Wick laughed. It was a deep but soft sound. It made her heartbeat quicken and the blood pump through her body. She wished again for the impossible...
Focusing on her sewing, Louisa pulled another stitch through. ‘But I believe you are right,’ she said. ‘What is truly important about a person’s soul cannot be measured... But I have never heard of a gentleman being introduced with a list of his accomplishments. Only ladies.’
Interlocking his fingers, he stretched out his arms. ‘It’s because our accomplishments aren’t quite as impressive or presentable as those of the fairer sex.’
Louisa toyed with her needle between two fingers. ‘Nonsense. I daresay that your talents could take up a whole page.’
‘At least my good intentions.’
Louisa chuckled, and he grinned back at her. His face was close enough that if she leaned forward a little her lips would brush his. Blushing, she realised that she wasn’t the only one looking at lips. Wick’s eyes were lowered and he was gazing at her mouth as if there was nothing else in the room.
How badly she wanted him to kiss her! It would be even more wonderful in reality than it was in her dreams. But he could hardly do so with his three little sisters and Mrs May in the room. Even though the girls were now yelling at each other on the other side. Their harmonious card game had not lasted long.
Shakily, she got to her feet, clutching her embroidery. ‘I think I shall retire to bed. It has been a long day and I know we make an early start in the morning.’
Wick stood up and bowed to her. ‘Of course. Sleep well.’
Louisa took only one step away from him, but it already felt too far. She bade goodnight to Mrs May and the Stringham sisters and made her way up the candlelit staircase to her room.
Alone.
It reminded her that she wasn’t truly a part of their family. She was only a temporary guest.
Chapter Thirteen
Wick rode beside the carriage on their way to London the next morning, after ensuring that his little sisters had not brought with them any reptiles or vermin. He had handed all the extra pets to Harper before they’d departed—Helen had another ‘new’ snake and Becca a mouse—and he even had the forethought to check their trunks. Happily, there were no stowaways there.
He had let them bring their kittens, because Frederica had told him that the dear creatures would be full-grown cats by the time they returned to the castle. Wick sincerely hoped that he wouldn’t have charge of his three little sisters and their three kittens in London forthatlong. He planned to conclude Louisa’s business in less than a week and interview governesses from a respectable agency.
They stopped at an inn for a midday meal, and then continued the long drive to London. Both Wick’s backside and his temper were in need of a rest by the time they reached his sister’s townhouse in Mayfair. Servants streamed out through the front doors to meet the carriage, followed by his sister Mantheria and his nephew Andrew. His brother-in-law was strangely absent.
The three-year-old squirmed out of his mother’s arms and ran down the stairs towards his uncle and aunts. Wick and all three of his sisters had their arms outstretched to the little boy with wild black curls. All competing for his favour, begging him to come to them first.
Andrew launched himself at his uncle. Wick grabbed him by the waist and swung him round. He couldn’t miss his words.
‘I want an ice!’
His bribery was working well.
‘And Uncle Wick will take you to Gunter’s to get one.’
His adorable nephew reached out his chubby little arms to Frederica and Wick reluctantly relinquished him. Andrew was his favourite member of the family. One he could love and spoil without having any responsibility over his health and happiness.
Andrew squeezed Helen and Becca, before hugging Louisa’s legs. Then his little head tipped up and his blue eyes became wide circles. He let go of Louisa and pointed up at her. ‘Who is she?’
Louisa touched the very noticeable red curls that had escaped from her bonnet and turned pink as she smiled. It wasn’t an embarrassed blush, he thought, but rather a pleased one. He noticed that she often blushed—no doubt it was caused by her fair skin. But he had begun to recognise the different emotions behind her blushing. If her ears and neck were red, Louisa felt embarrassed. If her cheeks were pink, she was happy. And if her entire countenance was flushed, she was trying hard not to cry.
Life, it would seem, had not been kind to her since her parents’ deaths. It made his blood boil just thinking of the Rockinghams.
Becca knelt down next to their nephew. ‘This is our new friend Louisa.’
Andrew pointed at Louisa. ‘Loo-ee-zah!’
Becca clapped and hugged her nephew. ‘That’s right. You clever boy.’
Mantheria hugged all her sisters and Wick, before picking up her son and placing him on her hip. She bowed her head to Louisa. ‘It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Louisa.’
She gave Mantheria a shaky curtsy. Not at all like the graceful one she’d given Wick the night before. ‘Thank you for letting me stay, Lady Glastonbury. I hope that it is not too great an imposition.’