The Deceptive Lady Darby (Lost Ladies of London 2)

“Do you think you can stand?” he said.

How could she stand when her limbs wobbled like blancmange?

“Come, children, take an arm each. Your father is stuck unless you lift me up.”

Lord Farleigh looked quite content lying on the grass in just his shirtsleeves. The thought that he’d removed his coat, and that the thin linen was all that lay between her and his bare skin, caused a host of scandalous images to flood her mind.

“Your cheeks are red.” Alice stared up at her.

“Are they? Well, it is rather warm out.”

Lord Farleigh cast her a sinful grin. “I have to agree. I too am rather hot beneath the collar.”

Jacob came to assist her, but she found the strength to stand.

In one fluid movement, Lord Farleigh jumped to his feet and set about brushing grass from his buckskin breeches.

Rose averted her gaze, and with trembling fingers fumbled with the scarf. “You are extremely good at tying knots, Jacob.”

The boy looked to his father who patted his head and winked.

“Allow me to assist you.” Lord Farleigh came behind her and set to work on the knot. The pads of his fingers slipped into her hair, brushing the sensitive skin on her scalp. “I thought you might be in need of rescuing when I saw Jacob dig up the worm,” he whispered in her ear.

“Thankfully, I couldn’t see it. Besides, I’ll take a worm over a bed full of toads.”

The scarf fell away in her hands, and she gave it to Alice. Either Lord Farleigh had no idea the item once belonged to his wife, or he found the fact unimportant.

“Now, I happened to notice some delicious smells coming from the kitchen.” Lord Farleigh hauled Alice up into his arms. “Shall we investigate?”

“Is it cake?”

Lord Farleigh laughed. “I’m pretty certain it is.”

With wide eyes, both children nodded. Lord Farleigh placed his hand on Jacob’s shoulder, and they walked towards the house. Rose wasn’t sure if she had the strength to take a step.

Lord Farleigh glanced back over his shoulder, then stopped and turned around. “Are you coming, Rose?”

“I … I wouldn’t want to intrude.” The children’s eyes swam with love and affection for their father. They drank in his attention, guzzled every last drop.

Lord Farleigh looked at his children and raised a brow.

Alice spoke first. “I think Rose should have a slice of cake because you almost squashed her.”

Jacob glanced at his father and then at Rose. “Anyone who can hold a worm without screaming deserves a reward.”

“Then it’s settled. Rose will join us on our hunt for cake.”

“Oh, oh.” Alice tugged on her father’s waistcoat. “Can we have a picnic?”

“Not today.” Lord Farleigh kissed the child’s forehead to ease her look of disappointment. “But perhaps tomorrow we might take a picnic to the lake if the weather holds out. Now, let’s go and harass Mrs Bates in the kitchen. Are you coming, Rose?”

Rose stared at them as a strange mix of emotions raced through her. For the first time in her life, a sense of belonging filled her chest. She did not want to address the sensations wreaking havoc with a more intimate part of her anatomy. Truth be told she was rather fond of Lord Farleigh. But feeding a mild infatuation would make leaving Everleigh harder to bear.

“Yes, I’m coming.” She ran to catch up with them. “How can I refuse a slice of cake?”

Chapter Seven

“Where on earth has she got to?” Christian paced back and forth at the bottom of the stairs. He turned to the children standing patiently at the newel post. “Did Rose attend to you this morning?”