Free Joan Wolf by His Lordship's Mistress Page B

little before her mother’s shrewd look. “I know how far I can go with Philip, mother,” she said in a low voice.
    “And you have reached your limit?”
    “Yes.” A rueful smile flitted across Maria’s face. “He almost lost his temper with me. I had to resort to tears. The last time Philip lost his temper with me he was nine years old and I was nineteen. It was an occasion I still remember vividly.”
    “So do I,” her mother said drily.
    Maria smiled at her tone. “Philip’s tempers are much less frequent and much less noisy than mine. However, they are far more unnerving. When he starts talking through his teeth I know it is time to capitulate.”
    “He is so like your father,” Lady Linton said softly.
    “Well, perhaps there’s hope yet,” Maria answered with an attempt at humor. “After all, Papa got married.”
    “Philip will get married too. It is just a question of his finding the right girl.”
    “I suppose so. But I am beginning to wonder what kind of girl will make an impression on such a hardened case.”
    “That must be for Philip to decide,” said Lady Linton. Then, with a pensive look in her eyes, she admitted, “Shall I tell you the truth, my dear? I had hopes of Lady Caroline too.”
    * * * *
    Linton was asking himself many of the same questions his mother and sister were posing about him. He even tried to drum up a little enthusiasm for the sweet tempting morsel that was Caroline Shere, but he failed dismally. She was a lovely, charming, delightful child but she did not interest him. He found himself spending more time than was comfortable thinking of a reserved and sensitive face with crystal gray eyes set off by extraordinary black lashes and brows.
    He worried about her. In the middle of the joyous festivities of Christmas Day his thoughts went winging back to London. Was she lonely? Did she miss him? The longer he was away from her the clearer it became that he was missing her.
    He held out for two more weeks after Christmas. He was to drive his two eldest nephews back to Eton, and he told his mother he would not be returning to Staplehurst.
    “But why, Philip?” she had asked, a faint line between her delicate brows. “Maria has been very good lately. And she is leaving for Selsey Place in a few days anyway.”
    “It isn’t Maria, mother,” he replied. “And I think she should stay here, by the way. I don’t like the idea of her by herself at Selsey. Why doesn’t she wait until after the baby is born?”
    “I agree with you but there is no moving Maria. All her children were born at Selsey, she says, and this one will be too.”
    “As if Matt cared.”
    “Maria does, unfortunately. I shall go to Selsey myself in a few weeks’ time. Certainly she can’t be left alone with just the children and the servants.”
    He frowned a little. “That will leave nobody here at Staplehurst.”
    “Not if you are in London,” his mother agreed gently.
    “Well, I shall probably be back before you leave,” he said. “And everything is in order here. Should something come up a message can always be sent to Grosvenor Square. I can be back here in a few hours.”
    “I am sure we shall manage, Philip,” his mother told him, and gave him an unshadowed smile. Something was drawing him back to London, and his refusal to confide in her made her think it was a woman. If that was so it explained somewhat his lack of interest in Lady Caroline Shere. Lady Linton was far too wise to question her son. She determined to get her information elsewhere.
    * * * *
    Matthew and Lawrence were pleased to be going back to school. They chattered unceasingly during the whole drive, thrilled that they were being returned in a smart phaeton driven by their magnificent uncle. “I’ll bet everyone else is sent in a stuffy coach!” Lawrence said scornfully.
    “Yes,” agreed Matthew. “I hope Geoff is around so he can see your horses, Uncle Philip.”
    “Who is Geoff?” Linton asked his eldest