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Surprised—and impressed, for how many young men would trouble to acquaint themselves with a group of children—and orphaned commoners at that?—Theo said, ‘I’m sure they would be delighted to meet you. Especially Jemmie, the oldest, who will have to be restrained from monopolising you, once he discovers you’re a soldier. I’ve already ordered a farm wagon brought up so I might drive them over to the building this morning. They’ve walked so often in the van of the supply wagons; the opportunity to ride in one is quite a treat. If you don’t mind including in your drive a stop at the stone barn, may I wait to introduce them until after we arrive? They will be much more attentive once the ride takes the edge off their exuberance.’
‘Of course. I brought my tilbury, Lady Coghlane. May I offer you a ride?’
‘That’s kind, Mr Ransleigh, but I will not be going. The prospect of a gaggle of children running about, shrieking at each other at the top of their lungs, does not appeal. As for the barn, Theo tells me it is presently unoccupied, needing a good deal of work before it will be fit for her purposes.’ Lady Coghlane shuddered. ‘Not a task I’d willingly undertake! I prefer my rooms already cleaned, polished, heated and well furnished before I enter them—preferably to find a comfortable couch upon which to sit, and a butler at the ready to bring refreshments.’
Theo laughed. ‘It’s good that Papa didn’t ask his sister to follow the drum, then. Shall you feel neglected if I leave you for a time?’
‘Certainly not, my dear. I have letters to write.’
‘I’ll bid you goodbye, then,’ Ransleigh said, making her a bow. ‘Once again, it was a pleasure to meet such a charming lady, and doubly so to meet a friend of my mother’s.’
‘Goodbye, Mr Ransleigh. Do call if you find yourself in town. I would be pleased to receive you in that comfortable parlour and offer some excellent refreshments!’
Ransleigh laughed. ‘I will certainly avail myself of your hospitality when I’m next in London.’ Turning to Theo, he said, ‘Shall I meet you and your charges at the barn, Miss Branwell?’
‘Yes. I’ll go collect them at once. Until later, Aunt Amelia. Let me escort you out, Mr Ransleigh.’
* * *
While they walked towards the entry door, Theo said, ‘As she told you, my aunt has been trying to dissuade me from establishing the school. Failing that, I suppose she hopes I’ll set it up and then turn it over to some good vicar to run, resuming my place as a proper English maiden.’
Her attraction to him, doubtless evident to a man of Ransleigh’s experience, made it even more important to her that Ransleigh understand her views on marriage. So, despite the embarrassment of discussing such a topic with an eligible bachelor, she forced herself to say, ‘Having no daughter of her own, Aunt Amelia always hoped Papa would ship me back to England so she might launch me into society and find me a husband. Neither Papa nor I were ever interested in accepting her kind offer, and with the school to establish, I certainly am not now.’
‘Are you so uninterested in marriage?’ Ransleigh asked, his tone curious.
‘Papa left me very well settled. Unlike most of my sex, I don’t have to marry for security or to have a place in the world.’
‘What of...companionship?’ he asked, his expression turning warmer.
Ah, companionship... With him standing at her shoulder, his gaze locked on her face, the physical pull between them intensified. Resisting the desire to step close enough to feel the heat of him up and down her sensitised body, she said, ‘I was once engaged, I believe I told you. Having already found—and lost—the love of my life, I don’t expect to find another. Nor would I even wish to. Losing Marshall w-was...’ Her voice breaking, she swallowed hard, unable to find words to express the shock, horror and desolation of learning that he’d been killed in battle.
They’d reached the stairs, giving her an excuse to wrest her gaze away from his. She took a deep breath to slow the pounding of her heart. ‘I’ll leave you here, and see you at the barn in half an hour?’
Tacitly accepting her retreat, he nodded. ‘Half an hour it is.’
Theo watched him walk away, then headed up the stairs to the nursery.
