Page 39 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman (The Marlow Family Secrets #3)

Having to wait a day, a night and another day to see Caro was like having an itch in his blood that could not be scratched. Yet Rob so rarely called upon John he dare not change his ways too obviously. So, he waited impatiently until the night he had agreed to accompany them.

As he stood in the cold dark evening air on the step outside Pembroke House waiting for the door to open, he prayed for an opportunity to speak with Caro alone, and perhaps even a chance to kiss her.

While he had avoided raising the suspicions of his family over the last two days, he had raised suspicions among his friends this evening.

They thought it highly amusing that he was spending his evening with his family.

He had never been one to attend balls and such.

He told them Mary was his closest sister and after his summer there he wanted to spend some time with her. He did not mention Caro’s name.

Finch opened the door and stepped back. The others were gathered in the hall beyond him. Rob smiled as he stepped in .

He had received a letter from his mother today, telling him his parents were coming to town in a fortnight, which would further restrict his opportunities to speak to Caro. They would notice if he acted differently. So, he must make the most of every opportunity in the next two weeks.

‘Did you bring your curricle?’ John asked.

‘No, I walked.’

‘Are your rooms close to here?’ Caro asked.

He faced her. Her appearance winded him with a gut punch.

She was clothed in amber satin, which hugged her generous bosom and then her narrower waist, before flowing to the floor.

The short, puffed sleeves suited her shoulders and arms, and the low cut of the bodice revealed the amber cross nestled in her cleavage.

He bowed to her. ‘They are a half hour’s walk away, but I do not mind the exercise and the streets are light enough tonight, it is cloudy but the full moon is breaking through.’

‘Let us go,’ John stated.

Rob stepped towards Caro, to stop Drew offering his arm first. He had come to escort Caro not Mary.

Rob lifted his arm. Caro’s hand settled on it. ‘Thank you,’ she said.

A rightness filled his soul.

His hand covered hers as it rested on his arm, and he mouthed silently, you look beautiful.

She smiled, and mouthed back, so do you.

The summer had begun to feel like a dream, but, no, this was very real; she was here with him, in flesh and bone, and love glowed like the brightest star.

In the carriage, she sat between himself and Drew. He longed to take up her hand, but he did not because he feared John would think it strange, even though he heard the quickening of her breath as she fought her nerves.

When they arrived at Lord and Lady Pickford’s home, the carriage halted at the front of the queue, because, of course, as a Duke, John need not wait in a queue to disembark.

Rob climbed down first, having been the last to enter, and turned to help Caro, but it was Mary who took his hand, then John climbed down and helped Kate before Drew came and helped Caro.

Rob was sure Drew would have held on to Caro’s hand, but Caro intervened. ‘Drew, you must escort Mary. Rob will escort me.’

Rob smiled. ‘I am happy to do so.’

Drew nodded and released Caro’s hand.

Rob lifted his arm.

‘You are nervous…’ he whispered as the others walked ahead and her hand settled on his arm.

John’s carriage pulled away behind them and the next rolled forward.

‘Terrified,’ she admitted. ‘Do you think Albert will be here?’

That was not something he had considered. ‘He may be.’

If she baulked tonight, there was nowhere else he might take her, not before the eyes of the ton . The elite in society had nothing better to do with their days than gossip. She was throwing herself into deep water this evening. It was brave. He respected her courage a dozen times more.

‘If this is awful, you may remember I am doing it for you,’ she whispered.

‘Thank you, but it will not be awful.’ Their quiet conversation ceased as their party stopped to speak to Lord and Lady Pickford who were receiving their guests .

Drew turned to Caro. ‘If you need to leave, tell me; we may leave, at any point.’

She gave Drew a nervous nod, her fingers gripping Rob’s arm rather than resting on it.

John and Kate were introduced to the Earl of Pickford, then Drew and Mary, and last Rob stepped forward, leading Caro.

Pride puffed up inside him as Caro lifted her hand for Pickford to take.

‘It has been a while, Caroline,’ he said as he bowed his head and she curtsied.

