Page 47 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman (The Marlow Family Secrets #3)

When the carriage reached the Forths’s house, without a Duke in their company, they had to join the queue of carriages waiting to deposit their passengers. The carriage crept along slowly, continually stopping as each carriage unloaded.

Drew discussed the cattle market he had offered to take Rob to.

Caro waited for her nerves to scream, but they did not. She felt as calm as though it were any other day.

When their carriage pulled level with the portico of the Forths’s town house, a footman opened the door, lowered the step and greeted them.

He lifted his hand for Caro to take.

Ellen and Kate were planning the picnic for tomorrow because it had been sunny today, but it was raining a light drizzle now. Rob stepped down, and immediately he reached out and lifted the hood of her cloak over her hair, to protect her from the rain.

They climbed the steps ahead of Drew and Mary, her hand holding Rob’s elbow .

‘Be brave,’ he whispered as they crossed the threshold.

She nodded. She truly felt as though she had no fear.

Inside, she released the buttons of her cloak. Rob lifted it off her shoulders and handed it to a footman. Then removed his hat and greatcoat and handed them across.

They joined those queuing to be introduced in the receiving line. ‘Lady Caroline Kilbride and Mister Robert Marlow.’ The butler introduced them as if the Forths did not know them. Caro curtsied.

‘Good evening, Caroline,’ Lady Forth said.

‘Welcome, Robbie, I am glad you could make it,’ Lord Forth said.

‘It is a shame Alethea could not come this year,’ Robbie commented. ‘I am sure she would enjoy London life.’

Lady Forth smiled. ‘I think she may have come despite her illness if she thought Henry would attend balls. When Henry is more inclined, then I think Alethea will make her debut.’

‘Lord and Lady Framlington,’ the butler said, introducing Mary and Drew and encouraging Caro and Rob to move on.

A hundred couples danced within the ballroom, spinning beneath the thousands of shimmering, candle-lit prisms dangling in the chandeliers above them, and as Lady Forth had expected, the room was crammed with people five-deep about its edge.

Conversation and laughter almost drowned out the notes of the string quartet.

The air became more humid the further they walked into the room.

‘Would you like to dance the next?’ Rob offered. ‘If so, it is probably better I do not lead you, as I led you first the other night, but Drew will?—’

‘Are you well?’ Drew touched her arm .

Caro looked back. ‘I would prefer to dance than stand at the edge. Would you dance the next with me?’

‘If it helps you, yes.’

‘Mary, will you dance with me?’ Rob asked.

As soon as the music changed, they found a place in a set for a country dance. Drew stood opposite her, and Mary stood beside her, facing Rob. The need to concentrate on her steps helped Caro forget their audience. Though, people did not appear to be staring tonight.

‘Kilbride is here,’ Drew stated as he passed her in the pattern of the dance.

‘Where?’

‘In the corner, to the left of the door. He is watching you again.’

She glanced across and her gaze caught his. The pace of her heartbeat raised to a gallop as she looked back at Drew.

‘Ignore him.’

Yes, she fully intended to try, and yet it was disconcerting. The amber cross resting between her breasts whispered its presence; as she skipped through the steps, it jumped against her skin.

When the dance came to an end, Drew walked her to where the Pembroke family gathered. Alongside Rob and Mary.

Edward smiled towards her. ‘It is good to see you enjoying yourself, Caroline.’

She bobbed a shallow curtsy. ‘I conquered my fear with thanks to your son. Rob helped me in the summer.’

‘I know, Mary told us, and yet I had not imagined it to be such a transformation. Congratulations. You have always held my admiration, and now that is far greater. Do you think you might bring yourself to dance with me?’

‘Thank you, yes.’ She would rather dance with Rob’s family than with others .

Rob’s eyes came from Edward, they were the exact same colour. Their smiles were similar too. They joined a set that Rob also joined. He stood further along, partnering one of his cousins.

Caro was breathless when the dance ended, yet only from exertion. She was growing used to Albert’s stare.

As they rejoined the family group, Rob approached her. He looked at Drew. ‘I noticed two of your friends are here. Would you ask them to dance with Caro? I think she ought to keep dancing. It makes her feel more relaxed.’

Drew’s eyebrows lifted in surprise, and Edward coughed, clearing his throat as though he had choked, before turning away.

