AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She smiled sadly. “You just can’t.”
“Won’t you at least afford me the opportunity to try? Come, there must be something that you will take from me,” he cajoled.
Letty let her lashes drop to cover her eyes. What could she say? Suddenly she thought of something that he could give her. Raising her eyes, she looked into his. “I want to see my mother.”
His eyebrow quirked as if he was surprised at her request. “Where is she?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. Perhaps you can find out.”
He reached out and patted her hand that rested on the table between them. “Of course I will.” His voice was soft and gentle and she wanted to lean in and lay her head on his shoulder, maybe allow him to kiss her once more. The compulsion was strong enough that she shot to her feet to get away from it.
“Well, I promised George I would break our fast with him, so if you will excuse me?”
He blinked, looking taken aback by her sudden movement. “Of course.”
“Th-thank you, Your Grace.” She turned swiftly and left before he could say anything else. Her eyes were stinging and she had no idea why.
What manner of creature am I becoming?
She wiped at her wet cheeks with her apron before stepping in the kitchen where she was greeted by George shouting her name.
“Letty! Where did you go? I looked everywhere for you but you were nowhere to be seen!”
She smiled wetly at his theatrics. “I’m sorry. I had to speak with your father for a moment. I’m here now.”
“Yes, you are. Come sit with me.” He patted the bench next to him and she sat down. She’d made a batch of cakes while she prepared dessert the night before. It was quite a large batch because she’d been expecting it might have to last a long while. But no, here she was, back in the manor and stuffing herself with her own bread as George chattered happily at her.
She realized that sitting at that table in the sunny kitchen surrounded by bustling kitchen staff and a young Marquess was the happiest she could remember being in a long time.
She sighed, unable to dispel the melancholy that cloaked her like cobwebs. She met George’s eye and was surprised at how keenly he was watching her.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She shook her head. “What makes you think anything is wrong, My Lord?”
“Your eyes are so sad.”
Letty smiled. “My eyes are always sad.” She stuffed some more bread into her mouth.
“Why?” he reached out his tiny hand and touched her wrist very gently as if he thought she was in physical pain. “When my mother died, I was sad, too, but then you came and you made me so many cakes and you talk with me and care for me.”
The lump in Letty’s throat was becoming unbearable.
“Can you not be happy with us? Do you miss your family?”
“I…have…no family.” It was a struggle to speak without bursting into tears.
George’s wide-eyed stare narrowed in understanding. “Is that why you’re sad?”
She nodded, unable to form words. He reached out again, his hand just brushing the back of her hand. “Maybe we can be your family.” He said timidly.
“Oh George.” She could hold back no longer but reached out and enveloped him in her embrace. He was unresisting, just let her nestle him again her. She laid her cheek against his soft hair and breathed out, feeling inexplicably comforted even though she was the one holding him.
With a sniff and a murmured apology, she let him go. “That’s very nice of you to say. Thank you.”
He patted her arm gently. “That’s quite all right.”
They were quiet the rest of the meal, even George’s exuberance was subdued. The silence between them was peaceful rather than uncomfortable and Letty wished the father were as easy to be around as the son.
