He shook Nicholas’s hand with a slight grin. “Good to be here, Lord Pennington.”
“Call me Nicholas. Shall we all go inside? I don’t know about you, but I am famished.”
Bella ran up to her brother and threw her arms around him. “We are dying to hear your news.”
Jeremy unraveled her arms. “I can offer nothing to match yours, Bella. You must tell me about the gypsies. I’ve never met one.”
They trailed into the house behind Carrie and Nicholas.
When Nicholas retreated to his library after luncheon, a knock came at the door.
Carrie entered. She declined to sit, standing with her hands clasped in front of her. “I shan’t disturb you. I’m sure you have wasted enough of your day already.”
“Not at all.” He wished she would stay and talk to him.
“I just wanted to thank you for finding Bella so swiftly.”
“I should have made her understand she was not to wander about the estate alone,” he said, disliking the worry in her eyes.
“As should I,” she said with a rueful expression. “You have my most sincere thanks, Nicholas. We have disrupted your life, I fear.”
“My sister would consider it a decided improvement on the old one.”
“But do you?”
“Yes,” he said, his gaze roaming her face and settling on her mouth. “I do. Very much.”
With a brisk nod, she left the room.
Nicholas stared at the closed door. It wasn’t necessary to embellish the truth. He did enjoy having a family, for that was what he now considered them. Finding Bella safe invigorated him so much, it was as though he’d emerged from fog into the sunlight.
Would he be so content when Carrie was no longer here?
***
Bella threw herself on Carrie’s bed and sniffed. “I didn’t know it was wrong to go there. I thought Vano was a friend of Nicholas’s.”
“Because he told you so?”
Bella shook her head. “Not exactly. But he said Nicholas welcomed his family here every year. When he invited me to his camp to hear the music, I didn’t see any harm in it. I was only going to stay for a few moments, but the way they live fascinated me. How romantic to pack up and travel from one town to the next, selling homewares and reading fortunes. I should like my fortune read.”
“Bella, Nicholas was right to be furious with you.”
She sniffed. “The gypsies were nice to me.”
“You must realize how dangerous it is to put your trust in strangers. Nicholas is quite justified if he restricts your freedom in the future.”
“I suppose he will, now, won’t he?” Bella wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“It’s my fault. I should have told you. You simply cannot run free here as you did at Leeming Hall.”
“No, I realize that now.”
Carrie sat beside her, an arm around her sister’s shoulders. She hated to leave Bella like this. “I’m sure I can trust you to be sensible.”
“I will, I promise.”
“Take Scotty with you on your walks.”
Bella sighed. “She is cross with me, too.”
“Scotty is never cross for long. I think she was scared for you. You should go to the schoolroom now. You mustn’t keep her waiting.”
Alone, Carrie had time to think. Bella’s escapade could have ended badly. If one of those men… She shook her head, unable to dwell on the horror. She rested her chin on her hand and stared sightlessly into space. How impressive Nicholas was. He’d taken command and acted decisively. How relieved she was to leave Bella and Jeremy in excellent hands. And while that eased her worry, a strange yearning had lodged in her chest; she found it difficult to ignore the desire to remain here at Elm Park. To rest her weary soul and recover from the past few turbulent years. But was it just that? If she examined her feelings, it wasn’t weariness she felt now, but elation. How striking Nicholas had looked riding toward her with Bella on the horse behind him. Carrie bit her lip. It was more than profound relief that Bella was safe.
Anna came into the room and cast Carrie a glance.
Carrie rose quickly, aware her hot cheeks gave her away.
At dinner, Nicholas and Jeremy discussed ancient ruins. Nicholas promised to take him to the British Museum to see the Elgin Marbles and the Rosetta Stone. Jeremy’s eyes were like stars. Carrie felt thrilled for him. Later, when Nicholas played snap with Bella, she whooped with laughter. Today’s worrying episode slipped from their thoughts. When the others played spillikins, Carrie and Nicholas played chess. She hadn’t played the game since her father became ill and expected to be beaten soundly. She had not expected the game to be so… intense. As Bella and Jeremy argued, she and Nicholas considered their moves, drawn into a small world of their own. His eyes met hers, a small smile on his lips. She toyed with a pawn, undecided about the next move.
“Are you going to play that?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t rush me.” It didn’t matter what she did, he would beat her. He knew it, too. His arrogance was insufferable, and she had the childish desire to poke her tongue out at him.
She moved her pawn, and Nicholas took it.
Carrie frowned and moved her rook.
Her senses were alert, fully aware of the flickering firelight, the snap and crackle of burning wood, and the sweet applewood smoke. She glanced up at Nicholas’s mouth and chin, his dark lashes as he studied the board. His long fingers moved the pieces with swift intent
