Page 90 of A Whisper of Desire
A serene peace washed over her. His love was easing the pain of all she had lost. All he had lost.
Even though they hadn’t made love in the conventional sense, what they shared was still exquisite, with a sharp newness about it…a heightened sweetness and caring. They had given solace to each other.
They lay in each other’s arms as the morning dawned. A new day for a new beginning.
“I will avenge you.” His spoken vow left her in no doubt that he was serious.
Fear crept in, but she simply squeezed his hand. “I just want to be able to live in peace with you. I don’t want to have to look over our shoulders all the time.”
“I promise to give you that and so much more, my love.”
“Just promise me you’ll be careful. You can’t lose me, so it goes without saying that I can’t lose you either.”
His jaw tightened. “I have to be there when we catch her.”
She stared at him for a long moment before nodding.
“Trust me,” he said quietly. “I won’t do anything foolish.”
“Go to sleep,” she told him as she rose to dress. “We have two small girls who need you and me more than ever today. I’ll see what is happening below while you try to get some rest.”
He closed his eyes and fell asleep, vowing all would be well from now on.
Epilogue
“Your Grace, we were not expecting you today,” a worried-looking Mr. Donovan said with a gasp as she swept into the orphanage, Clarence following in her wake.
That was exactly why she was here, for an unannounced inspection.
This was the third home on her list. The first two orphanages for girls had passed muster, just. A few changes had to happen at the first home. The nurse had an opium problem and had to go. While she was not aggressive toward the girls, she could not be relied upon. What if there was a fire while she was in dreamland?
Luckily, nothing worse had been found. Marisa had sent the nurse to a home in Brighton that dealt with ladies’ tendencies for overindulgence in opiates and alcohol.
This would be the first inspection of this particular boys’ home. Turning to Mr. Donovan, she said, “Mr. Homeward,” and nodded at Clarence. Clarence and Simon did not remember their last name, so they had chosen the name Homeward. “He will inspect the premises. Please have the boys present themselves in the schoolroom in half an hour. I’d like to speak with you and the staff in the front room now, if you please.”
Mr. Donovan tried to hide his annoyance at a woman walking in and ordering him about. The flash of anger was quickly replaced with an aggrieved wide-eyed smile. “I’m sure your request can be met; however, Mrs. Barker will need to stay with the young ones in the nursery.”
“Of course.” She would check the nursery herself. “I shall tell her she may stay upstairs, as I’m heading to the nursery now. Please gather the staff and wait for me in the front room.”
With that, she dismissed the man. Upon turning, she noted that Clarence had already gone toward the schoolroom, where she could hear the excited chatter of children. That was a good sign. Happy chatter usually meant a well-run home.
If anything untoward were happening here, Clarence would sniff it out. Most children instinctively knew Clarence had once been one of them.
In little more than an hour the orphanage had been given the all-clear. Mr. Donovan presented her with a list of repairs that needed to be done, and she handed it on to Clarence.
The pull to go back and spend another hour in the nursery caused a dull ache in her chest. However, she had two young girls waiting for her at home. Penelope and Antonia were waiting for her to take them to the park for a row on the pond. The pain inside eased somewhat.
Christian and Serena were hosting a dinner tonight so the men could go over their lists. They were down to only ten names. She chewed her bottom lip as the carriage rattled back toward Kenwood House. Isobel’s stepmother was still on the list, and, even worse, Marisa thought Isobel was falling in love with Arend. He had been very attentive to Isobel, and she doubted his motives were genuine. Arend could be such a bastard.
Speaking of love. She gave a little chuckle. Hadley was in for a surprise this evening. Marisa had told Serena, Beatrice, and Portia about Lady Evangeline and her seeming obsession with Hadley.
Marisa sought Lady Evangeline out at a ball last week and hadn’t expected to like her so much. When she explained what had happened between her and Hadley, Marisa roused the other Libertine Scholars’ wives, and it was agreed to invite Lady Evangeline to dinner tonight. And seat her next to Hadley.
Lady Evangeline had told them such a sad tale, and she’d declared that she had come to London to win Hadley’s heart once more.
Marisa couldn’t wait to see how happy Hadley would be to see Lady Evangeline and listen to her story. She was sure he would forgive her.
Lovers reunited, how wonderful, especially as Lady Evangeline was rich as Croesus. Hadley, being a second son, even of a duke, was always in need of funds.
