if I am?” she asked in cool tones. “Do you care or is it you simply wish to mock me?”
He shifted his stance and looked down. “Of course I care,” he said quietly.
She gave him a sniff. “I do not believe you,” she said. She pulled her head back and emptied the glass in one go. Of course, it was an unladylike manner to do so, but the action gave her a feeling of satisfaction. He did not deserve to be treated as an equal. Was she not a Duchess and he only a simple protector who had once been a gardener?
“I am sorry you believe so little of me,” he said.
“You only care for yourself,” she snapped. She grabbed the parapet to keep herself from falling. When he reached for her arm, she pulled away. “Leave me be,” she hissed.
“If that is what you wish.”
His voice carried such a sad note, she wondered, not for the first time, if she was being overly dramatic. But no, she had seen him pull that woman into his arms and kiss her. She had every reason to be angry with him! If it had been any other woman, she would not have taken it so badly.
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