The Pursuit (30 page)

Pembroke

“Cassandra Tate!” her husband said from behind her, nearly upsetting her balance. “Get off that chair.”

Cassandra climbed down, trying to look nonchalant and innocent but not quite pulling it off.

“Now, I think I’ve improved,” Tate began severely as he crossed the room toward her. “I’m not watching you every moment as though you’re going to break, but do not expect me to stand back and watch you climb onto pieces of furniture, pregnant or not.”

Cassandra stood beside the chair, torn between guilt and laughter. She knew Tate would not find this funny, so she said nothing.

“What were you doing?”

“I couldn’t reach the book I wanted.”

Tate’s expression of long-suffering almost broke her resolve not to laugh.

“You have a houseful of servants and a very tall husband.”

“I didn’t think of that,” Cassandra admitted, and Tate caught the twinkle she had worked so hard to hide.

“You think this is funny, don’t you?” He looked astounded.

“No,” Cassandra lied, her eyes growing large with the effort.

Tate leveled her with a look, and Cassandra glanced away, her fingers going to her mouth.

“Which book?” he asked, keeping his ire close at hand so he wouldn’t laugh with her.

Cassandra pointed.

When Tate fetched the volume, she thanked him but took it without looking up. She waited for him to leave the room, but he stood there resolutely. After what felt like a long time, Cassandra glanced into his face. That he was now fighting laughter was more than obvious, and Cassandra’s smile went into full bloom.

“I wouldn’t have fallen,” she said when his arms came around her.

“You’re probably right, but I don’t think I’m willing to take the chance.”

“You have been better,” Cassandra encouraged him. “Not much like a hen at all.”

“A hen?” Tate looked flabbergasted at being described this way.

“Did I say hen?” Cassandra asked, trying to look innocent all over again.

Tate wanted to be outraged, but he was suddenly taken with her face. He studied her freckles and beautiful eyes, all the while remembering that she was the sweetest woman he’d ever known. It didn’t take long to completely forget that she’d been on the chair.

Cassandra, certain she was still in trouble, was more than happy to see her husband’s head lowering. When their lips met, Cassandra sighed. She would have to stay off of chairs in the days to come, but if Tate was going to kiss her for the crime, climbing onto any stool close enough was going to be a temptation.

Blackburn Manor

“Go, Niki,” Mary encouraged her. “The boys will be fine, and you need an evening out.”

Niki hesitated, looking down at the invitation again. Marianne and Jennings had invited her for an evening of cards, an adult evening, scheduled in two days’ time. Niki wanted to go, but in truth, unless she was traveling, she was with the boys. Thinking about leaving them in Denley’s care, much as she trusted him, felt odd.

Having gone through several moments of mental gymnastics, Niki looked up and saw that her Aunt Mary was waiting for an answer.

“Are you and Walker invited?”

“No, she’s asked us to have the children here. In fact, all but the baby will be spending the night. Your boys will love it.”

Niki nodded and forced herself to say, “I’ll go.”

“Good. You can send word anytime you like.”

Before she could change her mind, Niki sent word but then stood in the foyer for a long time after her aunt went on her way. She wanted to be near the boys almost constantly since hearing from Juliana but knew that she shouldn’t live in that kind of fear. She was finding that old habits died hard.

In fact, Niki’s next thoughts were for the boys. She had to force herself not to search for them. Denley had said he would keep track of them for a few hours, and Niki knew she could trust him.

She did wonder why she couldn’t relax if her trust of Denley was so great. Not wanting to give it much thought, she went to her room in order to write a letter to Juliana. Right now she was willing for anything that might take her mind from wanting to worry.

Denley had not planned on visiting the library, but word traveled swiftly at Blackburn Manor. He had only had the boys outside for a short time when word came to them that Edward Steele was in the library, studying maps and charts.

The twins begged Denley to go and see him, but that man only agreed to check with Mr Steele.

“If he wants to be left in quiet, we will not disturb him. Do I make myself clear, young masters?”

The boys nodded in agreement, but Denley wondered if, in their excitement, they’d really taken it in. They walked quietly enough into the library but ran for Edward the moment they spotted him. Denley came swiftly in their wake and waited for Edward to look at him.

“We do not wish to disturb you, Mr Steele, but the boys wanted to say hello.”

