Page 6 of The Duke's Lesson in Love

ChapterThree

“This is home.”

“Not anymore,” she said, glancing over her shoulder to hold the Duke’s gaze.

Gill nodded, even as he recognized the sorrow clouding her warm brown eyes. The urge to comfort this woman, cup her cheek and stroke his thumb against her radiant skin engulfed him. But he clenched his hands at his sides. Edwin would not be returning to the orphanage, and there was no point in pretending otherwise.

The child was far calmer than expected. The gravity of leaving the place he called home forever had yet to sink in. At the moment, Edwin seemed reasonable, but there was no telling his mood when their journey started.

Gill’s eyes fastened on the caretaker’s soothing strokes along the boy’s arm as she knelt before him. While her touch was gentle, her words were firm and reassuring despite the quiver in her voice.

He admired her strength.

“Lord Gilleasbuig—”

“You may call me Gill,” he said, surprising himself at the informal suggestion. Some wicked part of him, a part of him that did not deserve it, wanted to hear his name from her mouth. His eyes never left the woman’s tightly pinned, dark cloud-like coils that formed a ring around the back of her head. Her hair style made her neck appear slender. The frame of her body was slight but he knew her job required immense strength. The wool dress was worn but like the woman, sturdy, and as she knelt before Edwin, the material hugged her slim waist and flared at the most generous hips he’d seen. Hips that would overflow in his hands.

Gill stiffened at the unruly thought.

“Lord Gilleasbuig,” she emphasized, and his lips twitched at her defiance. “Is taking you to a new home. His home.”

Edwin looked from his caretaker and then to Gill. “It will be like an adventure?”

“Yes,” she said. “A great adventure.”

He extended his hand to Edwin and nodded to the Orphan Mothers still standing beside the desk. Clasping Edwin’s hand in his, he started for the door.

“Wait!” The boy jerked to a stop and Gill tightened his hold. “Mamon Sadie, are you not coming?”

Miss Fields looked at the Duke then at Edwin and her eyes watered. She pressed her hand against her stomach and shook her head.

A twinge of regret tightened Gill’s chest as she tried to blink away the tears glazing her eyes, but not before he saw them, saw her pain.

Making a decision he may later regret, he said, “The carriage is leaving in five minutes.We leave with or without you, Miss Fields.”

He strolled from the office with his son in tow, not waiting for her to decide. With or without her aid, he had a son to safeguard, and his home offered the best protection. Handing the small canvas bag to the driver, Gill helped the boy into the carriage. He had just closed the door when Miss Fields grabbed the latch.

“You said five minutes,” she gasped.

“I did.” He offered his hand.

She glanced at his fingers for a long moment, making him wonder if she would try jumping into the carriage without aid. He knew his driver had already removed the stepping stool, so unless she was willing to hike her skirt above her ankles, she would have to accept his help.

Gill arched a sardonic eyebrow and waited.

She jerked the moment their hands connected. Her eyes widened, and an answering tingle ran along his skin at the contact. The moment she was in the carriage, Gill abruptly released her, then cursed as she fell heavily against the seat.

“Pardon,” he said, rapping the roof with his fist. It wasn’t until the carriage started moving that he relaxed, clutching his still throbbing fist. The entirety of his palm burned as if her hold had scorched him.

When he looked at her next, her eyes narrowed, long thick lashes curled upwards at the tips. Her lashes were almost too thick for her fine slender features and round nose. Yet, their length accentuated the rich brown and golden flecks in her eyes.

“What was that?” she asked breathlessly, rubbing her hand.

So she had felt it too.He cleared his throat, remembering Edwin sitting at his side. “I did not mean to release you so quickly,” he said instead. The shock of their contact had caught both of them unawares.

“Where are we going?” Edwin asked, looking out the window as they left the bustling city streets.

“Berwick,” he said, “That is where our home is.”

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