Page 25 of An Affair at Stonecliffe

She turned to face him. “I’m not your lady. And don’t worry, I’m not running away. I know that I must deal with you for Gil’s sake. But I do not have to sit here and listen to your insults. I’ll wait for you in the carriage.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

THEY DROVE THROUGH the night, arriving in London the next morning. The trip passed in icy silence, with Noelle pretending to sleep most of the time. They went straight to the millinery, and Noelle led Carlisle up to Lisette’s rooms. Lisette answered the door a narrow crack, then swung it wide when she saw Noelle. Her eyes went to Carlisle Thorne, looming behind Noelle, and she started to slam the door shut, but Noelle put a hand on the door, stopping her.

“No, it’s all right. I’m fine. We aren’t—well, it’s a long story, but Mr. Thorne and I have reached an agreement.”

Lisette’s eyebrows soared, but after a long, searching look at Noelle, she stepped back, admitting them. Gil came tearing out of the back room, shouting, “Maman!” His first words were a rapid spate of French as he flung his arms around his mother. Seeing Thorne, he grinned with apparent delight and switched to English. “Tante Lisette said you wouldn’t be back today.” He gave a little bow to Thorne. “Did you go to see Mr. Thorne, Mama? Are we going home now?”

“Yes—to a new home,” Noelle answered. “You remember we talked about staying with the countess for a bit?”

“We’re going to visit Grandmama?”

“Yes, and all of us will go to the house I told you about,” Carlisle put in. “The one in the country.”

“With horses?” The boy’s eyes lit up, and he whirled and ran back into the bedroom.

Lisette pulled Noelle aside, whispering, “Are you all right? Is he forcing you to go?”

“I promise you, everything’s fine—well, not fine, but it turns out Mr. Thorne wasn’t the one chasing me all this time.”

“Then who was it?” Lisette goggled at her. “Why?”

“I don’t know. It’s a dreadful puzzle, but Mr. Thorne will be able to protect Gil better than I could on my own.”

At that moment Gil bounced back into the room, a small sack slung over his shoulder and carrying two books in his arms, and announced, “I’m ready.”

“You took the book with you, I see,” Carlisle commented.

“Yes. Mama said we must take only what’s most important.”

Thorne smiled in that way that had surprised Noelle each of the few times she’d seen it: a brief tilt up at the corners of his lips that somehow changed his whole face. “Shall I carry it for you?”

Gil nodded and handed over the books, taking the man’s hand as he usually did Noelle’s. “Grandmama will be surprised to see me, won’t she?”

Noelle’s eyes misted, her heart aching in a strange mingling of sorrow and happiness.

“Yes. She will be delighted,” Carlisle was saying as they started toward the door.

“Maman?” Gil looked over his shoulder questioningly.

Noelle swallowed. “Yes, dear, I’m coming.” She turned back to Lisette. “I promise I will write you as soon as we are settled and explain everything. I am sorry to leave the shop so suddenly, but I have to keep Gil safe.”

Lisette shrugged in a Gallic way. “I will simply have to stay here a bit longer than I planned. It’s of no concern. It is you I worry about. Are you sure you will be safe with that man? He is so grim.”

“He is an arrogant, narrow-minded, humorless prig, but I no longer believe he will harm me, and he has the wealth and power to protect Gil far better than I can.” Noelle smiled at her friend and turned away. If only she felt as confident as she sounded.

WHEN THE THREE of them walked into the drawing room, the countess sprang up from her seat and started forward, arms extended. “Gil! Little love.”

Gil went to her without hesitation, letting her enfold him in her arms. Noelle felt a tug at her heart. How easily he accepted these people; he wanted a family.

The man Noelle had met on their previous visit to the countess stood beside the mantel. “Good to see you back.”

“Nathan.” Carlisle smiled. “Bit early for you, isn’t it?”

“I fear I quite imposed on Nathan’s kind nature by asking him to call on me.”

“It was no imposition at all,” Nathan said, smiling fondly at Lady Drewsbury. “I am always happy to chat with you.”