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“I will be at Saddleworth for the foreseeablefuture.”
“You’re not going back to London?” She beamed; her light eyes that were the exact duplicate of his twinkledhappily.
He shook his head. “And I’ve…well, I’ve brought someone with me. A few someones actually, and I’mhoping—”
“Who?” Her brow crinkledjustso.
The only woman who’d ever made him feel alive, but he didn’t know how to say that to her. “Lady Staveley.Caroline,” he amended. “She is…she’s a particular friendofmine—“
“Afriend?”
Much more than a friend, but saying as much to his daughter…well, he couldn’t just blurt that out, could he? There had to be a better way than that. “Yes,” he said as that better way had still not come to mind. “And I do hope you’lllikeher.”
Callie nodded, but she did look confused. And Marc couldn’t blame her. He’d brought a few people to Saddleworth before, for various reasons, but even then he’d been ever vigilant that they never learn how devoted he was to his daughter, how very much she meant to him. Keeping her safe from his enemies had always been his top priority. As long as everyone, friends and foes alike, thought he had nothing but disdain for her, the safer shewouldbe.
“There is no reason not to be yourself,” he told her. “We do not have to pretend with her or with herdaughters.”
“Daughters?” Callie blinkedathim.
Marc nodded. “Emma who is your age and Rachel who isolder.”
“They’re hereaswell?”
He nodded again. “Aye, and they’ll be here for some time. So please do make them feel welcome.” Even Rachel, hesupposed.
“All right, Papa,” she said, though she bit her lip somewhatnervously.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” he continued. “They’re nice girls.” Well, Emma was, at least. “And I thought you might enjoy spending time with someone new for achange.”
“But you said new people can bedangerous.”
On more than one occasion he had stressed that very thing. How else was he to keep her safe and ever vigilant? “And they can be,” he agreed. “But I’ve known Caroline for many years. I promise you, she is not dangerous.” Only to his heart and peace of mind, but neither of those issues were Callie’s concern. “We have nothing to fear fromthem,love.”
“All right.” She noddedagain.
“Now, what are you and Miss Gleadhill working ontoday?”
“Geography,” shetoldhim.
“And more French?” he asked, raisinghisbrow.
“Oui, Papa,” she laughed. “French as well, but not until afterlunch.”
“Good,” he replied. “You never know when it might come in handy. Now run along. You can meet Caroline and her daughters at lunch, allright?”
She nodded; her long inky locks shimmered against the morning light that spilled into his study. Callie pushed out of her chair, navigated his desk once more, and threw her arms around his neck again. “I’m so glad you’restaying,Papa.”
And, honestly, sowashe.
* * *
That was probablythe most heavenly bath Caroline had ever enjoyed. After feeling sticky and grimy for more hours than she cared to remember, being able to scrub the travel dirt and sheep odors from her skin was such a relief. She only wished she had somethingtowear.
In London, Caroline had packed one change of clothes each for the girls, but there hadn’t been any room left in the valise for her things. So she’d wrapped herself in one of Marc’s robes, which was so large it was almost comical. It billowed at her feet, and if she didn’t clutch the top together, the whole thing would fall quite off hershoulders.
Mrs. Dawson, the housekeeper, had taken Caroline’s clothes and promised to get the smell of sheep washed away, promptly. But it would still be some time before her things would be ready to wearagain.
“No, I don’t like it.” Came Marc’s voice from somewherebehindher.
