Page 68 of The Earl and His Lady

“Welcome home, Virginia,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “I must say, I have enjoyed the boys’ company excessively. I am afraid I rather spoiled them.”

An honest smile lifted Virginia’s lips and she laughed. “I am glad to hear it. The best grandmothers always spoil children, or so I understand.”

“Thank you for sharing them with me.” Then Lady Pamela Calvert stepped forward and embraced Virginia, the boys’ releasing her to allow her to return the gesture. “I am very glad all of you have joined the family,” she said low enough for Virginia’s ears only.

A lump formed in Virginia’s throat. Bother. She’d thought she’d finished crying at last.

“Thank you.”

“You had better come in. When Lucas arrived and told us you were just behind him, we postponed luncheon. The boys will join us today, of course, and Marcus and Ellen.”

Virginia had nearly forgotten she had house guests still. She nodded and started for the stairs.

“You too, Lucas. Tidy up. We will wait for you.”

Virginia’s heart fluttered when Lucas followed her, stepping up beside her on the stairway. They walked up together, not touching.

Without a word they attained the landing of the first floor, then the second. Virginia made to go down the hall to their rooms, and Lucas finally spoke.

“Virginia?”

She turned hesitantly. He was staring at her, his brows furrowed and his manner serious.

“Yes, Lucas?”

“I am needed at the estate in Aylesbury.” The words spilled out quickly, Lucas hardly pausing. “And I thought, since I will be travelling, to extend the journey to the other houses under my care. I will be gone some weeks. You and the boys ought to stay here and enjoy the rest of summer. I won’t go before speaking to someone about their tree fortress. And Marcus said they finally found the passage. It’s in the music room. I’ll make certain you know exactly, so they cannot hide themselves there forever.”

Virginia stared at him, her heart racing inside her chest as he spoke. He was leaving? And all he was concerned about was a secret passage and a place for the boys to play pirate?

“When are you going?” she asked, tucking her hands behind her back and clenching them together. Is this my fault?

“In three days. Mother is returning to London. I will escort her partway.” Lucas looked down at the carpet beneath their feet, at his dusty Hessians. “I will write and keep you informed of where I am.”

She opened her mouth, closed it, then turned away. “I hope you travel safely.”

“Thank you.”

Virginia closed her eyes against the feelings trying to break free of her carefully molded facade. Lucas was not abandoning her. He was seeing to his duties. Nothing more.

But it felt like more. Like he wished to escape, to be free of her. Why would he want such a thing when she had seen so clearly into his heart but yesterday morning? Had she imagined the look in his eyes?

Virginia went to her room and shut the door behind her without looking back. She stood against the door, her mind whirling, trying to remember. He’d looked at her with such an expression, such exposed longing and misery, that she felt certain he had feelings for her which she must not return. In her pride and pain, had she imagined it? Perhaps it was only pity?

She straightened and stormed forward into the room, stripping her gloves off and throwing them at her chair. Pity?

Lucas’s haunted eyes, blue and gray constantly shifting for dominance, came into her mind more clearly. She hadn’t imagined anything.

The walls around her heart gave a shudder.

“No,”she said aloud, firmly.

Perhaps it was best he went away. For both of them.

¤

Edward delivered a stack of drawings to Lucas’s office the morning after their return.

“What have we here?” Lucas asked, coming around his desk where Edward stood.