The Lady's Second-Chance Suitor by Scott, Regina (christmas read aloud txt) 📗

Colluding again.

Hester cast Rob an apologetic smile, and he winked at her.She made herself sip her tea. Why was she finding it so difficult to spend amoment alone with him? She had once enjoyed listening to him. He could spin atale better than anyone, until you were certain he believed it too. If he evergrew as fanciful as Aunt Maudie, they were all in trouble.

“What are your plans for the future?” she asked, hoping toget him started.

He stretched out his long legs until his toes brushed hers.“Elizabeth and I will be here for a time, as she noted to you. I thought thequiet here would do us good.”

“It is quiet,” Hester agreed. “But I was under theimpression you didn’t like quiet.”

He studied the toe of his boot as it swung against herskirts. “I have come to value it, in the right amounts.” He shot her a grin.“Not that I’m opposed to excitement, mind you.”

Now, that was the Rob she knew. “And what excites you now?”

“You.”

She sloshed the tea and just managed to level the cup beforeshe spilled on her gown. She could not look at him.

“You should not say such things to me,” she whispered,mindful of her mother, Elizabeth, and Rebecca across the room. “I won’t be yourentertainment this time.”

His foot withdrew. “No, of course not. Forgive me. Thatwasn’t what I meant. Your company has brightened a time when Elizabeth and Istruggle to find our way out of the darkness. I had hopethe three of us might be friends. I could use a friend now.”

She chanced a glance at him and found his head down, haircurling toward his cheek. He looked so sad, so lost.

“In truth, I could use a friend as well,” she said.

“Friends, then,” he replied, but she was certain she heardthe words for now.

Chapter Eight

Rob could only be pleased as he andElizabeth headed for home at last. Not only had he helped his fellow landowner,and the local shops, but Hester was warming to him. He could see it in the wayher eyes softened when she looked at him, hear it in the approval in her voice.Friends, she’d said, with a gentle smile that made him hope for more. Perhapshe had a chance of rekindling their relationship.

He frowned as the coach headed for the Lodge. Wasn’t hedoing all this from a desire to atone, to prove to himself he was a changedman? When had atonement become hope? He wasn’t sure his father would haveapproved of Hester as the wife of his second son. Others would be sure toquestion her appropriateness for the bride of a viscount. If he pursued her,would he be subjecting her to criticism?

“You’re rather Friday-faced after such a pleasantafternoon,” Elizabeth said from across the coach. “I thought you and Hesterwere getting on well.”

“Quite well,” Rob agreed, turning to face his sister. “Butthen, we always did.”

“And that gives you such a prodigious frown?”

Rob chuckled. “I wasn’t aware I was capable of prodigiousfrowns.”

“I wish I had a mirror. It is quite prodigious.”

He made a show of wiggling his brows, his nose, and hismouth all at once. “Better?”

Elizabeth laughed. “No! You’ve only made it worse.”

“Well, then, I suppose I should be glad you’re the only oneto see it.”

Her look dimmed. “I can think of three others who would haveenjoyed it as much.”

So could he. “They will always be with us, Elizabeth. Butthey would want us to be happy.”

She sighed. “I know. And I’m trying. Truly. All seems brightand good, and then I remember.”

He reached across and held her hand a moment. “I know. But Iam told it will get better with time.”

She nodded and gave him a shadow of a smile.

He did not see a smile again until Mr. Donner came callinglate Monday morning, putting Rob in the position of playing chaperone.

It was the oddest feeling, being in their mother’s favoritewithdrawing room overlooking the Channel while Donner and Elizabeth sat on the stripedsofa and made polite conversation. His presence had usually been the cause of alady needing a chaperone. And Mother normally played that role with Elizabeth.

He could feel her presence even now. She’d had the roomredecorated in pale greens and warm rose, and he almost fancied he could catcha glimpse of her reflection in the massive, gilt-framed mirror over the whitemarble hearth.

“Perhaps, if the weather holds, we might take a drive alongthe coast road,” Donner was suggesting now. The tight set to his shoulders andthe way his feet shifted on the leafy pattern of the Aubusson carpet said howbadly he wanted Rob’s sister to agree.

“I think that would be lovely, Mr. Donner,” she replied,gaze on her hands, folded in the lap of her grey poplin gown.

Donner’s grin lit the room. “I’ll enquire of Mr. Josephs atthe livery stable about a gig.”

Rob stirred himself. “Perhaps something a bit larger. Sothere’s room for Elizabeth’s maid.”

Elizabeth shot him a dark look before smiling at Donner. “Ormy brother. Rob loves riding in carriages.”

Wretch. She knew he far preferred horseback. Thomas hadnever let Rob forget the two times he’d ridden in the backward-facing seat onthe way to their country house in Wiltshire and they had had to stop the coachso Rob could be sick.

“Yes, yes, of course,” Donner said. “I intended to inviteyou to join us, my lord.”

Of course he had.

Rob settled in the high-backed upholstered chair, trying notto drum his fingers on the dark-wood arms, and watched Elizabeth and herwould-be swain discuss inanities as if they feared delving into anything ofsubstance would shackle themselves to each other. Did he and Hester look likethat now? What he wouldn’t give for the camaraderie they’d once shared. Theycould laugh easily, talk readily. Well, about everything except their trueidentities. Was this cautious stiffness any better?

Donner stood and bowed over Elizabeth’s hand, and Robrealized the fellow was taking his leave. As Rob stood too, Donner looked hisway, face once more tight.

“Might I have a private word, my lord, before I go?”

Behind Donner’s back, Elizabeth shook her head hard. Rob hadthe same thought. The fellow could not be asking for the