Rob was thrown by Pickford’s use of her name.

‘Indeed,’ was all she answered, before she turned to his wife and curtsied again. ‘Lady Pickford.’

‘Lady Kilbride.’

A frown furrowed Rob’s brow, as he greeted Pickford. Why would the man use Caro’s first name and his wife not? A bitter taste filled Rob’s mouth. Jealousy was not an emotion he was accustomed to.

‘How do you know him?’ Rob questioned before they caught up to the others.

‘I know everyone, Rob. I was a Marchioness. I held and attended dozens of balls and numerous parliamentary dinners. He was, is, an ally of Albert’s. I had forgotten until I saw his face. Yet it means Albert will be here.’

Rob’s heart pumped a rush of blood to his limbs.

‘Will you dance the first with me?’ she asked.

Rob nodded. Then noticed Drew had heard her ask and was watching them with an enquiring expression. Rob smiled towards him.

‘I will dance the set after that with you, Caro.’ Drew walked closer. ‘Dancing will keep your mind off other things. ’

‘Do you dance now, Caroline?’ John had also heard.

Her lips pursed, as she nodded uncomfortably.

Pride became a firm spear lancing through Rob’s chest. It seemed that love amplified every emotion. At least pride felt better than jealousy.

‘Then may I have your hand for the next after Drew?’ John asked.

‘Thank you, Your Grace.’

Rob’s Uncle Richard and Uncle Robert stood together on the far side of the room, beyond them was a large family group. John led their party in that direction.

Caro looked around the room.

Rob looked too, now he knew she must be looking for the Marquis of Kilbride. Kilbride was shorter than most men, he might be unnoticeable among the crowd.

‘He is here,’ Caro whispered, her fingers clawing into Rob’s arm. ‘He just walked into the anteroom over there.’ Her other hand pointed subtly. Her eyes were wide and the black pupils large.

‘Are you sure you wish to dance?’

‘I will not be a coward in front of him.’

Drew cleared his throat. Rob met his gaze and he realised Drew had seen Kilbride too.

‘Shall I fetch you a drink, Caro?’ Rob offered.

‘Do not leave me,’ she whispered to Rob as they reached the large group of his family.

The women fussed over Caro, congratulating her on her courage. He turned away but remained close to her.

The notes of the current dance ceased, ending with a short applause, muffled by the gloves the dancers wore.

As the orchestra struck up a new tune, Rob turned to Caro.

‘We are dancing, I believe.’ He bowed slightly, ignoring their audience.

He did not realise how much he had longed to dance with her again until she accepted his arm.

‘Overwhelmed?’ he asked as they walked away.

‘Absolutely,’ she answered with a quick smile.

Her bosom lifted, pressing against her bodice when she took a breath.

‘It will be easier by the next ball.’

‘I am not convinced. I am terrified Albert will speak to me.’

‘The anteroom he walked into is the card room. He will probably be there a while. You may forget about him.’

‘I will try. I shall look at you and not think of him.’ She smiled.

A ripple of increased sound passed about the room. It was voices, but the sound seemed to follow a wave of movement. People were turning to speak to others, some covering their faces with their fans or hands. They looked at Caro, their eyes widening with disbelief.

Rob smiled, as Caro walked a yard away to stand opposite him in the middle of the rows of male and female dancers who were forming a set. He had chosen a position in the middle of a long set, in the middle of the room, to make it harder for people to stare.

He could tell by the stiffness of Caro’s movement she had noticed them gossiping too. But her chin lifted defiantly, denying their judgements, whatever they were.

It never occurred to him it would be like this. He had not imagined people would recognise her so easily, and yet, as she said earlier, in her former marriage she would have stood in receiving lines welcoming these people to a house as grand as this.

She forced a smile on her lips; her bravery had grown since he last saw her.

He smiled too as the song began .

‘What have you done to progress your hopes in politics?’ she asked as they held hands and moved closer in the opening pattern of the dance.

‘I will tell you when we go out for our carriage ride,’ he answered. He was certain she would be included in his plans.