Page 110 of The Viscount in her Bedroom
His head came up and then he went still. “I—does my grandmother know?”
“I told her I’d be leaving eventually.”
When he said nothing, she lost the fragile control of her emotions. “Simon, what did you think I’d do? Stay here and fall into bed with you every night? Risk the possibility of a child?”
He frowned.
Her voice lowered, grew husky. “Or did you think we’d be able to resist each other, as if our intimacy had never happened?”
He took a step toward her, reaching for her with that uncanny accuracy he had.
She ducked away from his hand. “There’s nothing you can say or do to make this situation any better. You have to leave right now, and I have to leave on Monday.”
“Louisa.” He whispered her name.
“Just go, Simon,” she said tiredly.
And after he’d gone, she cried.
~oOo~
As the guests began to arrive on Friday afternoon, Louisa made herself scarce by conferring with the housekeeper for Lady Wade. But when one of the downstairs maids came to tell her that her family had arrived, she practically ran through the house.
In the entrance hall, she slowed to a stop, taking in the wonderful sight. Meriel and her husband Richard were talking to their little nephew, Stephen. Victoria and David were walking toward Simon.
“Well look at you!” David said to Simon. “The last time I saw you, you were holed up in a dark room.”
“It’s still dark, but I’m used to it,” Simon said.
To Louisa’s surprise, David hugged Simon, then stepped back, clearing his throat in obvious embarrassment. “So, you’re going to visit London again?”
“I just might,” Simon said with a grin. “Would your wife still want to see me?”
Victoria Thurlow, Louisa’s sister, gave a laugh. “Always, Lord Wade.”
“You could call me Simon after all this time.”
“I’ll try.”
Simon in London—visiting the house Louisa might be staying at? He’d chased her away from Enfield Manor; now would he chase her from her own sister’s home?
And when had she become such a coward?
“Victoria!” Louisa cried out. “Meriel!”
The three sisters came together in a laughing hug.
“How was your honeymoon?” Louisa asked Victoria. “I thought you would still be gone.”
Victoria blushed. “We cut short our trip.”
Louisa glanced at Meriel, who only grinned and shrugged.
“Not because of this house party,” Simon said in disbelief. “I would have thought Rome had more appeal than Enfield.”
“No, a much more personal reason than that,” David said cryptically.
Louisa stared at Victoria, and for the first time noticed the dark smudges beneath her sister’s eyes. “Are you ill?” she asked, feeling a rising panic.
