“Is he out there with them?”
“Did I say that?” Mary asked, doing her best to look innocent.
Niki only laughed, sent for her wrap, and headed that way. She told herself it was only normal to check on the boys; after all, she was their mother. But in truth, Denley had been seeing to that for her at the moment. The boys were, nevertheless, pleased to see her, and Edward smiled in his warm way, causing Niki to calm a little.
“I didn’t know you were returning today,” Niki said after the boys had been reminded about their verse.
“Well, Henry was coming.” Edward sounded calmer than he felt. “And the boys were disappointed on Sunday not to see my boots.”
Niki’s eyes dropped to his feet.
“And that is the only thing I’ll hear about for two hours after you leave.”
Edward’s brows rose before he looked down at the boys.
“I was in Portugal last year. Do you know where that is?”
“Gar showed us on the map,” Christopher told him.
“Well, I saw something when I was there. Would you like to guess what it was?”
The boys took a few guesses about animals and birds, but Edward shook his head.
“I saw three boys, just about your size, and they had no shoes on their feet.”
Richard and Christopher’s eyes grew large.
“They couldn’t afford shoes of any kind,” Edward explained. “Even if they had to walk on the hot cobblestones, they had to do it in bare feet.”
The boys looked at each other.
“I think it’s all right to be excited about something you want,” Edward finished, “but we can’t forget to be thankful for what we already have.”
Edward smiled down at the boys and then looked back to Niki, who looked troubled. In that instant Edward realized what he’d done. He took a step closer to her and dropped his voice to a whisper.
“I’m sorry, Niki. I had no business pushing in like that.”
“That’s not it. I just never know how to tell them things. I don’t know what to say. I could tell that they listened to you.”
“And they listen to you too. You’re doing fine. They’re wonderful boys. I just felt responsible because I came wearing my boots.”
“That was actually very sweet of you,” Niki said, and for several moments in time their eyes caught. Edward made no move to look away, and Niki couldn’t have moved if she tried.
When the couple noticed that the boys were standing and watching them, neither could have said, but both realized it at the same time and swiftly moved their attention to the small people at their feet.
“What shall we do today, gentlemen?” Edward asked, his voice a little quiet. “Have you ever learned to shoot a bow and arrow?”
“Edward,” Niki began, but he only turned to her and smiled.
“We’ll make sure the dogs are inside.”
“That’s a great comfort,” Niki muttered, thinking that she would have to come along for her own peace of mind.
She need not have worried. Walker had arrows with rounded tips. They struck the target but were too dull to penetrate it. Certainly someone could have been harmed, but it wasn’t likely.
Niki sat back and watched the excitement for more than two hours. The boys laughed until they couldn’t stand up, and Edward’s antics and facial expressions were delightful. By the time Henry was ready to leave and they made their exit, Niki knew she was more than a little smitten.
“Unless I miss my guess, you and Mrs Bettencourt had fun today,” Henry commented the moment the coach started for home.
“Yes, we did.”
Henry waited, but Edward had nothing more to say.
“That’s it? You’re not going to tell me more?”
“Well, because I suspect you watched from Walker’s study window, I assume you know it all.”
“Not in the least. What did she say? What did you say?”
Edward had to laugh.
“Henry, I’ve never seen you like this.”
“Yes, you have.”
“When?”
“With Morland and Tate.”
Edward snorted. “Not by half. You never asked Lizzy and Cassie these questions.”
“Well, of course not! They’re my sisters.”
“And your point would be?”
“I can’t ask them personal details.”
Again Edward had to laugh. His own brother a romantic! It was too funny.
“I’ll have the final laugh, you know,” Henry said next.
“Is that right?”
“Yes, it is. I’ll remind you of this conversation on your wedding day.”
“Henry,” Edward said, serious now. “Why do you think I’ll marry Niki?”
“You’re just right for each other. She’s been hurt and needs you to take care of her and those little boys. You can live close by here in Collingbourne, and the whole family can help keep them safe.”
“I take it Walker has been sharing with you?”
“Yes, he’s told me quite a bit.”
For a time, the occupants of the carriage fell quiet. Edward was the next one to speak.
“You haven’t asked me if I love her.”
“You might not right now, but you will.”
“Again, you speak with remarkable confidence.”
Henry only shrugged before saying, “Mrs Bettencourt is not the type of woman about whom you have bland feelings. You’ll fall for her and make a wonderful match.”
And to that Edward had no reply. Henry was right on one account: His feelings for Niki were anything but bland, but what he should do with those feelings and how the lady herself felt was altogether a mystery.
“I need a favor, Henry,” Edward requested nearly a week later as the two men sat in the carriage taking them to Pembroke for the evening.
“Anything.”
“Don’t tell the family that you’ve found me a wife.”
“Of course not, Edward. It never entered my mind to share that conversation with anyone but you.”
“Thank you.”
“Were you disappointed not to see her on Sunday?”
“I was, yes. Rich told me that Chris was not well and his mother had stayed with him.”
