chuckled. “I’ve seen you in much less. If you must, stay in the water. Now that we are here we’ll only be a moment.”
Adron glanced down at Laurel. “We’ve come to check on the children.”
Laurel nodded and sprang to her feet.
Adron plucked Jamie out of her arms. “How are you my little man?” He grinned proudly at Lady Melissa and stepped closer.
Melissa raised her hands as if to ward off something distasteful. “Oh, he’s all wet,” she cried.
“A trifle damp,” he admitted with a grin. “No need for the fidgets. I would never expect you to damage your lovely gown, my dear,” he drawled.
“Of course, he is a dear,” Melissa added quickly. “I’m not above being pleased with such a delightful creature.”
Adron handed Jamie back to Laurel. “No such thing. As you say, he is damp and would quiet ruin the lovely picture you present. And the sun is warm here.” He knew the efforts she extended to guard her smooth skin. “Let’s stroll through the garden where your lovely complexion will be spared from a kiss of the sun.”
With a horrified expression, Melissa gasped. “Indeed, let’s go. The sun is ruinous to the complexion. Nothing could be more ill-advised than to encourage a brown spot on my face. Indeed, god-mama would have a fit.”
Adron pasted a distant smile on his lips before extending his arm to escort her toward the side lawn. “No need to fret.”
Laurel watched Adron and Melissa saunter away as two of Ingrid’s children splashed out of the water onto the shore. The girls leaned against Laurel’s shoulders and stared after the departing couple. After last night, her hopes soared but today her heart sank and her stomach burned with jealousy. Melissa seemed to be the one in favor this morning. Laurel lifted her chin. Be damned! She would not be used again, her for the nights and innocent Melissa for the days—no, no more.
Chapter 9
Laurel and the children made their way back toward the house at the moment a carriage rattled up the drive. A single passenger climbed down assisted by the coachman and stood on the drive.
“Nanny Nagerty, Nanny Nagerty,” the youngsters shouted, racing toward her.
The nanny dropped her bandbox and opened her arms wide with her reticule dangling from one wrist. “Children! Decorum please, my beauties. Always with dignity.”
She was rather a formidable figure in her stiff, serviceable black bombazine gown with her narrow face and dark brown eyes—until she smiled, then her entire expression seemed to light from within.
With a curious smile at Laurel, she curtsied. “Milady, I’m Nancy Nagerty.”
Laurel nodded. “I’m Lady Laningham. The children are delighted to see you. I’m happy you’ve made a swift recovery.”
“Not at all,” Nancy denied while a soft blush covered her face.
Laurel gave her an encouraging smile. “Children, don’t keep your nanny standing outside. Escort her in the house.”
“Indeed, let’s make our way inside so I may get settled.” Nancy patted Laine on the head. “Show me the way to the nursery if you please.”
Laurel, with Jamie in her arms, followed at a more leisurely pace. Simply because the children’s nanny had arrived didn’t guarantee her own release from her rigorous extra duties. As she entered, Adron glanced up as he sorted through the mail and called to one of the maids. “Please, take Master Jamie up to the nursery.”
He flashed a distracted smile at Laurel before focusing his full attention on her. “Now that the children’s nanny is here, we must make plans for your trip.”
Laurel could hardly believe his harsh treatment of her had miraculously altered after she’d allowed him into her bed. Allowed, she suppressed a laugh at the thought. More like she succumbed and was actually helpless to do anything else, but she welcomed the change.
Opening the door to his library, he waited for her to precede him. Trepidation slowed her steps as she entered the room, a chamber
Adron glanced down at Laurel. “We’ve come to check on the children.”
Laurel nodded and sprang to her feet.
Adron plucked Jamie out of her arms. “How are you my little man?” He grinned proudly at Lady Melissa and stepped closer.
Melissa raised her hands as if to ward off something distasteful. “Oh, he’s all wet,” she cried.
“A trifle damp,” he admitted with a grin. “No need for the fidgets. I would never expect you to damage your lovely gown, my dear,” he drawled.
“Of course, he is a dear,” Melissa added quickly. “I’m not above being pleased with such a delightful creature.”
Adron handed Jamie back to Laurel. “No such thing. As you say, he is damp and would quiet ruin the lovely picture you present. And the sun is warm here.” He knew the efforts she extended to guard her smooth skin. “Let’s stroll through the garden where your lovely complexion will be spared from a kiss of the sun.”
With a horrified expression, Melissa gasped. “Indeed, let’s go. The sun is ruinous to the complexion. Nothing could be more ill-advised than to encourage a brown spot on my face. Indeed, god-mama would have a fit.”
Adron pasted a distant smile on his lips before extending his arm to escort her toward the side lawn. “No need to fret.”
Laurel watched Adron and Melissa saunter away as two of Ingrid’s children splashed out of the water onto the shore. The girls leaned against Laurel’s shoulders and stared after the departing couple. After last night, her hopes soared but today her heart sank and her stomach burned with jealousy. Melissa seemed to be the one in favor this morning. Laurel lifted her chin. Be damned! She would not be used again, her for the nights and innocent Melissa for the days—no, no more.
Chapter 9
Laurel and the children made their way back toward the house at the moment a carriage rattled up the drive. A single passenger climbed down assisted by the coachman and stood on the drive.
“Nanny Nagerty, Nanny Nagerty,” the youngsters shouted, racing toward her.
The nanny dropped her bandbox and opened her arms wide with her reticule dangling from one wrist. “Children! Decorum please, my beauties. Always with dignity.”
She was rather a formidable figure in her stiff, serviceable black bombazine gown with her narrow face and dark brown eyes—until she smiled, then her entire expression seemed to light from within.
With a curious smile at Laurel, she curtsied. “Milady, I’m Nancy Nagerty.”
Laurel nodded. “I’m Lady Laningham. The children are delighted to see you. I’m happy you’ve made a swift recovery.”
“Not at all,” Nancy denied while a soft blush covered her face.
Laurel gave her an encouraging smile. “Children, don’t keep your nanny standing outside. Escort her in the house.”
“Indeed, let’s make our way inside so I may get settled.” Nancy patted Laine on the head. “Show me the way to the nursery if you please.”
Laurel, with Jamie in her arms, followed at a more leisurely pace. Simply because the children’s nanny had arrived didn’t guarantee her own release from her rigorous extra duties. As she entered, Adron glanced up as he sorted through the mail and called to one of the maids. “Please, take Master Jamie up to the nursery.”
He flashed a distracted smile at Laurel before focusing his full attention on her. “Now that the children’s nanny is here, we must make plans for your trip.”
Laurel could hardly believe his harsh treatment of her had miraculously altered after she’d allowed him into her bed. Allowed, she suppressed a laugh at the thought. More like she succumbed and was actually helpless to do anything else, but she welcomed the change.
Opening the door to his library, he waited for her to precede him. Trepidation slowed her steps as she entered the room, a chamber
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