Free Realm 06 - A Touch of Love by Regina Jeffers Page B

shades of mahogany throughout. A straight, classical nose. Lucinda experienced an unfamiliar flush of heat rush to the core of her femininity.
    “Perhaps you might relate the events leading up to the child’s appearance on your doorstep, Mrs. Warren,” Sir Carter encouraged.
    Startled from her reverie, Lucinda flinched in embarrassment. The baronet’s eyebrow had risen in wry amusement. Quickly, she diverted her gaze before a blush crept up her neck and cheeks. She swallowed away trepidation and prayed her expression did not betray her irritation with her foolish musings. Lucinda risked a quick glance at the baronet, and his expression spoke of true concern and interest in her dilemma so she shored up her courage and began her tale.

    Carter listened to the details the woman provided, but his mind was more agreeably engaged. His strong attraction to Mrs. Warren was so uncharacteristic of him, especially when he was attempting to solve a mystery. Carter had always compartmentalized his life: his objectives were lofty, and he always assumed romantic entanglements would interfere with thoseaspirations. So he had kept his lust under as much control as he had done his thoughts of advancement.
    Yet, a pang of sadness rushed forward. Had he missed out on life? Carter had chastised his older brother for permitting their father to define Lawrence’s existence. Ironically, Carter had always thought himself free and independent of his brother’s responsibilities, but perhaps he had created his own cage. “And you have discovered nothing of the boy’s mother?” he asked instinctively, although his mind had been engaged with the idea of pulling the woman into his embrace, if for no other reason than to observe whether the heat simmering in his groin would spring to life.
    Obviously grappling with her response, Mrs. Warren said softly, “There is something regarding Simon I did not initially share with His Grace.”
    Despite his best efforts, Carter grimaced. Whatever Mrs. Warren had withheld from Thornhill would change everything. “Whenever you are prepared to speak on it, we are prepared to listen,” he encouraged. He wished he could comfort her somehow. Swift appreciation registered in her eyes, and Carter was pleased to have said the correct thing.
    “Simon,” she said with a gentle smile upon her lips, “is a phenomenal child, and I do not regret one minute he has dwelled with me; yet, I fear I shall never be able to give Simon the type of life he deserves.”
    “Do you mean financially?” the duke asked.
    Mrs. Warren chuckled ironically. “Of course, financially, but more than that. The child should have those who understand him in his life. Those who can answer his questions with responses buried deeply in his past.”
    “I fear I do not understand, Lucinda,” the duke said encouragingly. Somehow, the duke’s familiarity with the woman rubbed raw against Carter’s sensibilities.
    She inhaled deeply, and Carter noted the stiffening of her shoulders, as if Mrs. Warren braced for a powerful blow. “The woman Captain Warren took to wife was a Jewess. The boy must be returned to his maternal family. Even then, Simon will know hardship, but not to the extent he will experience if I bring him up as a Christian. How would I educate him, even if could afford to do so?”
    For several elongated second, neither Carter nor Thornhill responded. Carter suspected the duke was attempting to stifle the impulse to search outMatthew Warren’s grave, dig the captain up, and kill the man all over again. Carter was certainly considering doing just that. “How?” Thornhill growled. “Not only did Warren practice a deception, he did so with a Jew? I have never known prejudice against the race, but this situation is beyond the pale. Such actions taint Society’s opinions of all involved. I cannot understand how a man betrothed to you since childhood could take another wife or how the two of them have contrived to foist their