“Those boys like you, don’t they?”
“They seem to.”
“I meant what I said, Edward. I won’t say anything, but I can’t promise you that Cassie has been blind through all of this.”
Edward nodded.
“Are you headed to Blackburn tomorrow?”
“Yes, would you like to join me?”
Edward smiled this time. “What do you think?”
Henry didn’t reply, but his smile matched his brother’s.
Pembroke
“This meal is excellent, Cassie,” Edward commented about halfway through. “I compliment you.”
“Thank you, Edward. It’s one of Tate’s favorite dishes.”
“My, my, Cassie,” Edward teased, “still acting like a newlywed. You’ve got to be careful, or you’re going to spoil the man.”
“Is that envy I hear?” Tate put in.
“I think it might be,” Edward said with a smile.
“Well, I have a way to take care of that,” Cassandra told him, her eyes sparkling a little.
“I’m not sure I want to know.”
“Well, I’m going to tell you anyway. You need to get married.”
“Not at all,” Edward came right back. “Henry needs to get married, and then I can enjoy the food his wife orders from the kitchen.”
“Did you hear that, Henry?” Tate said. “Even if you marry, you won’t be getting rid of him.”
“I’m not sure I need to be overly worried about that.”
Henry’s voice was so dry that the other three family members erupted in laughter. Cassandra gazed fondly at her oldest brother, thinking he was wonderful but having to agree: She couldn’t imagine Henry married. Edward, on the other hand, would do very well with a wif
e. Cassandra was about to raise this issue again, but Tate mentioned something he’d read in the paper. The subject around the table turned political.
Edward gladly participated, more than a little aware of where Cassandra wanted to take the conversation. He didn’t know if she had Niki in mind, but he wasn’t willing to find out. He had no idea what he was doing right now and wasn’t in the mood to discuss it with anyone outside of Henry.
For a moment his thoughts drifted to the possibility of seeing Niki the next day. His heart squeezed a little at the thought. He had all he could do not to shake his head. His heart was getting very involved—there was no doubt about that. If only he knew how that lady felt about him.
“How does she feel about that?” Henry asked, and Edward’s eyes flew to him.
“She’s fine,” Tate answered calmly, not seeming to notice Edward’s distraction. “Aunt Harriet had a particular plan in mind, but she’s flexible.”
“So how much longer will she be traveling?”
“Another four to six weeks.”
Edward mentally shook himself. If he didn’t pull himself together, Cassandra would not be the one to give him away; his own thoughts would do the job.
“Shall we have coffee and dessert in the salon?” Cassandra suggested, and the men rose to join her.
The four went back to their conversations about lighthearted subjects until dessert was gone and several cups of coffee had been enjoyed. Tate turned to his wife and raised his brows. She smiled at him.
“We have news,” Cassandra started but found herself at a loss.
“Are you going to tell them?” Tate asked her.
“I think so. I just don’t know how.”
“Just say it.”
Cassandra blushed, and her brothers smiled at her.
“I knew something was on,” Henry said quietly, rising to his feet to go and hug her. Edward was close at his heels.
“Are you taking good care of yourself?” Henry asked once he had retaken his seat.
Cassandra laughed.
“I think you stumbled onto a private matter, Henry,” Edward said, catching the look between husband and wife.
“I’m doing better,” Tate put in, surprising his brothers-in-law, “but for a time there I thought Cassandra would be moving back in with the two of you.”
Edward and Henry enjoyed hearing the story, and then Edward had a question.
“Have you told Lizzy?”
“No. We wanted you to be the first to know.”
“She’ll be very pleased, but she’ll also wish it was her news to share.”
“Did she tell you that, Edward?”
“No, Morland did. He said she aches for a baby and thought they would have one started by now.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” Cassandra admitted. “It’s very early, so we’re not sharing the news too much, but I can’t honestly say I was eager for it. I wonder why Lizzy is.”
“She’s a little older than you are,” Henry reminded her. “And she cared for Morland before you even met Tate. She’s been ready for a very long time.”
Once again Henry had surprised his family. His insight and caring had been quiet and hidden for too many years.
The conversation went in all directions in the next few hours. The men talked until Tate noticed that his wife had fallen asleep by his side. The three of them finished the subject they were on, and then Tate bid his wife’s brothers goodbye and gently bore her to bed.
The image of Tate lifting Cassandra into his arms lingered in Edward’s mind all the way home. He couldn’t help but wonder if he would ever have an excuse to take Niki in his arms.
The thought alone made his heart sigh.
Chapter Fifteen
Blackburn Manor
“Look at that!” Christopher cried as he crowded close to a rock that would more than fill his hands.
Niki and Richard joined him on the creek bank.
“That’s a big one,” Niki agreed. “Try to lift it, Chris.”
Christopher tried first, and then Richard. Both boys were unsuccessful.
“Let me have a go at it,” Niki volunteered, causing her sons to laugh.
“It’s too heavy, Mama.”
“You can’t!”
