Page 31 of Beware A Wallflower's Wrath
“Because they don’t understand how long that is.” He ran his thumb along her bottom lip, sending a shiver down her spine. “When you get to be my age, you realize how precious time is.”
Her hand cradled his wrist, and she closed her eyes. “How long will ye stay, Rabbie?”
“Who said I’m leaving?”
“Ye have an important position in London and a son to tend to. Ye canna stay forever.”
“Back to my point about time.” He bent his head and kissed her. A long, tender kiss that sent flame running through her limbs.
“I wouldna mind if ye kissed me again,” she whispered.
The second time, he demanded more, tracing the seam of her lips with his tongue. When she parted them, his tongue plunged inside, tasting of tea and lemon. His hands were doing something wicked up and down her back.
“Mmm, that’s nice,” she murmured against his mouth. “But ye didna answer my question.”
“I posted a letter to Anthony this morning. He should be at his grandfather’s by now. Cecilbroke House is near Carlisle, just over the border.” She stiffened, remembering the last time he’d left full of promises. Rabbie must have felt it because he pulled her close. “I cannot tell Anthony about you and Finlay through correspondence. I must tell him face-to-face.”
She nodded. She understood. She was wary all the same. “How long?”
“It will take two days of travel if I change horses. A few days there, and then back. I won’t leave for another week.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’d like to bring you both to Birkwood Manor when I get back. It’s a lovely estate.”
If you come back, Annis thought. Then another voice argued, Stop, ye eejit. Ye’re starting fresh! But she only nodded.
“I won’t bring him back with me yet, of course. He enjoyed spending the summer with his grandfather last year, and he was looking forward to doing so again.” He tipped her chin up with a knuckle. “I am not rushing anything. I want to be certain you and Finlay will have me before I bring him to Glasgow.”
“That’s wise,” she said slowly, seeing the disappointment flash across his face at her agreement. “What if Anthony is not pleased with yer news?”
“We will cross that bridge when we come to it.”
The next week sped by. Annis found more jokes stashed inside books. A tulip arrived every morning. One night he appeared outside with a stranger carrying a violin. When she went into the alley to see what Rabbie was about, he danced with her, then produced champagne and they toasted to the future. He sent her a poem, claiming he may not be Rabbie Burns, but he was her Rabbie forever.
When she thought of Rabbie, giddiness was the only word to describe the tumbling in her belly. She felt loved and happy, as if she were a young girl again. Her heart was light, and she woke up each day wondering what would happen next. It had been too long since she’d indulged in play. For that was how they were together—playful. He and Fin would taunt her with terrible jokes or silly riddles and laugh together when she rolled her eyes and shook her head. The two of them together were unbearable and irresistible.
Lord Robert Harding was trying his best to woo both her and Fin. He brought Fin riding three times and promised to teach him how to jump when he returned. Even Mac received treats from the butcher. The boy and dog had given Rabbie a tour of MacNaughton’s Textile Mill, and he’d declared himself thoroughly impressed with the enterprise.
Annis realized she would miss all the attention when he left. And the man himself.
I love him still, she said to Mac as she unlocked the shop door that morning. For the love of saints, I love him still.
CHAPTER 14
One week later
Cecilbroke House, northern England
Robert stopped at the coaching inn and traded his rented horse for a fresh one. He hated leaving Ink behind, but it was faster if he could swap out horses. Finlay had promised to ride the gelding a few times while Robert was gone. The boy had a nice seat. He’d be a natural jumping. They’d start with low hedges. While he kept the horse at a steady trot, he thought of the surprises Annis would receive after he’d left. She would not expect anything while he was gone, so he'd brought Finlay in on his scheming.
He rode through the afternoon and rented a room at the next coaching inn. After a hot meal, he took a glass of brandy to his room. The accommodations were small but clean. The bed had several mattresses and smelled fresh. A pitcher and basin stood on a tall dresser. There was one chair and a large woven rug covering most of the bare floor. Peeling off his clothes, he lay back on the bolsters, sipping his brandy as he contemplated of his future.
Robert enjoyed his role of a barrister. That would continue. He could take on more lucrative cases to make it worth the travel and maintain his reputation. But he saw no reason he couldn’t do the same in Edinburgh, which was much closer to Glasgow. Regardless of what he was called, barrister or advocate, he would be practicing law. There had been a wealth of information on B&B’s shelves, detailing the differences between the English and Scottish legal system. He would need to be a member of the Faculty of Advocates.
If Annis agreed to marry him, Finlay would be his legitimate son. The laws were different in Scotland. It didn’t matter if the parents were married when the babe was born. The day they married the child became legitimate. Robert could leave Birkwood Manor to Finlay.
His heir.
A sudden rush of sentiment flooded him at the thought.
Robert sat in the library with Anthony, discussing his last session at Westminster. The boy loved his studies and hoped to follow in Robert’s footsteps. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed his son until he’d seen him, hugged the young man, seen the affection in Anthony’s eyes.
