The Secret Heart by Lancaster Mary

Author:Lancaster, Mary
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Medieval
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2020-05-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Lily slipped out into the garden before breakfast, called by the blessedly fresh scents and sounds of the countryside. There might not have been wailing seagulls here, and the air lacked the salty tang of the sea, but still, it reminded her of home.

Inevitably, Lord Torbridge was on her mind as she strolled alone among the formal gardens. Something was happening between them. Something was changing. The feeling warmed and excited her. Though she had no idea where it would lead, she could not prevent the hope surging within her. Hope of what was a different matter. Any closer relationship between them was still not possible.

Yes, it is. She had been brought up to recognize that marriage to a good man, be he ever so poor, was infinitely preferable to an irregular liaison with a wealthy gentleman. The latter might be handsome and charming and shower a girl with gifts. But he would ultimately abandon her.

She wished Torbridge was merely the owner of Underton, Mr. Bunton’s farm.

But then, he would not have been Torbridge.

Determinedly, she pushed aside all thought of the future, all fantasy. For now, the present was wonderful, growing closer to him, knowing him better with each passing day. She would hold onto that and do her best to complete the tasks he asked of her. What would be, would be.

Children’s distant laughter interrupted her reverie. Intrigued, she followed the sounds until she discovered two children of about eight or nine years old, playing a game of tag with a toddling infant who looked very like the Barham’s eldest. The children were watched indulgently by a pair of nurses, one of whom was definitely the Barham nurse she had seen yesterday.

Both women curtseyed to her and wished her good morning while the Honorable Jenny Barham swerved away from her quarries to investigate the newcomer.

She grinned at Lily. “Cuz.”

Lily smiled back. “Cousin Lily, that’s right! And who are your friends?”

“Mr. Peter and Miss Harriet Hill,” the previously unknown nurse said with pride. “Lord Pennington’s children, you know.”

“Goodness!” Lily gazed at the children, even more indignant with their father for his pursuit of Lily. “I didn’t even know he was married.”

“Widowed,” the nurse whispered.

Something pulled at her mind, only to vanish out of reach as Ella and Lord Torbridge appeared around a nearby hedge and greeted her cheerfully.

Lily’s stomach dived as she vividly remembered Torbridge’s good night. But he wore his amiable, veiled face and merely smiled vaguely at her.

“Good morning, Cousin Lily! Breakfast is calling,” he said and scooped up his niece, who squealed with delight. The other children stood, watching quietly, although they smiled when Lily waved to them. Two more children neglected by parents and brought up by servants. She wondered if Torbridge or his siblings noticed, or if they merely accepted this was how things were done.

*

After breakfast, the morning’s entertainment was a ride through the woods. Lily accompanied Millie. To her annoyance, Sir George did not, but Torbridge was there, giving far too much attention, in Lily’s view, to a rather charming widow.

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