Page 33 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman (The Marlow Family Secrets #3)

It seemed as though Rob constantly looked across the table at her throughout breakfast. Every time Caro looked up, her gaze caught on his; each time heat crept into her cheeks and she looked away.

Drew talked as he would any other morning. She could not think of a single word to say, so she responded with yes or no, or a nod, while her heart began to crack.

When the clock on the mantel rang out ten strikes, Rob stood. ‘I should leave.’

Mary walked beside him as he left the room.

Drew caught up with Caro as she followed, and his hand settled on her shoulder, then he leaned to say, ‘You will miss him, but we will speak once he’s gone and think of ways to draw you into the local community. You need more friends, Caro. Things won’t go back to the way they were.’

She nodded.

‘Mary and I do love you, you know. We do not begrudge you anything.’

‘I know. ’

He stopped and held her, wrapping his arms about her, and he kissed her temple before releasing her.

When they walked into the hall, Rob and Mary had already gone outside, and the grooms were carrying Rob’s trunk out to his curricle.

‘Papa! An’ie Ca’o!’ George stood at the top of the stairs, pulling on the nursery maid’s hand.

‘Steady, George!’ Drew called. ‘You will pull Lily over and both topple down the stairs.’ Drew hurriedly climbed the stairs and took control of his errant son, lifting him into his arms. ‘Come along, you little rogue.’

‘My lord.’ Caro glanced up to see the nanny carrying Iris. ‘Should I bring Iris down?’

‘Yes, do. Mr Marlow will want to say his goodbyes.’

Caro let Drew and the nanny walk outside ahead of her, her heart kicking.

Rob was speaking with Mary, as his luggage was loaded.

‘Uncle Bobbie!’

Rob looked over. Drew put George on his feet, and George ran, as Rob dropped to one knee, unmindful of the dirty gravel, to receive George’s farewell hug.

George charged into his uncle’s arms and Rob hugged him with the generosity and affection that made him stand out among others. Those were the traits she fell for.

When he stood, he lifted George up with him and looked at her. She smiled, her skin heating.

‘Will you come back, Uncle Bobbie?’

‘Yes,’ Rob answered. ‘But I am not sure when. Unless…’ Rob looked at Drew. ‘Will you bring him with you when you come to London in the autumn? If you are intending to come… I know you usually do.’

‘Probably, though we have not discussed it,’ Drew answered .

‘We will, otherwise we have to wait until Christmas to see everyone,’ Mary concluded as she took Iris from the nanny.

‘Then we will,’ Drew said.

‘I suggested to Caro yesterday, that if you do, she should consider coming. It would be the final boundary broken if she did.’ Rob was trying to commit her to the agreement, which meant he genuinely wanted her to go.

His gaze turned to her and he smiled.

Heat flooded Caro’s cheeks as she tried to smile too. She knew the smile looked awkward.

Mary carried Iris over to say her goodbye. George’s arm gripped about Rob’s neck as Rob leaned forward and kissed Iris’s cheek. ‘Goodbye, little one.’ Then he kissed Mary’s cheek. ‘Mary.’

‘If you need anything, Rob, you know you are always welcome here.’

‘I know.’

‘Would you like to pat my horses one last time, George?’ Rob offered.

‘Yes!’ George’s voice brimmed with excitement.

Caro moved closer, as though she were metal and being pulled by a magnet.

Mary passed Iris back to the nanny.

Rob’s presence had lit this house up; they would all miss him. But Caro knew she would miss him the most. Her heart cracked a little more as he held George close enough to pet the horses.

A groom held their heads. The one George patted shook out its mane. George giggled.

‘I like you’ ho’ses,’ George said.

‘They are rather fine, aren’t they?’ Rob patted the animal’s neck too, more firmly, then turned and put George on his feet.

‘Come here, scoundrel.’ Drew reached out and caught George up in his arms .

What she said to Rob had been true – she had not expected promises and she thought he would leave and forget her.

She would forever remember this summer, and when Rob was gone, she would ease her sorrow with the children and the pain of separation would pass, and she would refuse to regret it.

But her heart would be left in a pile of small pieces.

Mary stepped forward, wrapped her arms about Rob’s neck and pressed a kiss on his cheek before letting him go. ‘Thank you for coming to stay, we have all enjoyed your company.’

‘Thank you for inviting me. It has felt like my own home.’

Rob turned to Drew.

‘Goodbye,’ Drew stated, holding out a hand, as George balanced on his other arm and clung about his neck.

Rob shook hands. ‘Goodbye. Thank you for your hospitality and company, you have kept me entertained.’

‘You’re welcome.’ Drew grinned.

Caro’s heart felt as though it would burst. This parting was too painful.

‘Caro,’ he said, facing her.

She stepped forward.

This was their very last moment.

Her mind recalled the things he said this morning.

‘Goodbye,’ she said quietly.

He held her hand and squeezed it for an instant, then bowed and lifted her hand to his lips. He kissed the back of her fingers, then straightened. ‘Thank you for allowing me to come to know you.’

She blinked away tears. ‘Thank you for giving me the courage to do more than I have done in years.’

‘The courage was always yours.’

A blush burned her skin .

He released her hand. ‘Goodbye, Caro.’ He nodded and smiled.

She nodded, no longer able to speak.

He climbed up into his carriage. So athletic.

Her heart climbed up there with him.

He flicked the straps, setting the horses into a walk, and lifted a hand to wave.

‘Goodbye.’

‘Goodbye,’ Mary and Drew called.

‘G-bye!’ George shouted, waving hard.

Caro waved too.

They watched as he sped the horses into a trot and the carriage rolled away. Her heart shattered the moment he was out of sight. She swallowed hard, to hide her feelings.

Mary’s arm slipped through Caro’s. ‘Would you like to sit outside with Iris and I? Perhaps we could even persuade Drew to sit with us and read from the book Rob was halfway through.’

Drew glanced over his shoulder. ‘I will. If you order lemonade.’

‘Hu’ah! I like lemonade!’ George cheered.

Mary laughed.

Rob had gone, and everything here would slip back to how it had been. The hole he left would heal up. Except she would not go back to hiding. She would meet and speak to people and build a life for herself that would make her less of a burden on Drew and Mary and give Caro some self-respect.

Mary released Caro’s arm and took Iris from the nursery maid.

Caro glanced back along the drive, feeling the distance growing between them.

Goodbye. I love you, Rob, but I shall not hold you to anything.

‘Caro,’ Drew called her.

She turned and forced a smile.