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“Yes. Not her jewels or her clothes, but her beloved books.”
“And how does that help you?”
“Simple. I will use the latest volume to let her know how I feel.”
“And how in God’s name do you plan to achieve that? Do you know the author?”
“I know enough,” Tobias said and walked from the library, ignoring the rare sight of his friend and brother speechless.
Chapter Twenty-Two
A few days later, Livvie arrived in Town to meet a cold downpour. The carriage she traveled in was surprisingly well padded and despite the anxiety in her heart, she’d actually slept for most of the journey—at least whenever she was not rereading over the passages, trying to convince herself she was not making a fool of herself or chatting dispiritedly with Sarah.
Livvie would ask Tobias if he was Aikens, and if he was not, she would rest and return to her hideaway until she was ready to inform him of their child. Dear Lord, she was being silly. He’d said, “For my countess, Lady Blade.” How could she feel so uncertain still? She prayed she would have the willpower to let him speak without dissolving into an emotional blubber. Deep in her heart, she feared she would succumb and kiss him thoroughly, and then proceed to give him a tongue lashing on his stubbornness. She grinned at the thought of provoking him to such an extent. For good measure, she would probably dissolve into tears, too.
The carriage came to a halt on Grosvenor Street and the coachman opened the door.
“Right sorry, milady, I have nothing to cover you with.”
She waved away his apology. “Thank you for coming to my aid at such short notice.”
“I will send a footman to you, milady.” Sarah made to get up. But Livvie was bursting with anticipation and could not wait another minute to discover the truth of the situation.
“That’s quite fine, Sarah, I have no issue facing the deluge, you may wait here for the footmen to come and assist you and collect our luggage.” Livvie rose and exited the carriage with the coachman’s assistance.
Rain drizzled in her eyes, and the cold bit into her bones. Tugging her coat closer, she carefully hurried to the door and sounded the knocker. A stern looking man opened the door and looked down his bony nose at her.
“I am Lady Blade, is my husband home?”
The door was flung opened with such exuberance she almost giggled. She scampered inside and shrugged from her coat.
“His lordship is in his library, my lady,” the butler said curiously, a heavy dollop of relief in his tone.
“Please send a foot
man outside to assist my maid with our luggage. She will also need a parasol.”
“Did I hear the knocker, Collins, who—?”
Tobias faltered and scrubbed a hand over his face.
When he started moving closer, a tentative smile stretched her lips, and he stumbled.
Livvie rushed forward. “Are you well?”
“Yes…you smiled,” he muttered, appearing dazed. He turned away from her and started down the hallway. He paused and glanced back. “Are you a hallucination?”
She blinked, noting he looked leaner and his eyes were red. Alarm skittered through her. “Have you been drinking?”
“No, but I have not been sleeping well. In fact, I have been awake for two days now and my thoughts are decidedly muddled.”
“Tobias, I—”
Her heart skittered wildly when her husband came toward her with clipped strides. “I’m sorry.” He cupped her face between his palms and smoothed the stray hairs from her face and kissed her cheek. “I’m so damn sorry.”
The butler cleared his throat and Tobias glanced up with a distracted frown.
A blush heated her cheeks; she had forgotten their audience. “My lady maid awaits assistance from the coach outside, and my luggage—”
