Page 37 of Surrender to the Earl (Brides of Redemption #2)

“Taken advantage of by my own husband,” she interrupted.

“True, but that was not your fault, nor do you owe her anything beyond support from Blake’s estate. But offering a home? That is a terrible idea.”

“Why? Her only family is here, and she’s living alone somewhere, ostracized. I’ve been told that most villagers know she is not a widow, so her last attempt at respectability is gone. This is Martin’s fault, Robert.”

“But not yours. And you knew I’d disagree with how you’re handling this—why else keep me in the dark about the child?”

“Perhaps because you have no say in my decisions,” she said pointedly. “We are not engaged.”

“Regardless, this decision is bad for you, Audrey. You’ll be living with a constant reminder of your husband’s infidelity.”

“You act as if I need reminders of what he did?” she asked in disbelief. “He took my money and he left me trapped with my father—I’m not likely to forget that.”

“And so you think you can never trust a man again,” he said sadly.

She seemed to hesitate, which gave him hope.

“You have to accept my decisions, Robert. I won’t marry you.”

“I can’t accept that,” he said.

And as he looked at Audrey, unbowed by the terrible pain inflicted upon her, he realized that her pain was his.

He didn’t know what that meant, only that he wanted to make the worst of it go away, to see her truly happy.

And he was starting to wonder if she was as against marriage to him as she claimed.

“Audrey!”

They both heard Blythe’s excited voice from the entrance hall, and then she came rushing in, a squirming bundle of furry black and white puppy in her arms.

Blythe smiled at him but went directly to her sister. “I have a gift for you. Hold out your arms.”

Frowning, Audrey did so, and then her eyes went wide as the puppy snuggled against her.

“Isn’t he adorable?” Blythe asked. “He’s finally old enough to leave his mother back in the barn. I think you should have him.”

The puppy started licking Audrey’s face, and soon she was laughing. “Oh, I don’t know if I’m capable of such a responsibility, Blythe.”

“Of course you are. Play with him for a while. There’s even a rope to use as a leash should you need to take him outside. Molly and I can share the responsibility with you. But right now I cannot. Mr. Yardley is waiting to take me for a carriage ride.”

“He is Miss Yardley’s brother,” Audrey said. “You met him at the Flitcroft dinner?”

“I did. He is a kind man, too old and somber for me, but I could not refuse a simple ride. I’ll be back soon!”

Smiling, Blythe tossed the rope to Robert, then caught up her shawl and hurried out the front door.

Audrey petted the puppy in bewilderment. “I … I’m not sure this is such a good idea. I won’t be able to see what he’s up to.”

“You can hear him, and once he’s older and trained, he’ll be a good companion.”

“Then I certainly won’t need a husband.” She bit her lip as if to contain a smile.

“I’m not laughing.”

“You know what Blythe is trying to do,” Audrey said tiredly. She stroked the puppy’s little head as it kept trying to lick her chin.

“Give you a gift?”

“She’s trying to distract me from—from everything. She means well.”

“Are you distracted?”

“I’m worried this is just one more responsibility that I am not equipped to handle.”

“You handle everything in your path, Audrey. You’ll handle this.”

The puppy was squirming so much, she had to put him down. He sniffed at her skirts, at Robert’s boots, then started to search the corners.

“What is he doing?” she asked.

“Exploring. And looking for a certain spot. If you take him outside every few hours, he’ll learn to piss out there. He’s used to that already.”

“Robert, your language.”

He stooped to tie the rope around the puppy’s neck. “Then find a better word. And a name. I’ll walk him outside.”

“Thank you.”

The puppy was all big paws and floppy ears, and pulled as hard as he could to lead Robert around the back, toward his home in the barn.

Mr. Sanford was repairing a broken rail in the paddock fence, then glanced up as Robert approached. He frowned down at the puppy. “I told Miss Collins the puppy weren’t a good idea. Mrs. Blake is sendin’ it back?”

“Not at all, I’m simply taking it for a stroll.”

Mr. Sanford’s expression only darkened. “A puppy is just another thing a blind woman can’t take care of. Comin’ here, tryin’ to prove herself independent—it isn’t right to worry her father like this. And I know all about worry.”

Robert eyed the man with speculation. Much as he wanted to rebuke him, he remained silent to see what else he might say.

“She should go home,” Mr. Sanford continued, “not that it’s me place to say such a thing, beggin’ yer pardon, milord.”

Why bring up Audrey’s father as her guardian rather than him, the man who intended to marry her?

The servants had been a puzzle from the beginning, and Robert wasn’t satisfied that all was well between them and Audrey. After the puppy had relieved himself, he led him back inside. It took some time to find Audrey, because he hadn’t thought she’d have reason to be in the kitchen.

