Lady Beneath the Veil(31)

'I am beginning to learn that, sir.' Grinning, Gideon took her hand and led her off to join the next set.

He felt a curious rush of pride at the spontaneous applause that  greeted them. It was something of a surprise to find how well she had  been accepted at Rotham. The servants called her 'the new mistress' and  even his father had warmed to her, despite her French blood.

* * *

The harvest supper was hailed as a success, and although the servants  were clearly stifling yawns as they served breakfast the next morning  there was an air of gaiety about the house that Gideon had not known for  years. Nicky was already downstairs and looking none the worse for her  exertions and the viscount was positively jovial when he greeted his  son.

'I thought I should be breaking my fast alone this morning,' Gideon remarked, smiling.

He noted the bloom on Nicky's cheeks. The thin, rather nervous girl he  had married was gone, replaced by a cheerful, confident woman. He  decided he liked the change. However, when the viscount suggested she  should rest for the day, Gideon could only agree.

'You must think of the child you are carrying,' he told her, softening his words with a smile.

'But I had planned to take a carriage ride today with Lord Rotham,' she protested. 'It has become our custom-'

'Out of the question,' replied the viscount firmly. 'I would much  rather you took a rest today.' He hesitated. 'I thought perhaps Gideon  might ride out with me, to see the improvements that have been made to  the estate.'

Dominique quickly perceived that she had been outmanoeuvred. The  viscount was extending an olive branch to his son and he knew she would  not do anything to prevent Gideon accepting this peace offering.

'Yes, of course, sir,' said Gideon. 'But I have the renovations at Chalcots to discuss with Nicky.'

Smiling, Dominique shook her head.

'We can do that later. I shall spend the morning attending to my  correspondence.' She added shyly, 'But perhaps, Gideon, if the weather  holds, you would take a turn in the garden with me when you come back?'

The alacrity of his assent was reassuring and she went off to write her  letters. The windows of the morning room commanded a good view of the  park, and she happened to look up sometime later to see Gideon and his  father riding off together. They looked to be conversing and she hoped  that this was the beginning of a better understanding between father and  son.

* * *

The pair did not return until late afternoon and Gideon went immediately in search of his wife.

'If you still wish to stroll in the gardens, I am at your command,' he  told her. 'As long as you do not mind me in all my dirt.'

'Not in the least.' She laughed at him and, taking his arm, she accompanied him out to the shrubbery.

It was a beautiful afternoon with just enough breeze to prevent the heat from being uncomfortable.

'The gardens look better than I remember,' remarked Gideon.

'Your father gave permission for another apprentice gardener.'

He slanted a look down at her.

'At your suggestion? Of course it was, you have no need to tell me.' He  stopped and smiled at her. 'You have made a great difference to this  house, my dear. I have much to thank you for.'                       
       
           



       

A stray curl fluttered across her face and Gideon gently pushed the  tendril behind her ear. His hand hovered for a moment, cupping her  cheek, and she gazed up at him, a shy smile in her eyes. He drew back  immediately, alarmed at how quickly the slumbering desire deep inside  him had awoken. He looked away and they began to walk on.

'Father and I talked, when we rode out this morning,' he said. 'It is a long time since we did anything together save quarrel.'

'I am glad. One should not be at odds with one's family.'

He heard the sadness in her voice and asked quickly, 'Have you had news of your father?'

She shook her head, frowning.

'No, it is not that. It is Max.'

'The earl? What has he been doing now?'

'It is rather what he did not do.' She bit her lip. 'When we lived at  the Abbey Mama gave nearly all her letters to Max to frank, but since  moving to the village she has been going to the posting office. The  number of replies she receives now makes me think that my cousin was  throwing her letters away.'

'It would be just like Martlesham to discard the letters and say  nothing about it, if he thought Jerome Rainault was dead.' He patted her  hand, keen to give her thoughts a happier turn. 'My father has  suggested you should invite your mother to come here, at least until  your confinement.' She stared at him and he added, 'Father knows how  much pleasure Mrs Rainault's letters give you and thought you might feel  happier with her close at hand.'

