Page 22 of Surrender to the Earl (Brides of Redemption #2)

B y the time they returned to Rose Cottage late that afternoon, Audrey was anxious to see how Molly fared.

Robert was waiting to help her from the carriage, and this time she didn’t think twice about leaning into his strong hands, resting her own on his wide shoulders.

He swung her down before him, and her thighs and stomach brushed his.

She gave a little gasp of shock, of embarrassment, but he didn’t let her go.

Unless she pushed herself away, she couldn’t keep her breasts from brushing his chest.

“Robert,” she began, surprised to feel a shiver move through her.

“I’m your fiancé, remember,” he said in a low, rumbling voice. “We’ve just spent the day together in front of people, where I could look at you and not touch. How would I be expected to resist your delicate waist in my hands?”

“You are teasing me,” she whispered, biting her lip. “I have heard stories of men who try to seduce women.”

He let her go. “I don’t mean to tease you. I’m trying to help you. Bridegrooms are supposed to show desire for their fiancées.”

She nodded, but couldn’t speak, and their leave-taking was more strained than normal.

Bridegrooms are supposed to show desire for their fiancées, she thought.

But her first groom had misled her—every experience she’d had with a man had been false.

And she’d gone along with Robert’s false engagement.

So why couldn’t she stay distant and unemotional?

Sighing, she went up to Molly’s room in the attics and found her dozing, Francis watching over her. He excused himself, his voice humble, and left the room.

Audrey was considering him when she heard Molly murmur in a hoarse voice, “He’s a nice young man. He doesn’t say much to me, but he has a comforting way about him.”

Audrey sat down on the edge of the bed, knowing her smile must be foolishly wide. “You sound better.”

“Then tell that to the rest of my body, for I feel like I’ve taken a beating. It’s a good thing you can’t see me.”

“Why? Have you been studying yourself in a mirror already?”

“No, but I saw Francis wince.”

Audrey chuckled, then couldn’t resist touching Molly’s forehead. “Hmm. I think you’re still a bit warm.”

“The doctor visited today, and he said that was normal, that it’ll be days before I’m up and about. Days! I told him I’d prove him wrong.”

“No, you won’t. I’ll see that you stay right here.”

“You won’t ‘see’ anything.”

“Oh, yes, I will. I have spies, you know.”

“I think only one spy. You have him quite dazzled, I believe.”

Audrey stiffened. “Francis?” she said, knowing that wasn’t whom she meant.

Molly gave a tired laugh. “Now don’t you go fooling yourself. I was trying to sit up just now and saw you two out the window.”

Audrey hesitated, hating to lie, but feeling trapped. “Robert is … flattering.”

“Why do you seem unhappy about that?”

She decided to give a measure of truth. “I have only been under the control of other people. Before I marry, I need to be on my own for a bit.”

“It seems he’s letting you. He brought you here to live alone, didn’t he? Or is he pressing for a wedding date?”

“No. Sometimes I think the pressure is all from myself.” Audrey found herself straightening Molly’s blanket and then urging her to take another sip of water. “Are you hungry?”

“Francis said he’d have Evelyn bring me broth. Feels like that’s all I’ve had for days.”

“It is.” Audrey took her hand, felt the delicate bones. “You’re wasting away. I’ll see if Mrs. Sanford will prepare you something else.”

Molly yawned. “I think I’ll go back to sleep until then.”

“You do that, dear.”

Audrey slowly made her way down the servants’ stair to the kitchen. “Mrs. Sanford?”

“Aye, ma’am?”

She could hear the woman rolling something out on the big wooden table that took up the center of the kitchen. She gave her Molly’s request, and the woman snorted.

“I’ve nursed many a sick child, Mrs. Blake,” the housekeeper said, “and they all want more than’s good for them.”

Audrey thought about the child she’d never had the chance to nurse, and then let it go. Mrs. Sanford couldn’t know the unwelcome memories she stirred.

“Is there a stool I may sit upon?” Audrey asked, thinking that the woman might relax more in her own domain.

“Of course, ma’am.”

She felt one pushed against her skirts. “Thank you. What are you making?”

“Tarts. The earl likes them. And we’ve run out.”

Of course she’d want to prepare his favorite foods. “I cannot begin to express my thanks for those baskets you made for the tenants. They were so appreciative.”

“I’m glad.”

