Julian's presence. Staring at the toes of her boots, she cursed her lack of backbone.
The silence was broken by the sounds of Julian's steps as he strolled around the room. As he neared the windows Cara dared to peek at him through her lashes. Framed by the sparkling panes of glass, the somber black evening clothes gave him the look of a silhouette. But there was nothing insubstantial about the man. Taut muscles rippled beneath the velvet jacket lying across his shoulders. Cara's eyes fell to the trim waist and then as they slid down the length of his thighs, she blushed in confusion. Her heart hammered in her breast and she experienced a strange breathless quality as her eyes roamed over the figure of her husband.
Damn, the man, Cara cursed silently. Why did he affect her the way he did? She tried to muster up some anger to counteract the helpless confusion she felt. Aloud she said, "Is there something you wanted, your lordship?"
Wilton turned away from the darkened windows, his gaze going to the girl beside the fire. In silence he took in the too-big wool dress that was at least three years out of date. The voluminous headdress he dismissed with a sneer but the white face beneath the wimple was studied with care. Why have I come here? Julian asked himself in puzzlement. What was there about the girl that had drawn him to the schoolroom?
"I just wanted to be sure that you had been settled properly, Miss Farraday, " Julian improvised.
Cara's eyelids flickered in disbelief but there was no sign on her expressionless face that she thought his actions were unusual. "Mrs. Clayton has been all that is helpful. I had a chance to wander around this afternoon. Weathersfield is an impressive estate. The gardens are beautiful and my rooms are charming."
"And do you find the children charming, too?"
Cara took a deep breath, opening her mouth to speak but under the sardonic gaze of her husband she was unable to continue. For five seconds her mouth hung open then in exasperation she snapped it shut and hung her head in dismay.
"Come, come, Miss Farraday," Julian drawled. "Such reticence from an outspoken American. I would never have suspected you could behave so circumspectly."
"Why does Richard still have a maid instead of a manservant?"
The words burst forth, surprising Cara as much as they startled Julian. She had so many questions about the children and was not even aware that Richard's bodyservant was one of them.
"What?" Julian barked.
"The boy is nine, Lord Wilton. He's no longer a baby to have a young girl fussing about him."
"Has the hafling complained?"
"No, sir, but I have met Janey. She's a good country girl who chatters away and, I suspect, treats him like an idiot younger brother." Cara felt the hot flush rising to her cheeks under Wilton's probing eyes, and she faltered to an end. "I-I think he should have a man to do for him."
"Anything else in my household you would change?"
"N-no, your lordship," Cara muttered.
Eyes glued to the pattern of the rug, Cara missed the amusement that flashed across Julian's face as he made his way to the door. It was only hearing the soft click of the closing door that made her aware that she was alone again. Her cheeks blew out as she expelled the breath that she had been holding in expectation of a setdown. What a coward I am, Cara muttered in annoyance. Why didn't I ask him about the children? Why didn't I find out what is wrong with Belin. She castigated herself all the time she prepared for bed then crawled beneath the covers, only to lie awake late into the night.
In the morning Cara had breakfast with the children in the nursery. Although Belin was in a clean dress and her hair was pulled back and tied with a ribbon, she was still far from clean. She fidgeted continually during the meal, snatching food with quick jerky movements. Whenever she caught Cara watching her, the child refused to eat, sitting rigid with her hands in her lap. Richard ate glumly, his face cast in an unappealing expression of discontent. Despite the leaden feeling in her heart Cara approached the day with a determined cheerfulness.
"Today we shall not have lessons," she announced with enthusiasm. "Since I am new here I have to learn my way around. I know that you both could show me all the important places. As you are the oldest,