“Perhaps he’ll shock us both,” he said, taking her hand and turning it over to inspect the palm.
What did he see? It was the hand of a woman who often forgot to use the lemon-scented cream on her vanity.
“The last time I heard from him he was annoyed, but then he often is with me. I did something to anger him.”
“What did you do?”
“I told him to be a better husband. Evidently, I’m not to ever criticize Harrison.”
“Or spend too much time with me. That always set him off.”
He curled her fingers toward the palm and then covered them with his hand.
“You were my best friend, Gordon. I was just thinking how many times I came here in the past five years and wished I had you to talk to.” She stole a glance at him. “I have so much to learn about those missing five years.”
“And I have so much to tell you. Is it just Harrison that has you upset?”
She shook her head. “I’ve been banished from the birthing room because I’m single. Unmarried. Therefore, I am too innocent to view my niece’s or nephew’s birth. Mrs. Farmer evidently believes that I would run screaming from the room.”
“Who’s Mrs. Farmer?”
“A very interfering midwife Lauren’s father hired from Edinburgh. The woman does not tolerate any disobedience, from Lauren or me, for that matter. Lauren should have one member of the family with her. If Harrison could not be bothered, there is always me. However, Mrs. Farmer refuses to allow me admittance. God forbid I should discover how babies are born.” She looked up at the sky. “Does the woman not realize that Adaire Hall has a great many horses, cows, pigs, and sheep?”
“But Harrison wouldn’t be in the birthing room, either.”
She nodded. “You have a point. But the woman doesn’t have to be so annoying.”
His laughter surprised her and made her grateful that he could turn aside her anger and worry.
Mrs. Farmer was right in one respect. There was nothing she could do to speed up Lauren’s labor. The baby would come when the baby would come.
She glanced at him and then back at the water. “I missed your laugh the most, I think.”
“While I missed laughing with you.”
“Do you think we’ve changed, the two of us?”
“Life changes us,” he said.
“Absence changed us,” Jennifer added.
“Longing does as well.”
She dared herself to look at him again. “What have you longed for, Gordon?”
“Do you really need to ask me that question?”
She looked away again, this time at the ground between the bench and the shoreline. It was littered with various sizes of brown and black stones. When they were younger, they’d challenged each other. Who would be better at skipping stones across the water? He almost always won, but she’d had years of practice.
“I missed you so much. When you left, it was like you took my heart with you.”
He startled her by reaching over and grabbing her around the waist and hauling her onto his lap.
“What are you doing?”
“Being rash and reckless. It’s been years since I allowed myself to be either.”
“And you expect me to be rash and reckless as well?” She couldn’t help but smile at him.
“Last night you wanted to be.”
“Ah, but you counseled restraint,” she said.
“More fool me. Do you want to move?”
She shook her head. “Do I look foolish?”
Should she tell him that she’d gone to him last night? For a moment she considered remaining silent. Then that same daring spirit that had been awakened around him pressed her to speak.
“I came to you last night,” she said, feeling her face flame. “I dressed in my prettiest nightgown and was intent on seducing you.”
He didn’t say anything, but his smile faded as they looked at each other.
“I was awake most of the night. I would have remembered if you’d come visiting.”
She shouldn’t have said anything because now she had to tell him the rest of the story.
“The footman saw me. He and I spoke and then Lauren opened her door.”
“So you were well and truly found out.”
Now she knew her face was bright red. “I was. I retreated to my room after that.”
“You shouldn’t have come.”
“I know, but I’m not sorry. I only wish the footman hadn’t been there.”
“Me, too. But perhaps I’m foolish to wish that.”
“I should dismiss all the footmen.”
“What will you do about Lauren?” he asked with a smile.
“She’ll be having her baby soon. Surely he will keep her