Page 6 of The Dream of Love
“I hope so. He has been drinking more lately.”
“I know,” she responded quietly. “It is all his unhappiness finally catching up to him.”
“Yes, quite likely.” He turned away and began leading his horse to the Sherbourne manor house.
She studied him now that he was no longer looking at her. Alcazar snorted and playfully bumped him with his nose as he walked along. “Behave, ye big lump,” Adam muttered and took an apple out of his pocket to give it to his steed.
He was a big man, she decided, studying the broad expanse of his shoulders. The muscles he’d built up during his military service had not shriveled in the least and were still prominent.
This was not good.
She had to stop thinking of him in a desirable way.
But she could not find a single fault with him.
Her sigh must have carried on the wind straight to his ears, for he stopped and turned to regard her with concern. “What’s the matter now?”
“I was just admiring how well you and your horse get along.”
“We have been through a lot together.”
“It is obvious in the way you care for each other. Do you know how old I was the first time I realized parents were meant to love their children?” Since he said nothing, merely gazed at her with crystal-blue eyes that seemed eternal in their wisdom, she continued. “I was five years old, and the revelation came to me right here at Sherbourne Manor. Nathaniel’s father was still alive and earl then. Olivia’s parents and also Poppy’s were here that day. I had been invited to a birthday party for Nathaniel’s sister, Penelope. We were all close in age, although I was the youngest and quite shy.”
“You? Shy?” He arched an eyebrow and grinned in a teasingly affectionate manner that made her heart leap again.
Truly, this feeling had to stop.
“They were sweet, generous girls and treated me as though I was their little sister. Even they noticed my parents were missing from the party. So, they took me by the hand and made certain to include me in all their games. As the afternoon wore on, Poppy and Olivia’s parents came over to us and said it was time to take them home. I had never seen parents hug their children before or kiss them. I was startled. As afternoon turned to evening and my father still had not come to pick me up, I began to cry. I thought they would close up the house and leave me outdoors in the dark to fend for myself.”
“Och, Remi. Go on, tell me what happened next.”
She emitted a ragged breath. “Of course, they did no such thing. I had supper with them and was given one of Penelope’s nightgowns to wear to bed since my father had obviously forgotten all about me. Penelope had a big bed, so we shared it. Then an amazing thing occurred. Her father came in, hugged us both, and gave each of us a kiss on the cheek. Then her aunt Lavinia came in and did the same thing. I never forgot that day or those moments.”
Adam was not looking at her, but she knew he was listening, so she continued. “I have returned to Sherbourne Manor several times since then and spent afternoons with Penelope and her friends. I hug them whenever I see them, and they hug me back. I don’t think they realize how much it means to me.”
“I suspect they do. You are not good at hiding your feelings.”
Remi sighed. “Truly? I thought I had done a decent job of pretending I do not care.”
He turned and cast her a wry smile. “No, lass. You’ve done a terrible job of it.”
“Oh. I see. Well, this is why I must have a husband who will hug me and kiss my cheek each night, and who will do the same with our children. I do not want him ever to forget them, even if he decides to forget me. I don’t ever want him to stop loving our children.”
They were now at the house, and Adam halted Alcazar at its welcoming front door. Soames, the Sherbourne butler, came out to greet them. At the same time, a young groom came running from the stables to take Adam’s horse, but Adam waved him away. “It’s all right. I won’t be staying long.”
He then turned to the butler. “Soames, let the earl and countess know I am here and have brought Lady Remington with me. She is injured.”
“At once, Vicar.” He hurried back into the house.
Adam placed his hands around Remi’s waist to help her down. “Don’t try to walk. I’ll carry you in.”
Since he did not remove his hands once he had set her down, she did not remove hers from his arms. She had grabbed on to them, only meaning to steady herself. But why hurry to slip her hands off his solid muscles? “No, let me hobble in on my own. If anyone sees me carried in your arms, it will cause an uproar. I may wish to bedevil my father, but I have no wish to embarrass you.”
He smiled. “Good to know. Remi, before everyone rushes out, there’s just one thing.”
She tipped her head in curiosity. “Of course. Anything.”
Wordlessly, he wrapped her in his massive arms and hugged her.