He found her holding Louisa’s little boy, talking to him earnestly as he met her gaze. Louisa was stirring a pot over the fire, looking over her shoulder again and again at Audrey.

Robert felt a chill of unease. “Audrey?”

She lifted her head and her smile seemed all that was normal. “Do you still have the puppy, Robert?”

“I do.”

“I was just telling Arthur about him.” She set the little boy on his feet. “We still have to think of a name, Arthur.”

The puppy sniffed the boy’s toes, making him laugh.

Audrey smiled up at Robert, and it was probably a good thing she couldn’t see that he didn’t return her smile.

“Why are you here?” he asked quietly.

Her smile faded. “You sound concerned, when it’s unnecessary. I am simply helping where I’m needed.” She lowered her voice. “I have a duty to this baby, almost as if he were my ward.”

Robert felt her words like a twist to his gut. “Blake’s estate provides for him. You owe him nothing else.”

“I understand your words, but I can’t quite feel that way.”

It was because of the babe she lost, he knew, the babe that would have been Arthur’s age.

He couldn’t even imagine the heartache she had felt, the memories this little boy stirred up.

But he couldn’t talk to her about it without betraying Blythe’s confidences, just as the sisters were becoming closer.

“Arthur,” Louisa said, walking across the kitchen toward them, “come to me and leave his lordship be.”

Audrey patted Arthur briefly on the head and seemed to have no qualms about returning him to the care of his mother.

But it couldn’t be good for her to see the boy day in and day out, to dwell on all she had lost. Somehow, he had to make her see that with him, she could have her own babies, that they could have a good life together—that he could make her happy.

But how to show her she could trust him? All he could do was continue to spend as much time as possible with her.

Robert followed Audrey back into the entrance hall, listening as she laughed at the puppy, who jumped repeatedly at her skirts.

“A puppy!” Molly rushed down the stairs, Francis behind her. “Francis told me, but I couldn’t quite believe that Miss Blythe—” She broke off, blushing.

Audrey smiled. “It’s hard to believe how different my relationship with my sister has become, isn’t it?”

“Perhaps it was for the best I took ill when I did,” Molly said. “It gave you two the chance to be together.”

“I will never think it good that you took ill,” Audrey scolded. “But doesn’t the puppy just feel wonderfully soft? We must come up with a name.”

Molly dropped to her knees, then smiled up into Francis’s indulgent, besotted expression.

Robert saw where this infatuation was headed and knew that in his father’s household, such fraternization would never have been tolerated.

But Audrey was unconventional—everything about her.

That was one of the reasons he was drawn to her.

“I’ll take charge of the puppy, miss,” Molly said. “It will do me good to have a little exercise.”

“If you’re certain …” Audrey began.

“She’s certain,” Robert interrupted. “Audrey, might I speak with you in the drawing room?”

She seemed almost nervous preceding him in, and she started talking before he could.

“I’m not just hosting a tenant feast, Robert. Eventually I’m going to have my own dinner party. You’ll be able to reacquaint yourself with the young ladies of the village.”

“Are you matchmaking to rid yourself of me?”

She blinked a moment, and he hoped she was considering how lonely they’d be without each other.

“I simply want you to see all the young women who’ll be awaiting a heroic former officer.”

“Heroic?” he echoed, the word distasteful in his mouth. “I’m no hero, Audrey. I’ve told you this before.”

“Why do you sound so strained, Robert?” she asked. “You speak so little of your military life—frankly, you’ve said almost nothing at all.”

He could tell she focused every one of her senses on him, and he didn’t like what he’d revealed.

“Because it is not fit conversation for a lady,” he answered.

There was a long, meaningful silence between them, and he realized her struggle not to question him more. For just this moment, he was relieved she was trying to keep her distance.

But he was about to give her ample opportunity to discover more about him.

“I came here for another reason,” he said. “I received word that my friend, Viscount Sergeant Blackthorne, is bringing his wife to visit me at Knightsbridge Hall tomorrow.”

“Blackthorne? He is one of the men who served with you?”

“He is. Apparently, he mentioned my newly engaged status to his wife, and she’d like to meet us both. She is the daughter of our former commander, a man we all admired.”

And whose death we caused.

He had hoped he had his guilt well under control by helping Audrey, but perhaps it would never go away, he thought bleakly. It was a shameful secret that sometimes haunted his dreams.

Audrey was still hesitating, perhaps dissecting his words too much.

“And you can bring Blythe, of course, and who knows what men she’ll meet? And Audrey,” he added in a more thoughtful tone. “I’d like you to meet them.”

“Very well,” she said reluctantly. “We will come to you tomorrow.”

“Then I will head home to make the arrangements. Go enjoy your new puppy.”

He knew he’d not been quite fair, luring her with things she could not refuse. She’d probably realized it. But all was fair in love—or at least in courtship.