She hoped her avowals of uninterest in marriage had negated any little hints Aunt Amelia, drat her, had made about London and a maiden’s duty. She also hoped Ransleigh didn’t feel as strongly as she had the tingling connection that seemed to hum between them from the moment he’d entered the parlour. That had intensified as she walked beside him down the hallway, a tantalising hand’s breadth apart.
Only recalling the agony of losing the man she loved had broken its bewitching hold over her.
Alas, the immediate attraction she’d felt at their first encounter at Bildenstone, that she’d tried while riding home to convince herself had been a trick of the moment—an amalgam forged of an unexpected meeting with a like-minded soldier who also happened to be a handsome man—had resurfaced in full force upon their second meeting. Every instinct, reinforced by the innuendo in his tone when he mentioned companionship, told her he found her alluring, too.
She wrestled with that fact, finding it at once deliciously appealing and alarming.
Focus on the ‘alarming’ part, her sensible nature urged. If only she could, without having to arm herself against him by calling up painful memories she would rather keep buried. And she absolutely must submerge again the dangerous passion he seemed to call forth so readily from where she’d banished it after Marshall’s death.
Like putting the genie back in the bottle, the task was proving much harder than she’d anticipated.
She’d probably not see Ransleigh again after today. Surely she could restrain her inclinations for one more outing—with a bevy of children as chaperones!
Chapter Seven
As she’d expected, the children chorused their excited approval of a drive. Exuberant, Charles jumped up and down, clapping his hands in glee before delighting her with a kiss on her cheek. She gathered him close, drinking in the cherished feel of his small body nestled against her.
The ever-silent Maria merely nodded, but even the new children, Anna and Georgie, left off their guarded looks to smile at her.
She shepherded them downstairs to where a groom had pulled up the wagon. After helping Constancia settle the little ones in the back, Jemmie climbed up beside her, begging to handle the ribbons. Promising she would offer driving lessons on another occasion, when they did not have someone waiting on them, she took the reins and set the horses off.
* * *
A short while later, she pulled up the wagon in front of the stone building. Mr Ransleigh, already arrived in his tilbury, awaited them before the entrance. Just seeing him standing there sent an anticipatory shiver through her.
She tried to quell it while she helped the children down from the wagon—though, alas, she did not need to be looking at the man to be fully aware of his presence. Once they were safely disembarked, she said, ‘Mr Ransleigh, may I present Jemmie, Charles, Maria, Anna and Georgie. And this is Constancia Bracamonte, their nurse and my assistant.’
‘Pleased to meet you, children, Miss Bracamonte,’ Ransleigh said, inclining his head.
‘Mr Ransleigh owns this building, which as I told you, children, we plan to make into a home and school for you.’
Five young heads turned as one to look at it. ‘Seems sturdy enough,’ Jemmie said after a swift inspection.
‘Very sturdy—made of good stone. Why don’t you all go inside and have a peek?’
Charles, who’d been impatiently shifting from foot to foot after the introductions, needed no further invitation. ‘C’mon, Georgie, I’ll race you!’ Shaking his head, Jemmie loped off after them.
Anna looked at Theo, who nodded. ‘It’s quite safe. Maria, would you take Anna’s hand? Constancia will accompany you, too, so you will be all right.’
‘Come, meninas, I will see you take no harm.’ Beckoning the girls to follow, the maid walked them after the boys.
Theo turned back to Ransleigh. ‘Your colour is better this morning! I believe driving agrees with you.’
‘You may have the satisfaction of knowing you were right; I do feel better, getting out into the fresh air. Shall we walk towards the pasture while the young ones explore?’ He offered his arm.
She hesitated. Given his effect on her, it would be wiser not to accept—but it would seem rude to refuse. At the questioning lift of his brow, she capitulated, laying her fingers on his arm. Despite the layers of broadcloth and kidskin, she felt a connection sizzle between them.
She suppressed a sigh, torn between annoyance and letting herself, for the few more moments she’d have to spend with him, simply enjoy the delicious disturbance he created whenever he was near her.
