AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I agree.”
Emily might have turned the conversation then if she hadn’t been thinking about that moment when she’d stumbled during her descent from the carriage. Mr. Galloway had caught her, but she might have wished he hadn’t. The feel of his arms about her brought back emotions she would rather not have swirling about. One reason she had studied the fossils so intently was to attempt to wipe away the thought of how his arms had felt when he’d pulled her against him. The way his chest had felt. The way he had smelled—like bergamot and oranges. She thought if she leaned close now, she might catch the faint scent of him.
“Do you have children?” Mr. Galloway asked.
She should have seen this question coming, should have prepared for the sharp lance of pain. She tried to answer, but the sudden lump in Emily’s throat prevented her from speaking for amoment. All thoughts of being in Mr. Galloway’s arms vanished. “No,” she said. “I don’t.”
He paused, and she also had to pause, as her hand was on his arm. He looked down at her, and she was close enough that she could see the flecks of gold in the brown of his eyes. How could anyone have such beautiful eyes?
“I’m sorry,” he said.
She blinked.
“You sounded pained just now when you answered.”
She had been pained. She could not bear to think of the child she had lost. Every time she thought that hurt had dulled, she found it was still raw. The pain of that loss was, at times, even worse than Jack’s death. Emily managed a weak smile. “Doesn’t every woman wish for children?”
“No.” He began to walk again, and she was glad because she did not know how long she could have withstood his gaze on her before she did something foolish like reach up and brush his hair off his forehead. “My sister does not want children. I know several women who are quite content without the burden of children.”
“Burden?”
“To some,” he said, inclining his head.
“And you?” Emily didn’t know why she asked him such a personal question. She would have never done so if she hadn’t been taken by surprise at the turn in the conversation.
He smiled, and oh but he was even more handsome when he smiled. His eyes crinkled in an adorable manner, and he had straight, white teeth. “I adore children. I’d like as many as possible.”
“Really?” She almost reared back in surprise.
“Oh, yes. I’ve been told on more than one occasion I have a knack with children. Only give me a wailing infant and I’ll have him quiet and cooing in five minutes.”
Emily laughed. “I don’t believe you.”
He shrugged. “Perhaps one day you will have the opportunity to see for yourself.”
“Jack was good with children,” she said, before she could think what she was saying. “I mean, Lord Averley. My husband, that is, not the current Lord Averley.”
Mr. Galloway nodded. “He could soothe teething infants?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but his siblings had children, and he was always playing with his nephews and nieces. They would pile upon him, and he never minded. He’d tickle them all and chase them until they squealed with delight.” She smiled at the memory, though it was bittersweet. Jack would have made a wonderful father. Emily realized Mr. Galloway was watching her.
“You loved him,” he said.
She gave him a curious look. “Of course.”
“Not of course. Not everyone marries for love. My own parents didn’t.”
She shook her head. “That was a different time. It’s much more common now.”
“Not among our set,” he said. “Alliances for land and wealth are still far more common than love matches.”
“I suppose that’s true, but there is usually some affinity between the bride and groom before they are affianced. In our parents’ time, the betrothal documents were signed and the couple had little say. That was even more true in our grandparents’ day. My grandmother told me she had only met my grandfather once before they were betrothed.”
“And did the late Lord Averley sweep you off your feet?” Mr. Galloway asked smiling. “Was it love at first sight?”
She laughed. Strange that she did not mind discussing Jack with Mr. Galloway. Usually, it made her sad to think of him, or at least wistful. “Not love at first sight, no. We had known eachother as children. Not very well, but we’d met several times over the years. When I had my Season, it was quite natural that he should escort me and ask me to dance. Soon I looked forward to those dances, as did he. By the end of the Season, he’d asked for my hand.”
“How long were you married?” Mr. Galloway asked.
