“And to answer your point, is it not even more inappropriate that you have seemed to have lost the boy?” Damien countered.
Caroline opened her mouth, ready to shoot back a fiery retort, when Georgie’s little voice broke through the air.
“Cece!” the little boy called excitedly.
She turned, and relief flooded through her body as she saw Georgie running toward her with a wide smile on his cherubic face. She smiled back and fell to her knees as she opened her arms.
“Oh, thank God,” she breathed as George rushed into her arms. She squeezed him tightly and kissed his head, relieved that he was found and well. “Where have you been, little one?” she asked, trying to sound calm.
“In the maze! I found a good hiding spot from Clara,” George answered with a giggle. “I am sorry for worrying you. She said you were calling for me, but I thought you just wanted me to lose.”
Caroline squeezed him tighter.
“All is forgiven, darling. I was just so worried.”
“Cece.”
“Hmm?”
“Why are you all wet?” George asked.
Realizing she just soaked him as well, Caroline gasped and pulled away to take a good look at him.
Caroline let out a half-sob, half-laugh as she smoothed his dark hair out of his eyes.
“I fell into the pond as I was looking for you,” she explained.
Both she and George then looked to the pond, and she felt George grow still as he realized that Damien was standing there before it. His smirk was gone, and in its place was an intense stare aimed at her and the child. Though still angry with Damien, Caroline realized that this would be a good opportunity to help George with his fear of the man.
“It was a blessing that His Grace was here,” she stated calmly, rubbing soothing circles into George’s little back. “He pulled me from the water. It was very kind of him to help me.”
Damien’s intense gaze shifted to one of shock at the same time that George’s frightened expression turned to one of curiosity.
“You saved Cece?” George asked, daring to keep his eyes on Damien.
Damien’s eyes were still locked on Caroline in that wide-eyed,I cannot believe you said thatsort of stare. So she gave him a small smile and motioned for him to agree. His gaze softened as they stayed on her for another moment, then he turned to George.
“Gentlemen always protect ladies, George,” he stated. “Remember that.”
For the first time since Caroline came to live with them, she saw George not flinch, but puff his little chest and give Damien a hard nod.
“Thank you for saving her,” George stated, and Caroline’s heart swelled with affection, threatening to explode from its force.
“You are most welcome,” Damien stated, his deep voice serious as he then returned the boy’s nod.
Feeling flustered and now very confused about her wide array of feelings, Caroline pushed herself to her feet and grabbed George’s hand.
“Come, Georgie,” she instructed kindly. “Let us go inside and change into some dry clothes. Then you and I are going to have a little talk about our new rules before we get to our lessons.”
“What sort of rules?” George asked.
Caroline answered his question as they walked back to the house with Clara. As much as she tried to keep her focus on the boy, though, her mind kept wandering back to Damien as she felt his intense stare upon her. Finally, she could not take it anymore, and let herself look back to see if she was going mad or if she could actually feel his eyes.
Sure enough, he was rooted to the same place they had left him by the pond.
He was still watching her.
Chapter 14
