Joan Wolf Read Online Free PDF Page A

took full advantage of it. Robin had been given a pony for his fifth birthday in June and the two of them went out riding for hours every morning. On Tuesday they returned to the stables at one o’clock and were met by news that sent Laura’s heart plummeting into her stomach. “His lordship arrived about an hour ago, madam,” John, the head groom, informed her gravely.
    Laura felt herself go white. ‘His lordship,’ said in that tone of voice, could mean only one person. “Thank you, John,” she said a little tremulously. Then, taking a steadying breath, she turned to the child by her side. “Did you hear that, Robin? Your father has come home.”
    They walked together up the avenue of cedars, and Robin was unusually quiet. Laura took his hand and he looked up at her out of troubled blue eyes. ‘Do you think he will like me, Laurie?”
    “Of course he’ll like you, darling. He always asks after you in his letters to Aunt Maria; you know that. You might feel a little ... awkward with him at first, but that will be only because you don’t know each other,” She reached over with her other hand to ruffle his sunny locks. “Don’t worry about it.”
    Laura went in by the front door, something she rarely did, and Monk, the butler, greeted her with unusual solemnity. “His lordship has arrived, madam. He asked that you join him when you came in. He is in the library.”
    There was no mention of Robin, and Laura turned to him with a smile. “You go upstairs, darling, and wash up. I’ll bring your father up to see you in a little while.”
    He nodded vigorously, gave her a little smile, turned, and raced up the stairs. Laura smoothed her own hair down and walked through the great domed central hall toward the library wing. She would bring Robin’s father up to meet him, she vowed, if she had to knock him unconscious to do it.
    The library door was open and she said from the doorway, “You wished to see me, my lord? I am Laura Templeton.”
    He was standing by a window looking out at the sunlit fountain on the south lawn, but at her words he turned. “Yes, do come in Mrs. Templeton. I am pleased to be meeting you at last.”
    He was still in front of the window and the sun was in Laura’s eyes, blurring her vision. The first thing she noticed was what a deep and beautiful voice he had. “We did not know you were back in England, my lord,” she said.
    He came around the desk and gestured her to a chair by the fire. “I landed in Deptford ten days ago and have since been paying courtesy calls on the Lords of the Admiralty. I suppose I should have sent you notice that I was coming.” He shrugged slightly. “I didn’t think of it. I’m sorry.”
    As he moved out of the glare of the sun and she was able to see him clearly, she was conscious of sharp surprise. He was different from what she had expected. He was very tall, all lean bone and muscle. His skin was deeply tanned from the sun, but she thought, from the color of his hair, that he was naturally fair-skinned. There was little resemblance between his totally masculine good looks and the little-boy beauty of Robin.
    “There is no need to apologize,” she said, and essayed a smile. ‘This is your house.”
    He did not smile back. “I understand from my aunt, Lady Maria Cheney, that you have been looking after my son these last three years. I am most grateful.” There was a flicker of expression in his brown eyes. “I must admit I had not expected you to be so young, Mrs. Templeton.”
    “I am twenty-two, my lord,” she said shortly. He looked very elegant in his well-cut coat of blue superfine and his pale yellow pantaloons. She was conscious suddenly that the skirt of her riding habit was flecked with mud. He had wanted to see her right away, she thought defiantly. He could scarcely complain if she looked young and untidy.
     “I am quite old enough to be Robin’s mother and I assure you I have looked after him as if he were my own.” Her face