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Addie tapped her lips with her finger. It would be nice to visit her parents. As a side benefit, there would be no need for them to visit her here in Bath anyti
me soon. As much as she loved them and was proud to show off what she’d accomplished, Mother seemed to spend her short visits to Bath trying to match her up with every gentleman who came into the store. It was downright embarrassing how she practically ambushed every man with the question, “And how is your wife today, sir?”
Lord Berkshire reached out and took her hand. “I apologize. I have probably put you on the spot, and that was not my intention.”
She glanced down at their hands. His large, warm, and a bit tanned from the sun, hers small and pale. She pulled her eyes away as a slight tingle began in her middle. “No. No. Do not trouble yourself over that. I was just trying to think of how I could arrange it.”
His brows rose. “Do you mean you would actually consider it?”
She looked at him, a slight smile gracing her lips. “Yes. I believe I would.”
It was early morning, a week after Grayson asked Miss Mallory to accompany him to London. They were taking the train from Bath Spa Station to London. While Miss Mallory had been putting things in order at her store, he had sent a wire to the head of the organization in London alerting him to expect their visit. He received a very encouraging response and had high hopes that he would be able to secure the services of one of its members and move them to Bath to instruct him, Michael, Miss Mallory, and Mrs. Banfield in the art of silent communication.
He had expectations of forming a similar organization in Bath. Surely there must be more people than his son who were afflicted with deafness. He refused to allow his son to grow up friendless because he couldn’t talk. And if he was to put up a decent fight against the legal threat that hung over their heads, this was an important step. He did his best to shove that matter to the back of his mind since he hadn’t heard any more about it for the last few weeks.
He assisted Miss Mallory and Mrs. Banfield as they alighted from his carriage at the train station. Michael jumped down with no effort, his eyes wide, his arms waving frantically as he viewed the large train. There were porters racing back and forth, assisting passengers, and loading luggage onto the train that had steam coming from underneath its cars.
A woman in a very large, very colorfully decorated, straw hat, holding a small white dog against her chest shouted orders to one of the porters. A man and woman embraced before the man climbed up the train stairs. The woman removed a handkerchief from her reticule, patted her eyes, then turned and walked off.
The train gave a loud blast, and porters began to speed up their movements. In all the mayhem, Michael clung to Grayson’s hand, his eyes wide. This would be any small boy’s delight.
His grunts in trying to tell Grayson about his excitement was drawing attention from others at the station. Some stopped and stared. Others cast looks of horror and sympathy in their direction.
From the look on Miss Mallory’s face, she was just as irate as he was at the dubious attention his son was receiving. She reached out and took Michael’s hand, smiling down at him. The boy calmed down, but still jumped up and down with excitement. When Grayson moved away to speak to a porter, Mrs. Banfield took Michael’s hand and the two women formed a fierce barrier between Michael and the onlookers.
Confusion continued to reign as hundreds of people swarmed the area. Grayson found a porter to assist them, and his footman and driver supervised the transfer of luggage from the carriage to the train. Panicked that he might lose Michael in the fray, he checked several times to make sure Miss Mallory and Mrs. Banfield had him safely in hand.
Michael was flushed, his eyes darting back and forth, beside himself with excitement which drew smiles from Miss Mallory. She was already communicating with him by pointing out various things, smiling and nodding. She waved her hands around and made faces to show ‘large’ ‘small’ and ‘scary.’ Grayson chuckled to himself. Miss Mallory could tread the boards in Drury Lane if she wished. But she made Michael’s experience much better. Asking her to join them on this journey was one of the smarter things he’d done in his life.
Shortly after they were all settled in the private car he’d arranged for, the train started up with a jerk. It continued with the unsteady movement for a few minutes until it reached a smooth ride.
A waiter arrived with the breakfast he’d ordered for them. Platters of eggs, salmon, bacon, toast, and scones were laid on a sideboard where they were to help themselves. A large pot of steaming tea was just the thing he needed.
As the train picked up momentum and left the city behind, lush green countryside passed by the window. Hills dotted with sheep grazing in the sun, small farms with vegetable gardens in the back, and flower gardens in front. A bright blue sky made it all so much more pleasing.
Having gobbled his breakfast down, Michael had his nose pressed up to the glass. Grayson noticed his grunting had now turned to gibberish, his hands waving frantically as he twisted and turned to look at Grayson and then back again to the window, pointing at things as they rode on. How frustrating it must be for the boy to see so much and be unable to share his eagerness with everyone.
After finishing her breakfast, Miss Mallory left her seat and moved next to Michael. She put her arm around his slight shoulders and pressed her own nose up against the glass. Michael turned to her, laughed, and then kissed her on the cheek. She giggled.
Grayson almost spit out the tea he was drinking. He’d mentioned twice he’d like to kiss her, but even though it was an innocent peck, his son beat him to it. Of course, were Grayson to kiss Miss Mallory it would not be on her cheek. Nor would it be witnessed by the woman who was acting as chaperone.
No, he would take her in his arms and press her warm curvy body against his. Then he would play with her lush lips for a bit, nipping, sucking, and soothing until he covered her mouth in a kiss that would leave both of them panting with desire.
If she didn’t pull back and slap his face, he would run his hands over those curves and pull her even closer until her lovely breasts were crushed up against his chest.
He sighed and returned his teacup to the table. As much as he loved the attention Miss Mallory paid his son, and loved that his son was fond of her, it was in his own best interests to keep their relationship on a friend only basis. It would be much too easy for him to view Miss Mallory, Michael, and him as a family. He was not oblivious to the pointed looks Mrs. Banfield was casting in his direction, gesturing with her head toward where Michael and Miss Mallory were conversing—in some way—about the scenery. His son’s tutor had been telling him for some time that he needed a wife.
He tried very hard to convince himself that there was absolutely no reason why he and Miss Mallory could not have a solid friendship with no romantic involvement. He was not a young pup who couldn’t control his urges, and she was a proper young lady who would never consider anything inappropriate. Therefore, he had nothing to worry about. Nothing at all.
Now, if he could only convince certain parts of his body to cooperate—he shifted in his seat—all would be well.
Chapter Six
Addie stepped down from the train, holding onto Lord Berkshire’s hand. For as much as the pandemonium that reigned in Bath Spa Station had been difficult to deal with, the situation when they arrived in London was overwhelming. There were four times as many trains, passengers, porters, luggage, and confusion. Lord Berkshire did a fine job of keeping them all together and maneuvering them through the throngs. He had them settled in a carriage with their luggage strapped onto the boot less than an hour after the train had pulled into the station.
He explained during the train trip that he did not keep a carriage in London since he spent so little time there, and most places he visited when he was there were within walking distance, or with a short ride on his horse. Hence, he generally rented a carriage by the week while he visited.
Poor little Michael fell fast asleep leaning against Addie once the carriage moved away from the station. She put her arm around him, and he snuggled deeper into her. She smoothed her hand over his unruly curls. Slowly, he stuck his thumb in his mouth. Tears sprang to her eyes, knowing she would never hold her own child this way.
