Oh, Cherry Ripe

Sky was diverted by Felix. He picked his young brother up and then put him down with a pat to his head. He then dropped a kiss on Francine’s waiting cheek before she hugged him round his waist. Then once again his dark blues found Cherry’s bright aqua eyes.

* * *

Sky sucked in air. He had to catch his breath. He had to get his feet on the ground. The sight of Cherry made him feel weak and stirred him all at once. How was it possible for one woman to affect him so profoundly?

“Welcome home, my lord,” Cherry said as she stepped towards him and inclined her head, though his lordship noted how she glanced towards the young man by her side.

“Welcome home?” The young man repeated this and frowned down at Cherry as though no one else were in the room. “What do you mean? Are you already acquainted with Lord Westbrooke?”

“Why, of course. He is the twins’ guardian,” she answered briskly.

“Yes, but …” And then he went silent with sudden dawning.

“Thank you,” Sky answered her with a look at the man.

“Sky, we are going to go and have a look at the ducklings. Want to join us?” Francine pulled on his jacket sleeve.

“You two go on. Perhaps I’ll join you in a bit,” he answered, loo

king towards the stranger again. He looked familiar, and Sky rather thought they had met somewhere. What was he doing at Bromley, and why did he stand so possessively beside Cherry?

Cherry moved suddenly and said, “Where are my manners? Lord Dartford—James, who is my very dear friend.” She smiled at him and then at Sky. “His lordship, Skyler Westbrooke.”

Sky felt a pang of jealousy rattle his composure. He stood speechless for a moment as his mind went over the possibilities. He felt his teeth grit against one another. What the devil did she mean, her ‘very dear friend’? What sort of friend? Damn, but he stood too close to her … she smiled too sweetly at him … what the hell was all of this?

A black mood descended over him, and he was scarcely civil as he moved towards Freddy and made a fist to softly hit his shoulder. “Well, brother … you look fit.”

“Aye, James and I have just had a great outing.”

His lordship’s mood blackened. Apparently the entire household was enthralled with this new interloper. He wouldn’t have it. He started towards the door. “I think I’ll go look in on the twins and the ducklings.”

“I’ll come with you, Sky,” Freddy said cheerily as he fell into step with him.

Sky looked back at Cherry. Leaving her alone with the interloper was not what he had in mind, but now there was nothing for it. He grumbled something, and Cherry found herself alone with James.

* * *

“Whew, Cherry … I can’t believe it,” James said, his voice hushed. “Don’t you know who that is?”

She laughed. “Yes, he is Lord Westbrooke. James, whatever is the matter?”

Felix came running in and blurted hurriedly, “Sky says you are missing a wonderful sight, and you are. Come on then, Miss Cherry … the ducklings are all moving about!”

She laughed and started after him, frowned, and turned towards James. “Talk to you later, yes?”

“Yes, go on then … we’ll talk later because we must.”

She cocked a look at him then, a bit taken aback and just a bit curious as she followed Felix to the ‘duckling habitat’.

Sky walked towards her and touched her arm as she entered the enclosure that had been hastily erected for the ducklings. “Precious things,” she said softly as she watched the ducklings play with each other.

“Hardly,” Sky answered with a chuckle. “However, the twins are fascinated with them. Francine told me in that ‘grown-up’ way she has about herself that they were ‘utterly divine’.”

They laughed together, and Cherry found it a good moment to bring up the subject she had on her mind. “My lord, a notion has occurred to me that I should like to discuss with you.”

“Certainly,” he said as he fell in step with her.

“I think it would do the twins a great deal of good to spend some time in London. There is much to be learned in town that is important to their education.” She discovered that she couldn’t look away from his warm blue eyes. She felt as though he couldn’t look away from her.