Page 48 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman (The Marlow Family Secrets #3)

Caro sat beside him in the carriage, her thigh close enough that Rob could feel her trembling as much as he was.

‘I am sorry, Caro,’ Drew stated. ‘I should have been looking and ensured you came back to Mary.’

‘I’m sorry too,’ Rob said. ‘If I had seen him approach you, I would have stopped him.’

A low sound of frustration growled in the back of Drew’s throat. He looked at Rob. ‘May we take you back to your apartment?’

‘No. I will come to John’s, my curricle is there.

’ Rob’s heart still hit against his ribs in a sharp rhythm.

He would not be able to sleep unless he had a chance to speak with Caro.

It was difficult not to clench his hands into fists.

He wished he could have walked onto that floor and punched Kilbride, more than once.

Yet he was angry with himself too, because he had not been watching Caro.

‘How did he get hold of you?’ Drew asked.

‘I left Peter to use the retiring room and when I returned, as I passed through the crowd, he caught a hold of my arm. I could not extricate myself without causing a scene, and neither of you could have gripped my other arm and begun a tug of war.’ She glanced at Rob, then looked at Drew.

‘I could have waited in the hall for you,’ Rob said. ‘Then he could not have ambushed you.’

‘And the entire place may have noted such a thing and rumours would have begun,’ Drew snapped. ‘I need to escort Caro, Rob, she is not your responsibility.’

Yet she ought to be.

‘What did he say?’ Rob asked. ‘Did he threaten you?’

She shook her head. ‘Threats are not Albert’s way of doing things.’ A shaky breath pulled into her lungs. ‘He asked me to become his mistress.’

‘No!’ Shock and horror spurred Rob’s anger.

‘Goodness, Caro.’ Mary sounded horrified too. She leaned across the carriage and briefly squeezed one of Caro’s hands.

‘The next time I see him, I will hit him,’ Drew stated bluntly, his left hand holding his right fist.

‘I think he really believed I might accept. He was always arrogant. He thought he could still control me. He cannot. He knows that now.’

Rob was too angry to look at her any more. He wanted to be able to defend her. He looked through the window into the darkness. He could defend her if they announced their engagement.

When they reached Pembroke House, Drew offered Rob a drink as they walked upstairs to the family drawing room. ‘God knows I need one,’ he said. ‘And Caro, you should have a brandy too, it will calm your nerves and help you sleep.’

As Caro sipped the brandy, Rob watched Drew watching her with a look of remorse, a look that said he wished he could wrap Caro up and protect her from the world.

But that was what Drew had unwittingly done for years; it had not been the answer.

Caro was now dealing with her past in the way it ought to have been dealt with, defying it, and Rob wanted to be the one at her side while she did.

What had she thought when Kilbride made his offer? Irrational envy prickled across Rob’s skin. He had watched her dancing with Kilbride and remembered her telling him she loved the man.

‘I am going up to bed,’ Mary said. ‘Iris will want a feed soon.’

Rob wanted to speak to Caro alone, but Drew did not retire. When a single chime rang from the mantle clock, Rob gave in and stood. ‘I shall say goodnight.’ Caro must be tired, she would want to sleep, and Drew must be waiting until Rob left before he went to bed.

Drew nodded. ‘Shall I call for your curricle?’

‘No, it is too late. I will walk. It will clear my head.’

Caro stood.

Rob bowed his head and lifted her hand to kiss it, then said, ‘Goodnight. I hope that what happened this evening does not disturb your sleep.’ Then perhaps because he was tired and the night had been emotional, he leaned in and kissed her cheek, as he might kiss one of his sisters. ‘Goodnight.’

Her skin reddened as he released her hand. He smiled at Drew. ‘Goodnight.’

‘Rob,’ Drew said bluntly, with a nod.

Rob walked from the room. It would be a dark and cold walk home, and it was still raining.