Page 27 of The Duke's Lesson in Love

Lord Gilleasbuig was attentive as he was shown what repairs remained and what additional materials were needed. They debated training hounds to detect future trespassers and ways to protect the other homes from the same fate. From what she observed, his lordship was a generous lord, with both his time and his funds.

Yet, his home was not extravagant or represented any great show of wealth. Nothing about the man bespoke excess. She remembered his tone when he mentioned his parents’ spending.

Was that why he was delivering the tools and overlooking the repairs himself? To defy the expectations his parents had set?

Her heart ached for him and his suffering. She had witnessed firsthand what suffering did to her own father. He’d contracted an illness while enslaved in the colonies before his owners brought him to England where he was freed. Thankfully, he was still able to love. Her mother and her had benefited greatly from his large heart until her parents died of fever when she was sixteen. Unlike her, Lord Gilleasbuig had no one to show him the enduring power of love after hardships.

Soon after their deaths, the countess for whom her family worked offered her a position to remain employed in the household. She had declined, not wanting the constant reminder of working in a home she held responsible for the deaths of her parents.

How heartbreaking for his lordship that he had not escaped his own trauma. Was that not more reason to open the nursery, make his home happy again? Fill it with laughter?

Soon they were back in the buggy, and she was never more aware of him nestled beside her. Their thighs brushed but unlike before, he was closer, pressed from knee to hip. The hot midday sun taunted her, heating her skin to a feverish pinnacle.

“I never had a friend with two parents before,” Edwin said, drawing her attention. “He can be my friend, can’t he?”

“Of course he can,” Gill said, his voice thick with an unknown emotion.

“He is very lucky,” Edwin continued.

“Lucky?” she prompted. His new friend had recently lost their home and most of their belongings.

Edwin nodded. “Two parents to read him stories, and chase him around the apple tree.” His eyes widened as he thought of something else. “Two parents to share tarts with!”

Tears stung her eyes. Their lives at the orphanage had become routine. She and the other adults tried to fill the children’s days with purpose and love but she had forgotten Edwin never knew the love of family.

“You can have those things with me and Miss Field.” His father squeezed his shoulder.

The child nodded, but his earlier cheer dissipated. “It is not the same.”

“Yet, we do not love you any les—” Sadie started, then squealed as the buggy bounced into a pothole.

“I have you.” Lord Gilleasbuig hugged her waist, drawing her flush into his side. The curve of her breasts pressed into his chest, a reminder of the taut muscles beneath his shirt. For a brief moment she allowed herself to imagine his hold meant more than to save her from falling.

Her face tilted. He smelled of sunshine and the gentle breeze that was not cool enough to dissipate the flush racing across her body.

“I have you,” he whispered again as her eyes fluttered close. His breath tickled her nose… the corner of her mouth, and her lips parted on their own accord. “You belong beside me… beside our son.”

She shivered at the tempting image of them sharing a son.

Then gasped at the barest brush of his mouth over hers. So slight she thought she imagined it.

“Mamon Sadie!” Edwin suddenly shook her and her eyes sprang open. “We are not moving.”

Lord Gilleasbuig groaned but didn’t release her. Instead, he clutched her waist as he clicked his tongue to get the horse walking again, which delighted Edwin.

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. There was no escaping his touch, the havoc he reeked on her senses.

“I will have my kiss, Miss Fields.” His fingers tightened. “Will you deny me that pleasure?” he whispered above her ear.

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