out.
Scurrying out from behind a trunk, Johnny ran straight for the Earl. No older than three, the young boy with a disarray of sun-kissed hair and dirty fingers, jabbered with only a few coherent words.
Laughing and ruffling the boy’s hair, he said, “It’s good to see you too.”
“I think he’s missed seeing you.” Elizabeth smiled.
The boy missed the Earl? She had felt uncomfortable, but now, seeing the boy act with such affection and familiarity with the Earl, her discomfort doubled. Elizabeth seemed so at ease, so relaxed in the her lord’s presence, and it was obvious that he felt the same. The child certainly did.
What was their relationship? Sneaking a look from beneath her eyelashes, Victoria was surprised by the small sting of jealousy she felt.
Was the child his? The thought jarred her. Could he have honestly brought her to his mistress’s home?
She nibbled on the piece of bread, barely listening to the Earl’s small talk. Why would it matter to her? She had no claim on him, and no desire for one. Besides, she had no intention of staying in the country longer than required.
But then why would she feel jealous? It was different than what she had felt for the Duke of Wathersby. With him, she had felt angry, consumed with a need to win. But this was so much different.
It was uncomfortable, and these feeling were not something she wanted to examine further.
The boy stopped his chattering and glanced in her direction. She froze, waiting for his traits to resemble Connor’s. But as the boy’s lopsided grin flashed, stray bread crumbs stuck to his face; he didn’t resemble him in any way.
Running to her side, the boy wasted no time climbing up her skirts and onto her lap. “Oh, hello.”
And with that opening for conversation, the boy let out a whole long stream of jibber jabber, looking at her expectantly when he finished.
Never in her life had she seen anything so sweet, so innocent. The roll of laughter started in her belly, making its way up through her chest and finally out her mouth. She couldn’t contain it, couldn’t temper it.
Once the child heard her laughter, he began to laugh, a high pitched squeal that made Victoria laugh even harder.
When their laughter finally died down, the young boy gave her a smile and snuggled into her. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around the child, surprised by his actions. Never once had someone come to her for comfort.
In the Ton, children weren’t seen or heard, they were hid away with their nannies, always out of the adults’ way. In fact, she couldn’t recall spending this much time in a child’s presence in her entire life.
Glancing up from the boy’s head, she realized the room was silent. Connor looked perplexed, while Elizabeth looked as if someone had hit her over the head.
Looking between the two, Victoria tensed, wondering if she had done something to upset them. “I’m sorry, would you like me to put him down?”
“Oh, no.” Elizabeth put her hand to her chest before taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry for staring that way, my lady, but Johnny hasn’t taken to strangers like that since his father died several months ago.”
“His father?”
Connor nodded. “Yes. He died in a lumber accident on the estate.” Victoria could hear the regret in his voice. He blamed himself.
Elizabeth moved to put her hand on his shoulder, giving him comfort.
“I’m sorry.” Victoria was careful to keep any surprise out of her voice. While Connor may not be the father, they definitely had a relationship other than tenant and landowner.
Elizabeth accepted her sympathy with a nod. “If it wasn’t for Connor, I mean His Lordship, I’m not sure what we would do.”
With Victoria looking closely between the two of them, Connor obviously realized the unspoken question. “You will always be taken care of, Elizabeth. I will never let anything happen to you.” Turning his attention to Victoria, he began to explain, “Elizabeth and I
Scurrying out from behind a trunk, Johnny ran straight for the Earl. No older than three, the young boy with a disarray of sun-kissed hair and dirty fingers, jabbered with only a few coherent words.
Laughing and ruffling the boy’s hair, he said, “It’s good to see you too.”
“I think he’s missed seeing you.” Elizabeth smiled.
The boy missed the Earl? She had felt uncomfortable, but now, seeing the boy act with such affection and familiarity with the Earl, her discomfort doubled. Elizabeth seemed so at ease, so relaxed in the her lord’s presence, and it was obvious that he felt the same. The child certainly did.
What was their relationship? Sneaking a look from beneath her eyelashes, Victoria was surprised by the small sting of jealousy she felt.
Was the child his? The thought jarred her. Could he have honestly brought her to his mistress’s home?
She nibbled on the piece of bread, barely listening to the Earl’s small talk. Why would it matter to her? She had no claim on him, and no desire for one. Besides, she had no intention of staying in the country longer than required.
But then why would she feel jealous? It was different than what she had felt for the Duke of Wathersby. With him, she had felt angry, consumed with a need to win. But this was so much different.
It was uncomfortable, and these feeling were not something she wanted to examine further.
The boy stopped his chattering and glanced in her direction. She froze, waiting for his traits to resemble Connor’s. But as the boy’s lopsided grin flashed, stray bread crumbs stuck to his face; he didn’t resemble him in any way.
Running to her side, the boy wasted no time climbing up her skirts and onto her lap. “Oh, hello.”
And with that opening for conversation, the boy let out a whole long stream of jibber jabber, looking at her expectantly when he finished.
Never in her life had she seen anything so sweet, so innocent. The roll of laughter started in her belly, making its way up through her chest and finally out her mouth. She couldn’t contain it, couldn’t temper it.
Once the child heard her laughter, he began to laugh, a high pitched squeal that made Victoria laugh even harder.
When their laughter finally died down, the young boy gave her a smile and snuggled into her. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around the child, surprised by his actions. Never once had someone come to her for comfort.
In the Ton, children weren’t seen or heard, they were hid away with their nannies, always out of the adults’ way. In fact, she couldn’t recall spending this much time in a child’s presence in her entire life.
Glancing up from the boy’s head, she realized the room was silent. Connor looked perplexed, while Elizabeth looked as if someone had hit her over the head.
Looking between the two, Victoria tensed, wondering if she had done something to upset them. “I’m sorry, would you like me to put him down?”
“Oh, no.” Elizabeth put her hand to her chest before taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry for staring that way, my lady, but Johnny hasn’t taken to strangers like that since his father died several months ago.”
“His father?”
Connor nodded. “Yes. He died in a lumber accident on the estate.” Victoria could hear the regret in his voice. He blamed himself.
Elizabeth moved to put her hand on his shoulder, giving him comfort.
“I’m sorry.” Victoria was careful to keep any surprise out of her voice. While Connor may not be the father, they definitely had a relationship other than tenant and landowner.
Elizabeth accepted her sympathy with a nod. “If it wasn’t for Connor, I mean His Lordship, I’m not sure what we would do.”
With Victoria looking closely between the two of them, Connor obviously realized the unspoken question. “You will always be taken care of, Elizabeth. I will never let anything happen to you.” Turning his attention to Victoria, he began to explain, “Elizabeth and I
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