‘Rob,’ she reprimanded. It was true and yet it was not his place to tell Drew?—

‘Apparently I must be told how to help my sister.’ Drew looked at Mary who had also heard. ‘I must speak to Brooke and ask him to dance with Caro. Will you accompany me? Caro, you ought to stay among the family.’ He looked at Rob. ‘Surprisingly I am sensible enough to know that.’

As Drew walked away, Rob rolled his eyes and smiled. ‘I have upset him.’

‘I think so. He sees me as his responsibility because he has cared for me since we were young. However, I am no more his responsibility than I am yours, I will choose who I dance with.’

Rob smiled as the notes of a waltz began and bowed. ‘Then will you choose to dance this waltz with me?’

Her answer was her smile as she lifted her hand.

He spun her about the floor, in a firm, secure hold, his gaze holding hers as they turned.

‘I love you,’ he whispered in the last moments of the dance. She did not have a chance to reply as the music stopped.

When Caro and Rob returned to the family group, Lord Brooke stood beside Drew and Mary .

‘Here is Peter, Caro, fetched as ordered to lead you into a dance.’ There was an odd look in Drew’s eyes, an expression that questioned.

Peter smiled as he held out his hand. ‘May I have this dance, Caroline? And for the record, I would have asked without being ordered.’

A smile caught at her lips, and she made a face at him, telling him off for his cheek. But that was Peter’s personality. ‘Thank you, Peter. I am grateful.’ She accepted his hand.

When he led her to a set, she asked, ‘Is your wife here?’

‘Yes. She is with Harry and his wife. Drew stole me away from her, but Harry is minding her until I return with you. Harry will want his dance then.’

He joked during the crossovers throughout the dance, making her laugh, and the laughter left her desperate for the retiring room.

When the dance came to an end, she excused herself. ‘Would you let Harry know I will be back soon?’

He nodded and bowed, before she departed.

At the edge of the room, she had to weave her way through the crush to reach the hall, then she hurried up to the first floor. Kate’s maid was there to help. Caro rushed, eager to return to the dancing. Rob was right, she felt much more comfortable when she concentrated on dancing.

She hurried downstairs more confident than before and cut a path through those who stood about the edge of the room.

A hand clasped her arm and stopped her.

It had been years, but she knew the feel of his hand. ‘Albert.’

‘Caro. Will you allow me this dance?’ he asked as though his fingers were not pressing so hard they would leave bruises, preventing any possibility of her breaking free .

People about them turned and watched as he pulled her from the crowd to join a waltz.

A dozen memories of his hand lifting to strike her scattered through her head.

She swallowed against the feelings as his hand held hers.

As he guided her through the first turn it was not fear she felt, it was an echo of her love, and the emotions of her broken heart.

The scent of rosemary in his cologne dragging her back through the years.

His hand braced her lower back possessively as they spun.

‘That young boy you came in with is staring at you. Is there something between you?’

His voice, his words, came across as though he were her husband still. He had no right to question her. She did not answer, using silence as her weapon.

There was no depth to the brown eyes that stared at her, none of the soft emotions she saw in Rob’s eyes.

‘Is there?’ Albert pressed, a threat in his tone.

She felt the room of people watching and heat rose in her skin.

‘Who is he? Is he one of Wiltshire’s sons? He must be one of the Pembrokes’ sons, but which line?’

His voice held the tone she knew from the days when he was violent. If she was to keep Rob out of this, she should say something. ‘He is the younger brother of my sister-in-law, and her whole family are watching you.’

That was true. She hoped they realised she had not chosen this.

‘You are not interested in that boy, are you? You could have me back, if you wished. I would be better in your bed than a boy.’

A gasp escaped, surprise and shock catching her out.

Why would he say such a thing? He had his wife who had given him a child.

He looked down at her bosom as it pressed against her bodice.

When his gaze lifted it halted as he noticed the amber cross.

Then he looked into her eyes. ‘You always did enjoy bed sport.’

The heat within her skin must have made her a vivid red.

‘You could be my mistress and we would be as we were?—’

‘Congratulations on the birth of your son,’ Caro said, turning her head to the side so she need not look at him. ‘Is the Marchioness here?’

He leaned to her ear, his hand pressing more strongly against her back, holding her closer. ‘She is in the card room. She does not trouble herself over my paramours.’

‘I am glad you have a wife who has given you the son you wished for.’

