Silver Bells by Heather Boyd

Author:Heather Boyd [Boyd, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heather Boyd

Chapter 10

Ruby lifted her gaze to the view. The storm had passed during the night, leaving them with a blindingly white world. They would go outside today, see some of the estate at last. Hector had promised to be their guide. He had insisted on escorting them everywhere after her confession about a likely pursuit, claiming he didn’t want them to become lost on the estate.

Ruby wasn’t sure his company was in her best interests, but she felt safer with Hector around than without. He clearly hadn’t approved of her plan to remarry to protect Pip, but he’d wisely kept his lips shut ever since voicing his initial objections. Pip seemed to enjoy his company immensely, too, and she was glad that Hector spared the boy some time.

When she saw the dark shape of a carriage approaching the manor through the swirling snow, her first thought wasn’t about danger from Mr. Roper but the likely loss of her time alone with Hector. Eventually, though, she couldn’t pretend she didn’t see the distant carriage, and she pressed her hand to the cold glass to peer out.

“There’s a carriage,” she called finally.

Hector was suddenly at her back, looking out the window with her. “Do you recognize it?”

“No. Do you?”

“It’s a wealthy man’s carriage.”

“Then it is not my father-in-law, unless he went to my father first, and together they’ve divined our location.”

“It’s too far away to tell still who it might be.”

Hector’s fingers stole around her waist, a light touch that made her turn. She was very nearly in his arms then—close but so far away. She thought of his offer for a second kiss and wet her lips in anticipation.

He smiled gently. “It will be all right, Ruby. I’ll be right by your side, no matter who comes. I won’t let them tear apart your family.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, feeling the frustration of her situation and regret. If not for her promise to her uncle, she might have taken that second kiss, and then perhaps a third, too, with no thought to the consequences.

Hector stepped aside.

Ruby immediately went to check her son, hiding her flaming cheeks. Pip could amuse himself while she was away for a little while greeting the newcomers. She had to know who was arriving. She needed to see who her uncle had chosen for her to wed—if that is who it was approaching.

Hector’s footsteps sounded behind her. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, I’ll just need my scarf.” When she had it, she turned back to find Lord Stockwick helping her boy into his coat. “What are you doing?”

“Taking him with us.”

“That’s not a good idea.” Pip was supposed to stay out of sight. “Lord Vyne might not like it.”

“To hell with what he wants. If that’s who you fear it might be, I’m not letting your boy out of our sight. Come on. There’s no time like the present to confront your would-be oppressors,” he announced.

“Oh,” she said, chasing after him and Pip as they reached the door. “I hadn’t wanted to put him in the middle of any argument.

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