She dropped her gaze. “I understand, I am not who you should be with. You will find a fine lady with proper blood.”
“Vivienne, I have held a deep attraction for you since the first moment I laid eyes on you. That is not the reason. You deserve more.”
“I have no family lineage. I am no one.”
“No one?” He kissed her softly and then said, “You should know by now that I do not care about titles or bloodlines. Once again, you must have me confused with another lord.”
“I have you confused with no one.”
“That is good because I would like to think I am the only one in your thoughts. You are becoming the only one in mine. As Lord of this manor, I will choose who I spend time with and I feel in the future, I will be spending many of my days with you.”
“Society will not approve and people will talk.”
“Let them. It will give them something to do.” He smiled. “I will see you again, here, tomorrow?”
“Before I go, I do ask one thing.”
He cocked an eyebrow.
“Will you come and say goodnight to Graeme and then tuck him in bed? It would mean the world to him.”
John took her hand and then pulled her to her feet. “That is an easy request. I have grown very fond of the boy. But he is very lucky to also have you in his life. Almost as lucky as I.”
Chapter Five
The afternoons flew by as Vivienne spent mornings with Graeme and her son, and then worked late and tirelessly into the night. For him. The more time they spent together, the closer they all became. It began to feel like… a family.
John often requested dinner served in the study so the boys could play in the corner with wooden soldiers while he and Vivienne completed the daily invoices.
Collins rolled a wooden cart into the study and placed silver trays on the sideboard. The smell of roasted meat and potatoes made John’s stomach growl. He was busy, as usual, and hadn’t eaten much throughout the day.
Collins looked from him, to Vivienne, and then to the boys. A slight smile curved his lips. He looked pleased. In all the years Collins served under his father, had John ever see Collins smile? John expected to see a frown or hear gossip about his time spent with Vivienne behind closed doors, but the staff seemed to encourage it. He wasn’t about to argue.
John dismissed Collins and then lifted the tray’s lid to inhale the marvelous full-bodied aromas. He glanced to Vivienne. Hunched over the desk, she held a quill in hand. An auburn curl fell over her forehead and a delightful frown creased her beautiful brow. A feeling of complete and total well being washed over him.
Is this what life should be? Could be? Happy. Content. Had he ever felt this before? His heart twisted. After so many years of wanting, could these three people give him everything he’d wished for?
He slid the lid back over the meat and announced, “Let’s eat dinner before it grows cold.”
Vivienne looked up for a second before going back to the paper in front of her. She shook her head. “There is still much that needs to be done. You and the boys eat. I will take a bite later.”
John moved to her, drew the quill from her hand, and placed it on the desk. He placed a thumb under her chin and then kissed her.
“The boys,” Vivienne said. Her cheeks blushed pink from his outward show of affection.
He tipped his head their direction. “They are playing. Nothing gets between boys and wooden soldiers. Someday these games will be replaced with a distraction of a beautiful woman.”
“That is a long time off. For me, there are the invoices.”
“They will still be there for us, after we eat.”
“What does this mean?” She pointed to a number of columns on the page of the ledger.
“Woman… you are insufferable! You should run a workhouse and not serve as a governess.”
“Do you want me to leave?” Vivienne smiled slyly and pointed once again to the column of numbers.
He realized he never wanted her to leave. John knew at that moment and without a doubt, he’d fallen in love with her.
John insisted Vivienne accompany him on a visit to the estate of his best friend Ellis and his new wife, Callie. He surprised Vivienne with a new dress made of pale yellow silk and ivory lace. Something as simple as a new dress pleased her so much. Making her happy was suddenly very important and she looked beautiful in the dress. Vivienne could stand next to any lady of the ton. John couldn’t take his eyes from her. Her skin and hair glowed like sunlight. He wanted to kiss her again. He desired for her to be his and it was almost impossible to refrain from wanting more intimate contact.
When they arrived, John took her satin-gloved hand and helped her from the carriage. It was wonderful to see Ellis and he realized how he’d missed their visits. After introductions, Callie invited Vivienne to walk around the gardens and left ‘the men to discuss the matters of the world’.