Never Dance with a Marquess (The Never Series Book 2), Maggi Andersen [best short novels of all time TXT] 📗

“You are home safe now,” she murmured.

“We made our way out just in time.” Jeremy gulped. “My legs were so cold they wouldn’t work.” He flushed, and his gaze darted away from her. “So, Nicholas carried me to the horses.” A small, humorless chuckle escaped his pale lips. “We rode the gelding because Nicholas said Prince is too contrary and would have us both on our backsides in the blink of an eye.”

A footman brought in a tray of hot chocolate, sandwiches, and cakes. As he tucked into the food and drink, Bella burst in and threw herself onto the bed.

“Are you all right?” she asked him breathlessly.

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?” Jeremy sounded stronger. “Be careful, Bella,” Carrie heard him say as she left the room. “You’ll upset the tray. Not that cake, it’s my favorite!”

Carrie went in search of Nicholas. Giles, the footman, directed her to the library. When Nicholas responded to her knock, she entered, closing the door behind her. Seated at his desk, a brandy decanter and crystal glass at his elbow, he rose to greet her as she crossed the carpet. He had changed into a dark gray coat, light gray patterned waistcoat, and black trouser. His damp hair, brushed back sleekly from his forehead, gleamed in the light from the window. Relief made her giddy.

“Is he all right?”

“Yes, thank you. I have dried his hair. I can dry yours if you wish?” she asked with a smile.

He smiled back at her. “Thank you, but no.” They exchanged a long glance as he came toward her. “Sit down, Carrie. I’ll pour you a drink to soothe your nerves.”

She sank onto the sofa as her eyes filled with tears. “It frightened me when Prince returned without you.”

He sighed. “I’m sorry about that. Prince followed us, but once he got closer to home, he headed for the chaff bag and his warm stall.”

“Jeremy told me what happened. I was fearful that you and Jeremy might have been hurt.” She put her hands to her wet cheeks. “We owe you so much, Nicholas. How wise my father was in choosing you as the children’s guardian.”

When he bent over her and removed her trembling hands from her face, concern darkened his eyes. She waited, half in the hope he would unbend and allow her a glimpse of himself, of what was in his heart.

“You owe me nothing, Carrie. I did what any man would do. It should have occurred to me he’d go off on his own. He wouldn’t have done it if I’d found something to occupy him. Boys of his age are constantly in need of adventure.”

Carrie sniffed and dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief she’d discovered in her pocket. She didn’t have the strength to argue with him. “He must have learned a lesson and will think again when considering another. I’m sure that after he’s eaten, he will fall asleep.”

“Sleep is what he needs.” He gestured to the tray of drinks. “I’m sure you could do with a drink. Madeira?”

“Yes, please.”

She watched him pour the wine into a glass from the decanter. Her hands still shook when she took the glass from him.

“It’s over now. Drink,” he ordered.

She raised the glass to her lips. “I thought I’d lost…both of you.”

He sat beside her. “I shall have to instill some sense of responsibility into those two, or we’ll have Bella running off with the gypsies and Jeremy hunting for more ruins.”

She looked away from his mouth and took a large swallow, allowing the flavorsome, smooth liquid to slide down her throat. “I am at fault because I spent most of the days with Papa when he became bedridden. I didn’t try too hard to rein them in. They suffered as much as I did to see Papa so ill. Jeremy would escape his tutor, and they’d climb trees in the orchard and feast on the fruit and ride over the fields on their ponies. At mealtimes, they’d come back dirty and exhausted and seemed impervious to any punishment I gave them. If sent to bed without dinner, they would go uncomplainingly, and I suspect send notes to each other planning their next escapade. I was counting the days until Jeremy went to Eaton,” she said with a wobbly smile.

“Perhaps freedom was the best thing for them. You have nothing to reproach yourself for, Carrie.”

It felt so good to unburden herself to him. All the guilt and the worry she’d kept to herself for months seemed to ease. Was it silly of her to feel so good here, so safe, so supported? After all, Nicholas was only doing what he promised her father. “I should delay my trip. Until I’m sure…”

He shook his head. “No, Carrie. I will deal with them. I dislike curbing their restless spirit, but I must to keep them safe.”

She drew in a long breath, frustrated by his answer. “You are wonderful with them, but…”

“No buts. You will go to London as planned.”

She fell silent and studied her drink. It sounded as if he couldn’t wait to get rid of her, and it sent a pang like an arrow to her heart.

Chapter Eleven

The following day Michael Warren arrived at the house, entering through the staff quarters. After they administered to his needs, he came to the library, nervous but as keen as mustard. His fair hair neatly ordered, his new clothes smart and clean, he looked a different man, younger, which reminded Nicholas he must be only in his twenties.

Nicholas shook his hand, welcomed him to his home, and introduced him to his secretary. Paul Williams waited to show him the ropes. Within the hour, with Warren and Williams engrossed in quiet conversation, Nicholas attended to his post.