Niki ignored them. Groaning and carrying on in a way that made the boys laugh hysterically, Niki lifted the rock—which she didn’t find all that heavy—and threw it into the creek.
Screams of delight and gales of laughter rose in the air as they were all splashed with water. Niki grabbed a few more rocks and threw them in for good measure, showing the boys her muscles and laughing at their enjoyment. By the time she was done, she was laughing so hard that she collapsed on the grass. The boys came after her, and in a moment they were lying with their faces close together, mud spatters and all.
“We’re so dirty, Aunt Mary will never let us back in the house.”
“You have mud on your face,” Richard told his mother.
“I’m sure I do. You look like a raccoon.”
They spent a little time crossing their eyes at each other before Niki pushed to her feet. She took the boys farther down the creek bank, and they went on their knees in order to lean close to the water to find schools of little fish. This was how Edward found them.
For the first time the boys did not run to him but called and waved him over to see the fish they’d discovered. Niki had time to push to her feet, wave at him, and move a little ways away, careful to keep her back to him at all times.
“Of all the days not to have a hankie,” she whispered furiously to herself, examining the dirt on her hands and the front of her dress, knowing her face and hair would be just as bad.
“How are you?” She suddenly heard Edward behind her and stiffened.
“I’m fine,” she answered cheerfully, still presenting her back.
“Did I interrupt?” he asked.
“Not at all. The boys are still looking for fish if you care to join them.”
Niki didn’t hear anything else and assumed Edward had gone to the creek side.
“I take it you’re as muddy in the front as you are in the back.”
His voice, even closer than before, startled her into turning around. The minute Edward saw her mud-splattered face, he smiled. Niki did anything but.
“I think it’s only fair to tell you, Edward Steele,” she replied, her voice tight with frustration, “that no man has ever seen me at my worst the way you have.”
Having experience with three sisters, Edward knew he was on thin ice, but he had to say something.
“In that case, I consider myself honored.”
“I don’t know how.”
“Well, you must be a little bit comfortable with me.”
“Or one of us has horrid timing.”
Not able to help himself, Edward grinned at her. Dreadfully embarrassed, Niki didn’t want to smile back but allowed a small one to peek through.
“What were you doing?” Edward asked, his voice kind.
“Just looking at fish.”
“You can tell me if I interrupted.”
“No, not at all. Boys, did you want to show Mr Steele anything?”
“We found fish.”
“Mama threw a rock! It was big.”
With that they were off, talking nonstop in French. Niki was tempted to quiet them, but this time she stood back and let Edward handle it.
“Slow down so I can get this straight,” Edward begged after a moment, also using French. “How big was the rock?”
“Big!”
“Huge!”
The boys took Edward to the place and showed him the rock that could be seen in the middle of the creek bed. Edward looked at it before turning mischievous eyes to Niki.
“Huge,” he said softly, and Niki’s grubby fingers came to her lips in an effort to cover laughter.
She kept quiet and continued to watch the three of them, a new truth dawning on her with every passing second.
&
nbsp; Edward glanced her way at one point and found an odd look on her face. When he could find an excuse, he sent the boys ahead so he could talk to her.
“Everything all right?”
“No, it’s not,” she said baldly. “It’s only just occurred to me that they think you’re a tall five-year-old.”
Edward began to laugh.
“It’s quite true!” Niki insisted. “No matter how many times I tell them they must call you Mr Steele, you’re still Edward. They can’t see anything else. I’ve never seen them react this way to anyone.”
“Well, how many men have they met?”
“Not many, now that I think on it.”
“And they call Mr Lawton, Gar, don’t they?”
“That’s true, but they never speak to the Walkers in an informal manner.”
“They don’t look like tall five-year-olds.”
Niki heard the tease in his voice and turned her head so he wouldn’t see her smile, all of which was fine with Edward. He thought her profile adorable, making her look younger than ever, especially with the mud.
Edward said the next thing that came to mind. “I don’t think I ever asked you why you married at such a young age.”
Niki smiled a little and walked after the boys, who were a little farther down the creek bank.
“You would have your answer if you had known my parents. They had a touch of bohemian in them and rarely said no to me about anything. My mother died when I was 12, but my father and I often traveled together. When I met Louis on a trip to Paris and fell in love, Papa was delighted. My parents had met and fallen in love when they were very young, and he assumed that was the way everyone should do it.”
“Is that the way you want the boys to do it?”
Niki looked at him.
“You have a way of asking questions that stops me in my tracks.”
“I didn’t mean for that.”
“No, it’s all right. I just haven’t thought about it. I long for the day when the boys are old enough to fend for themselves and not be vulnerable to capture.” Niki shrugged a little. “In my quest to get them to that point, I’ve never even thought about their marrying.”
“And it doesn’t have to be thought about today. I just asked what came to mind.”
“Even with just a few moments of thought,” Niki went on immediately, “I would say no. I want them to take more time. For the most part, Louis and I were happy, but not all was perfect. Had he lived, we would have had many things to work on.”