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Good heavens,Caroline was beyond sore, and she was certain she’d never smelled so poorly in all of her days. Twenty-two hours to York and another two and a half to Driffield, and an additional half-hour in the back of a sheep cart to Saddleworth Hall. In the distance, the dark stone Elizabethan manor was a beacon of safety and civilization and perhaps the most welcome site she hadeverseen.
“Not very friendly at the ‘all,” the farmer said as he pulled his cart to a stop. “Can’t imagine they’ll be ‘appy as a pig in muck toseeya.”
“Aye, my brother says the marquess is a right old bastard,” Marc agreed with a nod, having assumed a rather strong Yorkshire accent as soon as they arrived in Driffield. “But I’ve got mouths to feed. I ‘ave to see if they ‘ave somethin’forme.”
“Can understand that,” the farmer said. “If they throw ya out on yan arse, ‘ead into the village. Talk to ‘ornby at the Swan and Rose. Might ‘ave somethin’ to tideyaover.”
Marc thanked the sheep farmer for his hospitality and tried to pay the man a few coins for his troubles, but the farmer wouldn’t hear of it as Marc had ‘mouths to feed’. Then he urged his cart and old bay down the lane, leaving Marc, Caroline, Rachel, and Emma to walk the short distance to the Saddleworthgates.
“Funny,” Rachel muttered under her breath. “I’ve heard the same thing about themarquess.”
“Rachel!” Caroline’s mouth fell open in shock, but Marc seemed to bite back a smile. At least he wasn’t offended. Still, she and Rachel were going to have a long conversation about her general demeanor once they were settled attheHall.
Not even a moment later, a hulking gate keeper hurried with great purpose from his post toward them. But as he got closer, his stride slowed just a bit and a smile spread across his face. “We didn’t expect ya,milord.”
“I didn’t send word,” Marc replied, having dropped his adopted accent altogether and sounding much more like himself. “Take the lady’s valise, Barrow. We’ve had a long journeyofit.”
“Oh, aye, of course.” The gate keeper quickly took Caroline’s valise and reached for Marc’s as well. “’er ladyship will be so pleased toseeya.”
But Marc shook his head, keeping his luggage in his grasp. “I can manage,” he told hisservant.
And then the five of them ambled through the foreboding iron and stone gate and down the path to Saddleworth Hall. Exhaustion had long since seeped into their bones. Emma and Rachel said very little and Caroline even less as they made their way toward the manorhouse.
The lands of Saddleworth were lovely, the quiet wood that they traveled through and then the picturesque gardens that they came upon. But once they finally reached the Hall’s grand entrance, Caroline wasn’t certain if she’d ever been so happy to be anywhere inherlife.
As they reached the door, it opened and a middle-aged butler stood just inside the threshold. He seemed young for a butler, honestly, and his dark eyes rounded in surprise when they landed on Marc. “Milord!” He stepped aside for them to enter the manorhouse.
“Robson,” Marc began, “Lady Staveley and her daughters will be staying with us. Please have her ladyship set up in the marchioness’ chambers and her daughters near LadyCallista.”
“Of course, milord.” The butler reached his hand out for Marc’s valise, which he handed over withouthesitation.
“I’m sure her ladyship would like a bath drawn and for her daughtersaswell.”
“I’ll see thatit’sdone.”
“Perfect,” Marc said as he started down the corridor alone. “And please send for my daughter. I would like toseeher.”
Caroline watched him go and was a little surprised that he hadn’t said anything to her before he departed for parts unknown. But perhaps he was just as tired asshewas.
* * *
Marc sankinto the over-stuffed leather chair behind the desk in his study and took his first breath of relief since before they’d fled London. It was good to be home. Good not to have to look over his shoulder at any given moment. Good to drop his usual façade and just be himself, or it would be once he peeled off the ratty clothes he’d worn for overaday.
Of course, he’d have to find some way to explain all of this to Callista. He had no idea at all how his daughter would take this sudden invasion of her space, an invasion that might not end anytimesoon.
“Papa!” As though his thoughts of her had conjured Callie up, she raced into his study and threw her arms around his neck. “I’m so glad you’re here.Butwhy—”
He squeezed her tight and kissed her cheek. “On my life, you get prettier every time Iseeyou.”
“Papa!” she laughed as she pushed away from him. “You aresilly.”
“You’re the only one who thinks so,” he told her and cupped the side of her face. She was such a precious child. “How are the Frenchlessons?”
“Tu m'es manqué, Papa.” She grinnedathim.
He couldn’t help but smile in return. “I missed you too, love.” Though she did need to work on her accent. He’d have to have yet another conversation with her governess about that. “Sit down for a minute, Callie, I have something to talk to youabout.”
“What is it?” The smile slid from her face as she rounded his desk to drop into one of the twin chairs on theotherside.
