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Hardly. Marc shook his head. “My friends would find it suspicious if I did such a thing. Besides—” he shrugged “—I’ve already made arrangements to explain myabsence.”
“Whatarrangements?”
“I told you there’s an actress who owes me afavor.”
“An actress?” Caroline halted in her step and drew Marc to a stop. “Whatactress?”
“Why?” he countered. “Jealous?”
Her pretty hazel eyes twinkled just so. “Insanely.”
“Well, that only seems fair.” Marc bit back a smile. “I thought I might have to remove Peasemore’s head from his shoulders if he didn’t stop chasing yourskirts.”
“Oh!” Caroline’s hand fluttered to her heart. “I forgot about Lord Peasemore. I was supposed to be helping him withsomething.”
“The man doesn’t need your help,” Marc replied, leading her once more to the doors that led outside. “He can find his own bride if he’s of a mind to have oneatall.”
Caroline gasped. “How didyouknow…”
Marc shot her a grin. “Honestly, love, considering my past profession, do you really think there’s anything I can’tfindout?”
And then realization lit her eyes. “Luketoldyou.”
Marc agreed with a nod. “Aye. He’s a very goodfriend.”
From the verandah, girlish laughter filtered into the corridor. A mix of Callie and Emma, if Marc wasn’tmistaken.
“Oh—” Caroline glanced toward the doors “—it sounds like they’re gettingalong.”
* * *
Caroline letMarc lead her out onto the verandah where Emma and a very pretty little girl with black hair and Marc’s light eyes sat together at a longtable.
“Did you go up in it?” the girl asked, Marc’s daughter most certainly. LadyCallistaGray.
Emma shook her head. “My cousin is too little, so my uncle said he’d have to take meanothertime.”
“I think I would be too afraid,” Lady Callista said, shivering slightly. Then she seemed to notice Caroline and Marc. She smiled timidly at Caroline and then said to her father, “Papa! Have you ever gone up in the air in aballoon?”
“My mama says he isn’t afraid of anything,” Emma said before Marc could reply. Then she hopped out of her chair and rushed to where Caroline stood and tugged at her hand. “Mama, come meetCallie.”
“I would like to,” Caroline replied, smiling at the quiet girl still at thetable.
“She’s never been to London,” Emma said, dragging Caroline away from Marc. “I was telling her about the museums and Astley’s andVauxhalland—”
“Are you settling in nicely, Miss Emma?” Marc asked, coming up behind Caroline and placing his hand on the small ofherback.
“Oh, yes, my lord.” Emma nodded fervently. “I found Callie in the orangery when I was exploring. I didn’t know you had adaughter.”
“And your same age, I believe,” Marc replied. “Hopefully the two of you will getalongwell.”
“Callie, is it?” Caroline asked, and at the girl’s nod, she continued, “I’m LadyStaveley,I’m—”
“You’re a friend of my papa’s,” Callie saidsoftly.
Friendsbarely touched what Marc and Caroline were to each other, though she nodded in agreement. “Yes, and I’m very glad to make youracquaintance.”
“Mama,” Emma returned to her seat beside Marc’s daughter. “Callie likes topainttoo.”
