her bedchamber. She’d come upstairs to change out of her riding habit, but instead of summoning Alice, she found herself watching Sir Jeremy and Robbie in the garden.
The sight of Sir Jeremy’s tall form beside Robbie’s small, bouncing one warmed her. A moment later, the hedgehog rolled down the slope to the lawn, his usual mode of traversing inclines. A captivating sound rang out: baritone laughter, mingled with Robbie’s piping giggles.
Livvy withdrew from the window, deciding not to risk being seen spying on them.
But what a surprise it had been, to see such a grave, rigidly proper gentleman abandon all dignity to reassure the children. He seemed once more like the gentle, passionate man who’d kissed her at the masquerade.
Half-consciously she touched a hand to her lips, then lowered it. No, she didn’t want to think about it; it only made her feel guilty. But having begun this deception, she could not risk everything by confessing now.
Besides, there was no point. There never would be.
* * *
Jeremy followed the chattering boy into the library. As they entered, Lady Dearing got up from her desk, now wearing the pale green gown he’d first seen her in. Jeremy watched Robbie run to her for a quick hug, saw the fond look she gave the child fade into a more guarded expression as she turned toward him.
He turned toward the birdcage, stifling a vague sense of disappointment. “So these are Freddy and Ferdy?”
“Yessir. Their real names are Frederica and Ferdinand,” said Robbie, carefully enunciating each name as he poured water he’d brought from the kitchen into one dish, then poured seeds into another.
The birds fluttered around, twittering excitedly.
“They sing very nicely,” Jeremy commented.
“If you whistle to Ferdy, he’ll whistle back,” said Robbie proudly as he closed and latched the cage door. “See?”
The boy whistled and one of the finches trilled back.
“A most intelligent bird. Thank you for introducing me.”
“I’m glad you like them. But Sir—Sir—Sir Jeremy?”
“Yes, Robbie?”
“Could you—would you—would you—”
He waited patiently for Robbie to finish his sentence.
“—would you take me up for a ride on your horse?” finished Robbie, bouncing a little in anticipation.
“Yes, of course. That is, if Lady Dearing permits,” he added, looking toward her.
She nodded.
“Thank you! Thank you!” shouted Robbie, bounding higher in that tireless way he had.
“Now you must go back to the schoolroom, dear,” said Lady Dearing. “We will talk a bit, then we will come upstairs and Sir Jeremy will help you with your letters.”
Once Robbie had gone, Lady Dearing seated herself in one of the wing chairs flanking the hearth and invited Jeremy to take the other.
“I hope you will tell me how you fared with Robbie. It went well, did it not?” Though her voice was calm, a slight tension in her posture betrayed her.
He nodded reassuringly. “He is a charming child. I hope you do not mind my agreeing to take him up on my horse. I assure you Samson is very well-mannered.”
“No, I have no objection. It is kind of you to give Robbie such a treat. And I must also thank you for not making a fuss over the incident with Mr. Wiggly-nose.”
“I am sure my breeches will come clean.”
As he said it, she glanced toward his leg for a moment, then averted her face, blushing a little. Too late, he realized the gaffe he’d made: one never mentioned breeches in a lady’s presence. But it was the first time she’d seemed to notice him as a man , not merely a Governor of the Foundling Hospital. But perhaps she was merely disgusted.
Time to move on to safer topics.
“Now perhaps you will tell me some more about Robbie,” he said quickly. “I must admit I’m quite ignorant of children his age. Do they all have such difficulty completing a sentence?”
“Most of them do.” She gave a slight smile. “You must realize speech is a skill they have only
The sight of Sir Jeremy’s tall form beside Robbie’s small, bouncing one warmed her. A moment later, the hedgehog rolled down the slope to the lawn, his usual mode of traversing inclines. A captivating sound rang out: baritone laughter, mingled with Robbie’s piping giggles.
Livvy withdrew from the window, deciding not to risk being seen spying on them.
But what a surprise it had been, to see such a grave, rigidly proper gentleman abandon all dignity to reassure the children. He seemed once more like the gentle, passionate man who’d kissed her at the masquerade.
Half-consciously she touched a hand to her lips, then lowered it. No, she didn’t want to think about it; it only made her feel guilty. But having begun this deception, she could not risk everything by confessing now.
Besides, there was no point. There never would be.
* * *
Jeremy followed the chattering boy into the library. As they entered, Lady Dearing got up from her desk, now wearing the pale green gown he’d first seen her in. Jeremy watched Robbie run to her for a quick hug, saw the fond look she gave the child fade into a more guarded expression as she turned toward him.
He turned toward the birdcage, stifling a vague sense of disappointment. “So these are Freddy and Ferdy?”
“Yessir. Their real names are Frederica and Ferdinand,” said Robbie, carefully enunciating each name as he poured water he’d brought from the kitchen into one dish, then poured seeds into another.
The birds fluttered around, twittering excitedly.
“They sing very nicely,” Jeremy commented.
“If you whistle to Ferdy, he’ll whistle back,” said Robbie proudly as he closed and latched the cage door. “See?”
The boy whistled and one of the finches trilled back.
“A most intelligent bird. Thank you for introducing me.”
“I’m glad you like them. But Sir—Sir—Sir Jeremy?”
“Yes, Robbie?”
“Could you—would you—would you—”
He waited patiently for Robbie to finish his sentence.
“—would you take me up for a ride on your horse?” finished Robbie, bouncing a little in anticipation.
“Yes, of course. That is, if Lady Dearing permits,” he added, looking toward her.
She nodded.
“Thank you! Thank you!” shouted Robbie, bounding higher in that tireless way he had.
“Now you must go back to the schoolroom, dear,” said Lady Dearing. “We will talk a bit, then we will come upstairs and Sir Jeremy will help you with your letters.”
Once Robbie had gone, Lady Dearing seated herself in one of the wing chairs flanking the hearth and invited Jeremy to take the other.
“I hope you will tell me how you fared with Robbie. It went well, did it not?” Though her voice was calm, a slight tension in her posture betrayed her.
He nodded reassuringly. “He is a charming child. I hope you do not mind my agreeing to take him up on my horse. I assure you Samson is very well-mannered.”
“No, I have no objection. It is kind of you to give Robbie such a treat. And I must also thank you for not making a fuss over the incident with Mr. Wiggly-nose.”
“I am sure my breeches will come clean.”
As he said it, she glanced toward his leg for a moment, then averted her face, blushing a little. Too late, he realized the gaffe he’d made: one never mentioned breeches in a lady’s presence. But it was the first time she’d seemed to notice him as a man , not merely a Governor of the Foundling Hospital. But perhaps she was merely disgusted.
Time to move on to safer topics.
“Now perhaps you will tell me some more about Robbie,” he said quickly. “I must admit I’m quite ignorant of children his age. Do they all have such difficulty completing a sentence?”
“Most of them do.” She gave a slight smile. “You must realize speech is a skill they have only
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