Free At the Earl's Convenience by Maggi Andersen Page B

impossible to win?
    The morning dawned fine. Against her wishes, Devereux insisted on coming downstairs to see her leave. He took her by the shoulders and kissed her, a brief touch of their lips. She wanted to throw her arms around him and hug him tight but drew away with the pretense of fastening her bonnet. Was there regret darkening his blue eyes? Perhaps a trick of the light.
    “Have a safe journey.”
    “Take care of yourself. I shall be back before you’ve even noticed I’ve gone.”
    He shook his head, managing a woeful expression. “Who will play chess with me every evening?”
    “You always win, anyway.” She forced a smile while a huge lump blocked her throat.
    An appreciative gleam warmed his eyes. “Not for long, I suspect.”
    He must now experience the long, dull evenings she had endured before he came, but she didn’t wish him to suffer. It was tempting to stay with Anne a little longer just to see if he would come for her. She wouldn’t. She wasn’t good at playing games of that sort. And in the deep recesses of her mind, she feared he wouldn’t miss her, just merely go on living the life he’d grown used to before she came into it.

Chapter Eleven

    Giles firmed his jaw as he watched the carriage roll away down the drive. This dashed illness! No chance of an heir now. He’d refused to use her for breeding like cattle. When they made love, it would be because there was desire on both sides. It would be damnably dull without Selina, but she’d be safe in Bath. Without her infernal fretting, he’d work at regaining his strength. It was worrying how quickly a man came to enjoy a woman fussing over him. The beggars would have killed him if he hadn’t escaped when he did, and then the influenza nearly finished the job. But in a few days, if the weather held, he’d ride the stallion, Firefly. Best way to build up muscles. Be seen to do some fly-fishing while he took a good look around the estate. He must clean his pistols. Whomever it was lurking about might have gone, but they’d be back. And he wasn’t about to welcome them with open arms. Not until he was certain of what they’d come for.
    ****
    When the carriage stopped in the drive, Anne, Harry, and the children rushed out to greet her. Selina fumbled for her handkerchief to hide her tears. She was determined to conceal the disturbing state of her marriage, but the sight of her beloved sister made it difficult. She dried her eyes and fortified herself with the conviction that, when she returned to Halcrow Hall, things would be better. She planned to make it so. On the way here, she’d realized how tired she was. She’d thought of little but Devereux since she’d agreed to marry him.
    Anne piled the small bundle into Selina’s arms. “Meet Benne.”
    Selina peeled back the blanket to expose the snowy-haired cherub, sleeping peacefully, his tiny fingers curled against his velvet cheek. “He has his papa’s strong chin, I see. I can’t wait to see his eyes when he wakes.”
    “They’ll turn green, like Mama’s and yours,” Anne said with a proud smile.
    Conscious of her growing hunger for a child of her own, Selina settled the baby back into his mother’s arms. Brother-in-law, Harry, kissed her cheek.
    “It’s wonderful to see you, Selina. Your calm good sense has been sorely missed in this unruly household.”
    The children had grown in the short time she’d been away. Six-year-old Lucy was determined to bring Selina up to date on the fate of her pets. A pet frog had passed away, and Selina must come and see the grave in the orchard. One of the cats, the poorly named Rupert, had performed a miracle, producing a litter of kittens. Aunt Selina must take the cutest of them home with her, the black kitten with the dainty white paws.
    “Not all at once, Lucy.” Anne laughed. “Let Aunt Selina come inside. I’m sure she’s dying for a good strong cup of tea.”
    In her old chamber, Selina washed off the travel dust, changed from