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She gave a single curt nod "Good night, ht" He watched as she turned and walked down the corridor, scowling when he caught hi the natural sway of her hips He remained where he was until she entered her rooe woht No woish with hair that inspired fantasies and a ed to be kissed He stared at Lady Brook-shire’s door for severalThere was more to her than she would have him see
Chapter 5
Meredith needed to escape Two days of staying tucked ahile Nicholas Caulfield surveyed her do ain revealing so ht outside the nursery, never again being so bold as to touch her--for which she felt a sret She extended only the required hospitality and was neither ware hi she wanted was hi Oak Run and herself for worth After glie to help hierous inclination She could not bear to harbor a soft spot for the ht
Outside, the lawn glireen fro air Meredith decided she had hidden indoors long enough Sending word ahead for herhabit of fawn-colored velvet She supposed the color was not entirely appropriate forhabit, it would si herself critically in a chevalat the evidence of too many honeyed scones Well, a woht be a little thick about the middle She and her aunt would soon have to co tummy for her Maree would prove helpful in that endeavor
Her mare, a spirited creature naed outside Petunia appeared to have missed her exercise asacross the countryside She gave theat the wind on her face as they raced over hills After a while she reined Petunia toward the Finney fare tract of land on Oak Run’s southern border With a dozen children, the couple had no troubleyet another child and had recently taken to bed, no longer able to uessed the woman would not be averse to a little company
The Finneys’ yard was oddly e, she tethered her arden At the sound of a distant cry, she looked in the direction of the fields, where Tom Finney and his children hailed her
Meredith’s heart skipped a beat when she saw another in theirhere?
The Finney children surrounded Nicholas Caulfield, chattering and vying for his attention Little Meg Finney clung to his hand, hero worship glowing bright in her eyes Meredith felt little better than the child as she devoured the sight of hileamed blue-black in the sun
"Good day, Lady Brookshire," To, Mr Finney Children" She nodded before turning to greet the ly sensitized "Good , Mr Caulfield" Even sweaty and dirt-spattered, he was beautiful to behold
"Lady Brookshire," he returned, his gaze raking her wind-chapped face and wild hair, re her of her mussed appearance Heat stole into her face and she fumbled for her bonnet
"Have you come to call on Sally?" Mr Finney asked "She’ll be pleased, sore for company as she is"
"I suspected as aze off Caulfield’s lean, sinewy body Tying the ribbons of her bonnet beneath her chin, she noticed that Mr Finney’s eldest daughter appeared equally captivated by Caulfield’s physique
"Right lucky that his lordship happened along He helped me free the plow fro at it half the ain Meredith felt the stirrings of resentment For all that she had done for her tenants, she never helped pull a plow free And by the glow in Mr Finney’s eyes, this gesture froreat deal
"Co you from her, my lady"
Mr Finney led her inside Caulfield, Meredith noted, didn’t follow Undoubtedly, he had further things to do in order to undermine her--surely somewhere there was a baby to birth or a roof to thatch The sour thought stayed with her as she settled herself in a chair and attempted to focus her attention on Sally Finney’s extensive coot so bad I can’t even walk It weren’t this bad the other tie mound of her stomach, several pillows propped behind her back
"Perhaps a pillow beneath your feet will help elie a pillow beneath the wo,position to search out the openfor Caulfield
"Has Maree brought you her special tea?" she asked distractedly
"Aye, milady She left the herbs and showed my Catie how to prepare it"
"Good And don’t hesitate to send for Maree when your tis"
"I’ve always delivered my babes fine, milady I don’t need a fuss" Sally batted a hand in the air as though she were shooing away flies
"I insist" Meredith tore her attention from theto level a stern stare on Sally "You’ll hear froently "Ah, milady, you need not fret over me like a mother hen I’ve done this lots of times"