thought. 'On top of everything else,' he went on, 'one of my favourite mares has been taken ill and no one knows why. Even the horse doctor is puzzled.'
That is no excuse,' said Sarah, although she was relieved to learn that she had not been mistaken in her belief that he had improved since her arrival. It was good to know that he truly had become more comfortable with the children, and that he was already regretting his unintentional bad humour.
'Again, you're right, but I have so little experience of children that I still forget from time to time how easily their feelings can be hurt,' he said. Which is why, although you have been a thorn in my side at times, I have been grateful to you for telling me where I have been going wrong. I never mean to be unkind, but I am used to dealing with soldiers - hardened men - not children who haven't left the schoolroom. I am getting better at understanding them, but I still have a lot to learn. It was different when their parents were alive. But you don't know about that,' he said. Then, considering, he said, 'I think you should.'
He waved for her to be seated and then sat likewise.
They are my nephews and niece, as you know, the children of my younger brother, Thomas. I have been in the army for most of my adult life, and when I was on leave I spent my time in London and not in Kent, so that I very rarely saw them. They had their father and mother to look after them, and a doting grandfather, so that they did not need their uncle. It was not until Thomas and Caroline, his wife, were killed a few years ago in a carriage accident that the children were orphaned.'
'I'm sorry,' said Sarah. Her voice showed her genuine concern.
'It was a tragedy,' he acknowledged. The children became my father's wards, but when he died shortly afterwards they became mine. Fortunately, Napoleon had at last been defeated, and I was free to come home to look after the estate.' He paused. 'And the children.'
Then you have hardly seen them,' said Sarah.
'No,' he said. When I came home they were almost strangers to me. I did my best. The boys had excellent tutors and Lucy had a governess and a nurse. A whole string of governesses!' he admitted. And then added, 'But never one who cared for her as you have done. And never one who told me how I, too, should care for them.'
I never doubted that you cared for them. I just wondered why you didn t show it.
'I didn't know how to.' He gave a rueful smile. It is a lot more difficult than I had supposed. But I'm learning,' he said. 'And that's thanks to you. I have so much to thank you for, Sarah. You have reminded me that life isn't all about work and duty, and that I can enjoy being with the children, rather than just viewing them as responsibilities.'
A breeze blew in from the open window and a strand of Sarah's hair blew loose of its pins and across her face. He reached out his hand instinctively and brushed it back into place. As his fingers glided over her cheekbone they left a streak of searing heat behind them and she felt as though his hands were made of flame. She trembled, and suddenly the air was heavily charged, as though there was going to be a thunder storm. She felt her lips part of their own accord and her eyes closed. She could feel the warmth of his breath and smell the musky scent of him, a mixture of leather and stables and sweet cologne. The sensation of his nearness was all-consuming and drove everything else out of her mind... . until the sound of footsteps forced their way through her dreamy haze.
He heard them, too, and drew back. Someone was approaching the gallery.
A moment later the butler appeared.
'Begging your pardon, my lord,' said Hodgess, *but the head groom says you are needed urgently in the stables.'
Lord Randall nodded.
Thank you, Hodgess,' he said. Tell Dixon I will be there in a minute.'
Hodgess withdrew.
He turned to Sarah, and she saw a curious mixture of emotions cross his face, relief and frustration
That is no excuse,' said Sarah, although she was relieved to learn that she had not been mistaken in her belief that he had improved since her arrival. It was good to know that he truly had become more comfortable with the children, and that he was already regretting his unintentional bad humour.
'Again, you're right, but I have so little experience of children that I still forget from time to time how easily their feelings can be hurt,' he said. Which is why, although you have been a thorn in my side at times, I have been grateful to you for telling me where I have been going wrong. I never mean to be unkind, but I am used to dealing with soldiers - hardened men - not children who haven't left the schoolroom. I am getting better at understanding them, but I still have a lot to learn. It was different when their parents were alive. But you don't know about that,' he said. Then, considering, he said, 'I think you should.'
He waved for her to be seated and then sat likewise.
They are my nephews and niece, as you know, the children of my younger brother, Thomas. I have been in the army for most of my adult life, and when I was on leave I spent my time in London and not in Kent, so that I very rarely saw them. They had their father and mother to look after them, and a doting grandfather, so that they did not need their uncle. It was not until Thomas and Caroline, his wife, were killed a few years ago in a carriage accident that the children were orphaned.'
'I'm sorry,' said Sarah. Her voice showed her genuine concern.
'It was a tragedy,' he acknowledged. The children became my father's wards, but when he died shortly afterwards they became mine. Fortunately, Napoleon had at last been defeated, and I was free to come home to look after the estate.' He paused. 'And the children.'
Then you have hardly seen them,' said Sarah.
'No,' he said. When I came home they were almost strangers to me. I did my best. The boys had excellent tutors and Lucy had a governess and a nurse. A whole string of governesses!' he admitted. And then added, 'But never one who cared for her as you have done. And never one who told me how I, too, should care for them.'
I never doubted that you cared for them. I just wondered why you didn t show it.
'I didn't know how to.' He gave a rueful smile. It is a lot more difficult than I had supposed. But I'm learning,' he said. 'And that's thanks to you. I have so much to thank you for, Sarah. You have reminded me that life isn't all about work and duty, and that I can enjoy being with the children, rather than just viewing them as responsibilities.'
A breeze blew in from the open window and a strand of Sarah's hair blew loose of its pins and across her face. He reached out his hand instinctively and brushed it back into place. As his fingers glided over her cheekbone they left a streak of searing heat behind them and she felt as though his hands were made of flame. She trembled, and suddenly the air was heavily charged, as though there was going to be a thunder storm. She felt her lips part of their own accord and her eyes closed. She could feel the warmth of his breath and smell the musky scent of him, a mixture of leather and stables and sweet cologne. The sensation of his nearness was all-consuming and drove everything else out of her mind... . until the sound of footsteps forced their way through her dreamy haze.
He heard them, too, and drew back. Someone was approaching the gallery.
A moment later the butler appeared.
'Begging your pardon, my lord,' said Hodgess, *but the head groom says you are needed urgently in the stables.'
Lord Randall nodded.
Thank you, Hodgess,' he said. Tell Dixon I will be there in a minute.'
Hodgess withdrew.
He turned to Sarah, and she saw a curious mixture of emotions cross his face, relief and frustration
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