Page 36 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman (The Marlow Family Secrets #3)

The street was full of noise and bustle; vendors shouted out their wares from the kerb, the clop of horses’ hooves on cobbles and the rumble of iron-rimmed carriage wheels.

She had become too used to the country. There were vehicles everywhere in London.

She had forgotten all of this haste and clamour.

Her sensitive nerves screamed as Drew’s carriage bounced over an uneven area of the cobbles.

She looked at him.

He smiled.

They had not spoken for the last hour, because George was curled into Drew’s side fast asleep, while Iris slept in his arms and Mary against his shoulder on the other side to George.

Caro sighed. She was not certain she should be here. But Rob had kept his promise and spoken to her in his letters, and she had promised to come.

Many things they said to one another in the summer played through her thoughts during the journey.

They were to stay in John’s town house. She had never visited the house before. She had not been to London for over three years – since she left Albert.

As the carriage rolled on through London’s busy streets, her palms became damp and she felt cold with nerves.

Albert would be in town, sitting in the House of Lords. Of course, she knew that when she said she would come. It was testimony to how much she wished to see Rob. Pain and fear twisted in her stomach when she thought of Albert, as the carriage travelled towards his house…

‘You will have a dozen or more people about you, at all times,’ Drew said, as though he read her thoughts. ‘You will not be at risk. Besides, Kilbride has his new wife, and his son. I do not think he will pay any attention to your presence.’

No. Yet to know that hurt more than it eased her fear.

She nodded.

Her heart beat in time with the same quick rhythm as the horses’ hooves as the carriage turned into one of the busiest streets near where she used to live.

They passed the modiste shop from which she ran.

She had not known that day how much her life would change, or how leaving Albert would make her feel.

The carriage turned into the street where she once lived and she faced the vast house that had been hers to manage. Was Albert within? Her heart remembered loving Albert in their bed in that house. She pushed the memories aside and instead recalled the look in Rob’s eyes on that day in the hut.

‘Caro,’ Drew said, drawing her eyes to him, deliberately. ‘I am not sure who will be at John’s house. A good number of the family often call in the afternoons, and sometimes there are other callers.’ It was a warning, preparing her to be thrown into deep water.

She had become accustomed to socialising with people in Maidstone, yet not the large groups she might face here .

She nodded, her heartbeat pounding so strongly she feared she might collapse.

The carriage rumbled on into King Street, and into St James Square. She saw John’s Palladian property set back a couple of yards from the road.

Her vision darkened. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Fainting on her arrival would not help anything.

Rob knew they were due to arrive this afternoon. She hoped he would be here to greet them.

As the carriage pulled to a halt, rocking sharply, George woke, stretching and yawning. Mary woke, sat up and looked through the window. ‘Are we here?’

Drew smiled at her, with love in his eyes. ‘We are.’

‘Let me take Iris from you.’

Iris was the only one who continued to sleep.

When a footman opened the door, Drew climbed down first, with George clinging to his neck and balancing on his arm. Drew turned back and held Mary’s elbow as she descended carefully, holding Iris. He let go of Mary and held his hand out to help Caro.

She felt as she did on the stairs to that assembly hall weeks ago. But she had learned courage and she had faith in herself. She could walk through glass walls now.

‘Come,’ Drew offered an elbow for her to hold, as he carried George. Mary climbed the steps ahead of them, holding Iris.

‘I do not feel well,’ she whispered as they climbed the steps. ‘I feel a little faint.’

‘I know,’ he answered in a solid tone. ‘You are as white as a sheet, Caro.’

‘I am pathetic, aren’t I?’

‘Nonsense. What you are is brave. I never thought I would see you return to town when you let your fear control you. We both know this is only the beginning of your trials and I know you will not fail at this first hurdle.’

The reception hall was huge, and cold, both in appearance and in temperature. The floor was black and white squares of marble, the walls giant ornate structures of white, and the stairs a pale stone.

‘His Grace is expecting your arrival, Lady Framlington,’ the butler was saying to Mary.

Mary led the way to the first floor, and walked quickly along a wide landing, which was cluttered with objects, antiques, family busts and portraits.

Voices, conversation spilled from the open door Mary walked through.

Exclamations and greetings followed her entrance, and the sounds of people cooing over Iris.

Caro slowed. ‘You go in, I will wait a moment,’ she said to Drew.

Before Drew reached the room, the Duchess of Pembroke came out. ‘Drew, Caroline, how lovely to see you, and little George. Are you tired, sweetheart?’ She brushed George’s cheek with her fingertips. He buried his head against Drew’s shoulder.

Then she looked up at Caro. ‘Would you like me to show you your room, Caroline? So, you have the opportunity to stay with us or be alone whenever you wish.’

Caro swallowed. The Duchess was being kind, yet her excessive kindness made Caro realise how much she had asked of people in the years her sensitive nerves had controlled her actions.

They must all think she was insane, or a nuisance.

‘Thank you, I am happy to wait until the family retire to dress for dinner.’ She did not even want the chance of an escape, she must be strong; to be able to spend time with Rob here, she must socialise.

The drawing room was full, just as Pembroke Place was each summer and Christmas .

John approached them as they entered, smiling broadly at Drew. ‘Welcome. Was your journey comfortable?’

‘We deliberately chose the hour when the children would be sleeping. Hence the silence. George is not truly awake yet.’ John ruffled George’s hair, while George gave his uncle a sheepish look.

‘Paul and David?’ George asked in a muffled voice.

‘They are in the nursery,’ John answered. ‘I am sure your papa will take you up in a while.’ He looked at Caro. ‘Caroline, this is an honour. Katherine and I are very glad you chose to come.’

With a determination she forced upon herself, Caro lifted her hand as she presented a shallow curtsy. If she was to be brave, she must simply be brave. ‘Thank you for inviting me.’

He looked at her hovering hand for a moment, surprised, but then held it gently, bowed and released her.

‘You are a member of the family, no invitation was even necessary, you may visit the house whenever you wish, and you must feel at home here. Ask for anything you need and do exactly as you like.’ He smiled.

Caro smiled in return. He looked away. ‘Katherine,’ he called across the room.

The Duchess, who had been drawn into another conversation, turned back.

‘Would you see that Caroline and Drew are served with tea?’

‘Of course. Come with me.’

Caro quickly glanced over the occupants. Rob was not here. Her throat dried. She hoped he would be waiting for them.

Katherine threaded an arm through Caro’s and led her and Drew towards a table containing a porcelain tea urn, teacups, finger sandwiches and plates full of a choice of small cakes.

Caro longed to ask, is Robbie due to call today? But she feared the Duchess would think her interest odd.