The Defiant Wife (The Three Mrs #2) - Jess Michaels Page 0,38

dress?” she asked, trying to keep her expression and tone light. “You made a bit of a mess of me.”

He smiled as she began gathering up her things. Relief filled her…and regret. She’d get some of what she wanted, but not all. And she’d have to find a way to live with that.

Chapter 11

A few days had passed since the first time Rhys took her to his bed. Pippa had certainly been there every night since, where they learned each other’s bodies and celebrated every kind of pleasure that could be given or received. In that bed, he was warm and wild and carefree.

Outside of it…well, that was a different story. He locked himself in Erasmus’s office, going through the mess of papers. When he went into town, she was not invited, though she’d heard through Barton that Rhys had paid off most of his brother’s debts and settled with other injured parties. He was methodically taking care of every loose end. When he was finished, he would be gone. And she had no idea what that meant for her, for Kenley, for the future.

She turned away from the window as Mrs. Barton entered the parlor, Kenley in her arms. The boy lit up as he saw Pippa, a joy she mirrored as she opened her arms to take him.

Mrs. Barton smiled. “He appears to have had no ill effects after the separation. You are still his favorite, it seems.”

“Hmmm,” Pippa said as she made a silly face at the baby and he laughed. “I am glad of it. Though I do wonder what he thinks of all this foolishness that has been his early life. He has lost so much between his father and mother, and now his uncle’s entry into his life.”

“Oh, but he seems very happy with that turn of events,” Mrs. Barton reassured her. “Lord Leighton is not what I pictured, I’ll tell you that. He’s so warm with the child and with Mr. Barton and me. He’s a true gentleman.”

Pippa bent her head. Mrs. Barton was too observant of a person not to proceed with caution. “He is that.”

Mrs. Barton shifted and glanced toward the door. “I do wonder, though…”

Lifting her head, Pippa saw that Mrs. Barton’s face was lined with worry. Her throat closed. Here she had been focused so much on her own future, she had not put as much thought into what her servants must feel. They were in as much limbo as anyone else.

“You two are worried about the future,” Pippa said, and reached out and take Mrs. Barton’s hand.

“I suppose we must be, since none of us have any idea what Lord Leighton will decide.”

Pippa squeezed her hand gently. “I will do everything in my power to influence Lord Leighton.” She blushed at how that sounded. At how close to the truth it was. “I, er, I mean to say, that I will encourage him to ensure your future alongside Kenley’s and my own. And it may be—it likely will be—that nothing will change for any of us. Lord Leighton will keep us here in Bath and we will go on as ever before.”

Mrs. Barton nodded. “I suppose a man like that, kind as he is, wouldn’t want to bring a scandal to London or his house.”

Pippa froze. That would be, of course, the result of keeping Kenley in Bath. He would be hidden and his connection to the House of Leighton buried. But…Rhys couldn’t want that, could he? He had, as Mrs. Barton said, begun to grow closer to the boy. He wouldn’t shun him…would he?

As if conjured by those thoughts, Rhys, himself, entered the room. His gaze found Pippa first, burning into her with an expression she’d come to know well. It faded swiftly as he smiled at Kenley and then Mrs. Barton. “I have found the party at last,” he said. “Good afternoon, ladies, Kenley.”

Kenley began to gurgle and babble as he reached his chubby arms toward Rhys. And this man who had once hesitated when he saw his nephew now opened his arms as he crossed the room to take him. Kenley surrendered to him more than willingly, touching his face as he continued to babble in baby talk.

“My lord,” Mrs. Barton said. “Oh, you’re so good with that boy. I swear, I’ve never seen a man take so much to a child. So many are distant.”

Rhys smiled, but Pippa could see the tightness to it. Something about what she said troubled him and that made