Edward thought,
I was beginning to think they would never find me,
but said, “I’m glad they did. Why don’t you leave them here with me, Denley? We’ll have a great time with this atlas and the maps.”

“Very well, sir. Shall I call for them after a time?”

“There’s no need. I’ll make sure you’re around before my brother is ready to leave,” Edward told him, watching Denley bow before leaving the room.

“What have you boys been doing today?” Edward asked when they were alone.

“We went on a walk outside, and then we saw you.”

“Is this a French or English day?” Edward asked, having caught a little of both.

The boys looked at each other.

“Mama didn’t tell us,” Christopher informed him.

“What did you speak yesterday?” Edward tried.

The boys both shrugged, and Edward laughed a little. He sat on one of the soft davenports, an atlas in his hand, and without need for an invitation, the boys sat on either side of him.

Edward opened the book, aware of their small bodies close to his and feeling things in his heart that had never been there before. It occurred to him for the first time that if Niki went away, she would take these boys with her. His pain over her departure would not be doubled, it would be trebled.

“What’s this?” Christopher asked, pointing to the map of Asia.

“That’s China. It’s many miles from here.”

“Has Mama been there?” Richard asked.

“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask her.”

“Have you?”

“I have not. I’ve been here,” Edward said, turning to the page that showed Africa.

The boys were very impressed by this, and in the next hour Edward took them on a finger-walking tour of his travels. He didn’t mention that he’d been to several of those places in an effort to keep their mother safe, but those days were surprisingly fresh in his mind.

James Walker had a fine globe, one that sat in a very large, ornate stand in the middle of the room. When the atlas had been exhausted, the three “travelers” went to the globe to crowd around it and find Edward’s travels all over again.

At one point Edward showed them some land on the top of the globe. Richard couldn’t see, so Edward lifted him into his arms. Perched on his right arm, Richard studied the globe for a time, but it wasn’t long before he tired a bit, and without giving it a moment’s thought, he laid his head on Edward’s shoulder.

Edward didn’t comment or do anything to dissuade the child. For several heartbeats he let himself enjoy the feel of Richard’s soft hair against his neck, his warm weight against him.

This is the way Niki found them a few minutes later. Having run into Denley in the hall and asked about her sons, she wasted no time gaining the library.

In some ways she was now sorry she’d come. Seeing Richard’s head on Edward’s shoulder did the strangest thing to her heart. She felt as though she wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time.

The boys were excited that she had joined them. Even Richard wanted out of Edward’s arms so he could show her the globe. In the midst of trying to find Bhutan, the boys remembered a map book that Walker had given them. They exited the library in a hurry and ran to their room to find it.

“They like you,” Niki said, feeling awkward all of a sudden but wanting to say the words anyway.

“I hope so. I like them.”

“I’m glad.”

Silence hung for a moment, but Edward couldn’t stand it.

“Does their mother like me?”

“You know I do,” Niki answered, tentatively allowing her eyes to meet his. Edward boldly returned her gaze, but Niki felt too vulnerable and exposed just then. She moved to the door and opened it.

“I thought they would be back by now.”

Edward didn’t comment. He knew she was afraid. He was a little fearful himself. But he was also excited. He found himself awash with emotions and euphoria every time he was near her. To know that she was feeling some of the same things only added to the sensation.

“Here they are,” Niki said with relief, glad that she hadn’t been forced to look at Edward or say anything more.

By this time Henry was nearly finished studying with Walker, so Edward, Niki, and the boys had very little time together, but it was enough. Edward, leaving with his brother, and Niki, taking the boys off to play, both thought about each other for the rest of the day.

Thornton Hall

Niki told herself that it had not been planned. She told herself that Marianne wouldn’t do such a thing, but the truth of the matter was that she and Edward were the only singles at the party.

The Jenningses had also invited the Palmers, Westons, Hursts, Morlands, and Tates. Three tables had been set up to accommodate four players each, leaving two people free for a break or substitution.

It did not escape Niki that she and Edward were at the same table, but they were also with the Westons, a couple Niki found delightful.

“Nicola is the most beautiful name in the world,” Anne Weston told Niki in the midst of one game. “I think our Sarah might have been a Nicola, had I thought of it.”

“Thank you.”

“Have you spent much time in France?” Weston asked.

“Yes, I lived there for years.”

“Anywhere near Paris?”

“Just outside.”