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“I’m not certain,” Caroline replied, after all she had no idea when it would be safe to leave. “Are you in such a hurry toreturn?”
“Not now.” Rachel sighed dramatically. “I don’t care if I stay in this bed and never go anywhere for the rest ofmylife.”
Heavens. Had Caroline been so melodramatic when she was Rachel’s age? No, when she was Rachel’s age, she was already caring for Rachel. Caroline sat on the edge of the bed beside her daughter, who she truly did love with all her heart. “You’ve got your entire life ahead of you, sweetheart. Don’t be so quick to throw the rest ofitaway.”
“Are Lord Haversham’s stables fullystocked?”
Horses usually were the quickest way to Rachel’s heart. “I doubt he can boast anything close to your Uncle Robert’s stables, but I understand Lady Callista is an excellent rider. So I’m certain there’ll be something appropriate for you, especially if you ask his lordshipnicely.”
A soft snort escaped Rachel. “Fine, I’ll be nicetohim.”
“I’m glad tohearit.”
And then, very quickly, a frown marred her daughter’s face. “Lady Callistarides?”
Caroline nodded. “Why do you sound sosurprised?”
Rachel shook her head. “She just seems so timid, like she’s afraid of her ownshadow.”
She did, actually. Rachel was right about that. And Caroline’s heart had gone out to the little girl almost at once. “Well, her mother has been gone many years and she doesn’t see her father terribly often. She may just berathershy.”
At that Rachel laughed. “Then living with Emma will be a giant adventureforher.”
“I daresay, it’s a giant adventure for us all.” Caroline leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her daughter’s brow. “Sleep well,darling.”
“Thankyou,Mama.”
Caroline started from the room, and just as she stepped into the corridor, Marc exited his daughter’s room. She grinned at him. “Fancy meetingyouhere.”
“I could certainly get used to it.” He tugged her to him and kissed the top of her head. “Are you ready to retire for the evening,mylove?”
Caroline tipped her head back to better see him. “Retiring so soon, my lord? If all of London could see us now, they’d be quite certain that I’ve tamed the wicked Marquess ofHaversham.”
His light blue eyes bore into hers, making a set of delicious shivers tiptoe down her spine. “Do you want totameme?”
Not even a little. Caroline shook her head. “But it’s nice knowing I could if Iwantedto.”
“Oh?” His brow lifted in surprise. “Throwing down the gauntlet?” And then that familiar rakish grin of his tipped the edge of Marc’s lips. “We’ll just see about that.” Then he bent at the knee and tossed Caroline over hisshoulder.
Oh! “Marc!” A surprised laugh escaped her, and Caroline quickly covered her mouth to muffle her giggles as he carried her down the corridor since their children had all just gonetobed.
Heavens! How she adored her wicked and very untamed Marquess ofHaversham.
Chapter27
The last fewweeks at Saddleworth had easily been the best of Marc’s life. There was something to be said for going to bed each night and waking up each morning with the one woman he loved. Nothing compared to having Caroline in his bed, in his life, byhisside.
Having found the stables early on, Rachel had bonded with Aurore, one of his fillies, and spent a good portion of her days with the Andalusian. Emma and Callie had become inseparable in all things, including French lessons. And everything was exactly what Marc wished the rest of his life could be, except…well, except that Caroline hadn’t come down to breakfast that morning. And he found he didmissher.
So with that thought in mind, he climbed the staircase and made his way down the corridor toward their connected chambers. He knocked lightly, not wanting to wake her if she was stillasleep.
But she called, “Come in,” very brightly from theotherside.
Marc pushed the door open and found her preening in front of the mirror in a soft green dress. Ah, that’s why she hadn’t come downstairs yet. “The new dresses from Driffield arrived?” he guessedaloud.
She nodded but then gestured to the low scoop of her bodice. “I can’t imagine what they think of Miss Gleadhill ordering somethinglikethis.”
Marc crossed the floor and then spun her around. “You’re stunning. I don’t care what they think of MissGleadhill.”