Relief shone in her eyes.

'Oh, I would. So...yes, yes, please. I shall write to her this very day. I did not like to ask the viscount-'

'Why not? You have shown no fear in persuading him to do so many other things.'

'Ah, but that was for Rotham.'

He stopped and gave her a quick hug.

'Dear Nicky, so brave about doing what you see as your duty, yet you would not ask for something for yourself.'

The weight of his arm on her shoulders, his body pressed close to her  own, roused the now familiar desire inside her. The warmth in his gaze  quickened her pulse, heating her blood. Their eyes were locked, saying  so much more than could ever be put into words-but perhaps that was only  her interpretation. Wishful thinking.

As if to prove her right, a sudden flush mounted Gideon's cheek. He looked away, cleared his throat and began to walk on again,

'Father is anxious for your well-being, my dear. If your mother's presence would be a comfort, then she must come to Rotham.'

'I would be v-very glad to have Mama with me,' she stammered, still  shaken by the effect of his careless embrace. 'But I do not want to  impose any extra guests upon your father.'

He chuckled. 'Rotham is big enough to accommodate a dozen guests and Father need not see any of them.'

'Then I will write immediately. In fact, I penned a note to her this  very morning. I will open it and add a postscript. I know she will be  happy to come and I will be delighted to see her.'

'Good. Tell her to come as soon as possible. I will feel happier if you  have more company, especially as I shall be leaving for Brook Street  tomorrow.'

He led her to the wooden bench set into an arbour at one side of the shrubbery and they sat down.

She said shyly, 'Must you go?'

'I'm afraid so, I have workmen waiting upon my return to Chalcots.'  Work he had deliberately set up so that he could not be tempted to  remain at Rotham, but Gideon now found he did not want to part from  Nicky. 'I wish you could come with me-'

The words came out in a rush, as if he had spoken on impulse. They gave  her some comfort, but she knew it was not practical and shook her head.

'I wish I could, but such a journey would be very tiring for me now  and, knowing how anxious you and your father are for my health, it would  be inadvisable.'

'Then I shall return again as soon as possible,' he told her. 'And I must set Judd to finding staff for us...'

'Mrs Ellis has a daughter who is looking for a position as  housekeeper,' said Dominique, not looking at him. 'She has a sweetheart,  Thomas, the first footman, who is very anxious to become a butler. They  would make an ideal couple to look after Chalcots.'                       
       
           



       

'What if they should start breeding?'

Gideon took the opportunity to place his hand on the swell of her  belly. The life she was carrying there never ceased to amaze him.

Dominique shrugged. 'We can always find extra help for a few months, if  we need to. And you told me there is a cottage adjoining the stables at  Chalcots. They might like to live there, even if it takes a little work  to make it comfortable.'

'You have thought it all out. Very well, I will mention it to Mrs Ellis  today. If the couple marry in the New Year, then they can run Chalcots  for us.' He stood up and held out his hand for her. 'Come, it is nearly  time for dinner and I must change-and I have yet to show you the plans I  have drawn up for our new home.'

* * *

As Gideon made his way back to London he pondered on the change that  had come over Rotham-and his father. He was surprised at the way the  viscount had taken to Nicky-after all, his father had as little cause to  like the French as Gideon and yet, not only had he welcomed his  daughter-in-law, he had even suggested that her mother should join them  at Rotham. Of course, it could be merely that he was anxious for the  unborn child, which might well be heir to Rotham, but somehow Gideon did  not think so. It was Nicky's doing. She had beguiled the viscount, just  as she had beguiled him.

He thought back to their time in the gardens yesterday, the way his  heart had stopped when he had looked down into her eyes. Not only his  heart, but the whole world. He had wanted to catch her up in his arms  and cover her face with kisses, to show her how much he...