Heiress in Red Silk (Duke's Heiress #2) - Madeline Hunter Page 0,113

more or less than she had bargained for, if she was honest. It had been her fault, not his, that she had forgotten that.

He had guessed where she was. A letter had come ten days ago. One sentence:

“Are you well?”

She shook her head and laughed. His wife leaves without warning, and that was his only question?

She had responded just as briefly.

“Yes, quite well.”

Then another letter, four days ago. Nothing about her health in that one. He had simply informed her that Chase had announced that Minerva was with child. He thought she would want to know. Two sentences this time.

Steps sounded on the stairs. Mrs. Hutton emerged, first her head and then the rest of her.

“Molly, I’ll be needing you below now. I’ve some things for you to do,” she said after she entered the workroom.

Molly set down her work and left, her dark curls bouncing. Mrs. Hutton did not follow. She came over to Rosamund and placed a card on the worktable. “He is below. He wants to see you. What should I say?”

It was Kevin’s card. Not yet, her heart said.

That would never do. She stood. “Come with me, Lily.”

Lily followed her down the stairs. Rosamund paused on the last step and took a deep breath. She turned her head and spoke to her sister. “Lily, Mr. Radnor is in the shop. I want you to meet him.”

Lily’s eyes widened. She stretched her neck to see around the stairwell wall and almost fell. Rosamund took the final step that brought her into the shop. Kevin stood near the window at the far end, angling his head to examine a hat.

“You didn’t tell me he was handsome,” Lily whispered.

He was handsome. Especially today. Or perhaps several weeks apart made him more handsome than usual.

He looked down the workshop and saw them. Rosamund pushed Lily forward like a shield until they joined him at the window. “Kevin, this is my sister, Lily.”

Lily executed a curtsy the way her school had taught her. Kevin bowed, then smiled. Lily beamed a big smile in return.

Rosamund exhaled, proud of herself. She hadn’t shown how flustered she felt. She hadn’t cried.

* * *

Lily was a beautiful child. Rosamund had probably looked much like this at that age, before she grew into a woman. He knew nothing about talking to children, but he asked her how she liked school, and she chattered away, telling him about the other girls and the teachers. While she talked, he stole glances at Rosamund.

It had not been long, but he felt as if he were seeing her anew, standing at the door of Chase’s library, stunning him. She smiled softly while her sister talked, but when the girl paused to breathe, she placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Save some for later,” she said. “Why don’t you find Molly to see what Mrs. Hutton needed her to do?”

“Before she goes, perhaps you want to give her this.” Kevin turned and lifted a box he had brought with him. “It arrived a few days ago.”

Lily’s eyes widened. She looked at Rosamund, who nodded. Carefully Lily lifted the top of the box. “Oh, my.” She reached in and brought forth a metal doll. Together she and Rosamund admired it front and back.

“What is this?” Lily asked when she discovered the key.

“Turn it, then set it on the floor,” Rosamund said.

Lily did so. The woman smiled. Then she raised the hand that held a hat, and placed it on her head. Lily gaped in wonder and Rosamund beamed with delight.

“Can I show Molly?” Lily asked.

“Of course,” Rosamund said.

Lily lifted the mechanical doll. She made another little curtsy and ran off.

“Thank you for bringing that,” Rosamund said. “She will be the envy of every girl at her school when she returns with it.”

“She is charming.”

And then they were there, looking at each other. He had rehearsed all manner of clever things to say, but they deserted him.

The door opened and a woman entered. Another woman came forward from the back to greet her. Both of them glanced in his and Rosamund’s direction.

“Is there someplace we can talk?” he asked.

“There is no privacy here, if that is what you mean. We could take a turn if you like.”

It would have to do. Outside, they fell into step together.

“You did not answer my last letter,” he said.

“I wrote to Minerva. She is the one who is pregnant.”

“Of course. Still—”

She laughed. “Kevin, what was there to write? Two sentences, and all about her.” She smiled broadly and