‘A dull wife, who provides sons but does not warm my bed. You knew how to please me there.’

Her nerves clamoured, run, Run. Run!

No. She would not.

‘No. I was never enough and you were cruel. Leave me alone. I want nothing to do with you.’

Beyond Albert’s shoulder Rob stood at the front of his family group, with his arms folded over his chest, ready to defend her if Albert hurt her. He would willingly risk everyone knowing his feelings, she could see that.

Albert spun her sharply. She looked back at the Devil. His eyes looked into hers, searching for ways to persuade her to let him into her bed.

She was not a fool; he would never succeed. The final chains fell away – she did not love him any more.

When the music ceased Albert released her and bowed formally, as though it had merely been a conciliatory dance. All eyes were on them as he walked away.

Her hands trembled as she walked to the edge of the floor alone, not fear but pride raging within her. She longed to walk to Rob, but the whole room would notice if she did, so she walked to Drew.

His hand caught hold of her elbow and steered her further into the family group, hiding her from prying eyes.

‘Do you wish to leave?’ he asked.

She leaned on his grip for a moment, drawing on his strength. ‘No, I must stay. I will not let him think he made me leave. I must dance and show him he has not upset me.’

‘Refreshment, then. May I take you to the refreshment room?’

She nodded.

They left the family group and walked about the edge of the floor, the eyes of other guests following them. She sensed Rob watching too.

They walked into an anteroom, where she accepted a tall glass of champagne from a footman, doing her utmost to make it appear as though she was merely taking a rest from the dancing.

‘I am sorry I was not watching,’ Drew said.

‘You could have done nothing. He stopped me when I returned from the withdrawing room. I should not have gone alone.’

Behind Drew, Rob walked into the room with his father and Mary, and beyond them dozens of people were walking through.

The last dance had been the supper dance.

‘May we sit?’ she whispered, terrified her legs would give way.

Drew held her arm and led the way to a table.

Mary joined them and sat beside her.

Rob’s eyes were pools of concern. She could see from his expression he longed to hold her.

‘I will fetch you and Mary something to eat.’ Drew touched Caro’s shoulder.

‘If you sit, Ellen, I will fetch you something too.’ Edward encouraged Ellen to sit on Caro’s other side, then the men walked away.

Sipping the champagne, her fingers gripping the stem of the glass, Caro watched the entrance to the room. Albert did not come in, nor did his wife.

When the men returned, Drew put a full plate down in front of Caro, then sat beside Mary.

Rob gave the extra plate he held to Mary then sat opposite Caro and Edward took the seat on the other side of Ellen, filling up the table.

They did not talk as normal, it was as though they had all been shaken up.

Towards the end of the supper period, Rob’s Uncle Richard strode across the room to their table and leaned across Rob’s shoulder. ‘Kilbride has gone,’ he announced, as though he had a part to play in Albert’s leaving.

Caro looked at Rob. He smiled, his eyebrows lifting to say, are you well?

She shook her head. She wanted to leave and if Albert had gone it would not matter if she did. She turned to Drew as the notes of a country dance began. ‘Would you dance with me now to show these people I have not let Albert shame me, but then Rob can take me home?’

‘I will dance with you, and I will take you home, Caro.’

‘No. You stay. I do not wish to spoil Mary’s evening; she rarely has the chance to see her parents. Rob will not mind.’

Drew’s eyes gained a dozen leagues in depth and he turned to Rob, pressed a hand on Rob’s shoulder and leaned to his ear.

Then he stood and offered his hand to Caro.

As he led her through to the room to dance, he said, ‘You cannot leave with Rob. Mary and I will come with the two of you. If you left alone with Rob, people would draw their own conclusions.’

At the end of the dance, they rejoined Rob’s family, but Rob was not among them.

They said their goodbyes, and Drew took her and Mary across the room to say goodnight to the Forths.

She curtsied and told them not to worry when they apologised about Albert.

Then, at last, she walked beside Drew and Mary out into the hall and breathed as though she had been holding her breath for an hour.

Rob waited there, already dressed in his outdoor clothes. He held her cloak over his arm. As a footman held Mary’s.

Caro turned so he could lay her cloak over her shoulders, and she answered his earlier question in her thoughts – better now I am closer to you.

His forearm trembled beneath her hand as they walked outside to the carriage.