Gillian slowly expelled the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
“I do have a favor to ask,” he continued.
“Anything.”
“My sister, Liana, is in her first season.”
“I know.”
“She needs help,” he said. “Someone other than Maman. Someone younger, who can help her with the latest fashions and things...”
He was putting things to rights, making certain his family would be taken care of, should something happen to him.
“I’ll be honored to help,” Gillian told him.
“She has no jewelry,” Colin told her. “She’ll need help with that.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“And if you can find the time,” he added. “I’m sure Malcolm and Gregory would enjoy learning how to sail toy sailboats.” He smiled at her. “I’m told that Tuesday and Thursday afternoons on the Serpentine are the best times.”
“Are you planning to be away that long?” she asked. “Or are you trying to tell me that you aren’t coming home?” The coach turned into the drive at Number Twenty-one Park Lane.
“I hope to be home to help you,” he said at last. “But if things should not work out the way we’ve planned... Avon or Shepherdston will contact you. If you need anything—anything at all—go to them.”
“I’ll wait for you, Colin McElreath.”
“Gillian…”
“I’ll be watching and waiting for your return”
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The coach rolled to a stop, but Gillian made no move to exit. Colin continued to hold her hand as the footmen unloaded her trunks. “I suppose you’ll be needing your French lady’s maid once again.”
“I suppose,” she replied glumly.
“Hey,” he lifted her chin with the tip of his index finger. “No more tears. I’m not abandoning you. I’m coming home. As soon as possible. And when I do, Lavery will get a raise in salary and a few days off.”
She closed her eyes.
“Gillian...” He tried once again. “Gillian, I’m Sir Galahad. Galahad always returns.”
“You had better,” she warned, her blue eyes flashing. “Because I’ll be waiting and I...”
He waited for her to say it, waited for her to give him an opening.
She looked up at him, recognized the tender look in his green eyes and thought for a moment that he might be on the verge of telling her how he felt.
“I look horrible in black.”
* * *
When the Free Fellows League met at White’s in their usual room, all four of them were present for the first time since Colin’s wedding.
“Sorry to call you back from your honeymoon,” Jarrod apologized.
“We were planning to return to London early, anyway,” Colin said.