“Everyone seemed very nice. Has there ever been trouble with the tenants?”

“Not this group, ma’am. Mr. Drayton has done a fine job of findin’ married folks, and those with a history of payin’ their own way.”

“The cottages seem to be a decent size and well maintained.”

“The old Mr. Blake saw to that. Thought contented people did better work. Caused some uproar in these parts when other landowners were offended, but he didn’t care. He used to put on a feast every year, too, for all the tenants, but that stopped after his death, many years ago.”

“A feast?” Audrey echoed, intrigued. “That sounds lovely. I’ll have to discuss it with Mr. Drayton.” They hadn’t gone over much of the finances yet. But a feast might go a long way toward smoothing things over with both her tenants and her servants.

“Have you worked here long?” Audrey asked.

There was a momentary silence, and she knew Mrs. Sanford was debating carrying on their conversation.

“Since I was a girl. And when I wanted to marry, old Mr. Blake brought on my husband.”

“That was very kind of him.”

“I know it’s not done in other houses,” she began defensively.

“I don’t care how others run their homes.

I will not turn you out because you’re married, not as long as your work is satisfactory.

” She didn’t say anything else, hating to leave a threat hanging, but knowing she had to.

“Your oldest daughter did not wish to work here?” she continued when the silence lengthened.

“She did, ma’am, but then she decided to marry.”

Audrey could hear the rolling pin hitting the wooden table hard, as if Mrs. Sanford was really emphasizing her work—or emphasizing how busy she was, too busy to talk.

“I haven’t met her yet. Will she be coming by the house?”

“Mayhap. She’s busy with her boy.”

“Let her know I’d like to meet her, please. I’ll leave you to your cooking and look forward to dinner. I’ll eat with Molly.”

She’d almost reached the door when Mrs. Sanford said, “Ma’am?”

“Yes?”

“You always take good care of Molly, like she’s more than a servant.”

“She is, to me.”

“I—appreciate it.”

“Um … thank you.” Audrey left the kitchen, feeling bewildered and unsatisfied.

There was a mystery she needed to discover, and it wouldn’t help to let her whole staff go for their insolence.

And Mrs. Sanford’s words made Audrey hope for the future.

Or was the family’s conduct because of Mr. Sanford?

She seldom encountered him, since he only did occasional work inside the house.

Perhaps she would have to make an effort to converse with him. She’d been meaning to ride Erebus …

Robert arrived home just as dusk was settling over the land like a gray cloud, and fog darted its fingers around trees and hedges.

Knightsbridge Hall stood sentinel, its hundreds of windows still shimmering with the last of the setting sun.

It was a rectangular mansion, with a courtyard in the center for unloading passengers.

There was a family wing, a bachelor wing, servants’ wing, and gilded public rooms in front that would have done the Queen proud.

And he was the only one who lived there.

He almost found himself wishing for poor relations who needed to be housed.

There were dozens of servants, of course, and they were good people.

But he could already see that he would be spending more time in London—until he had a family of his own to liven the place up.

Again, he realized the similarities between Audrey and him. She was alone in a house of servants, too, but it was how she wanted it. She wanted independence and freedom, and she had Molly, of course, her dear friend.

Robert had his own friends, the ones he’d bonded with in India—Blackthorne and Rothford—but both of them were trying to make amends to the families of the other two soldiers who’d died in that dreaded battle.

He was looking forward to hearing their stories, but he knew it might not be until the opening of Parliament in January.

There would be other friends from his youth, now gentlemen and peers in their own right, to reestablish ties with. He had much to look forward to.

But now? All he wanted to do was be with Audrey, where he felt useful and needed. It was time to visit his own tenants, but would that even be the same without her? He liked being her eyes, helping her to see the world. Because she’d been so sheltered, she had the wonder of a child.

So he spent the next day on a tour of his own large estate.

He couldn’t even meet a quarter of the tenants in one day, but it was a start.

He came away with a clearer understanding of what had been going on the last nine years, and some changes he wanted to make, enlarging cottages and improving the lives of his farmers.

There was enough of a demand for housing that he could build more homes, as well.

But there was so much he didn’t know! He’d spent years being in command, and now to come home and simply allow others to oversee everything was just wrong.

Surely he could find a medium ground, where he had his hands on the reigns, but allowed his people to do the work he’d hired them for.

Visiting with the tenants made him see that people wanted to know he cared, that he was involved.