Read Online Jo Ann Brown by The Dutiful Daughter - Free Book Online Page B

us. Wouldn’t it be grand to travel across someday and visit them?”
    Charles listened as his children grew more excited while they spoke with Sophia. They vied with each other for her attention. Envy taunted him, because he could not help wondering if he would ever be as natural with his children as she was. No walls stood between her and Gemma and Michael.
    Herriott arched a brow, and Charles shrugged at his friend’s unspoken question. He had no idea how she brought about the change in his children.
    Moving to stand next to his friend, Charles said beneath the children’s babbling to Sophia, “I hope we are not interrupting anything important.”
    “No! Of course not!” Herriott said so quickly that Charles fought back a laugh. “Just chitchat. She seems far more interested in what the children have to say.”
    “And they in what she says.” He watched as Michael bent and picked up a stone, which he held up to Sophia. “Once they took note of her, they made a beeline here.”
    Michael’s shout rose over Herriott’s answer. “Want to see the sea. Want to touch the water.”
    Sophia stood and asked the children to wait for her. As she walked to where Charles stood, he found himself wondering if she was being propelled by a gentle breeze. Every motion was as fluid and graceful as if her feet had wings.
    Beside him, Herriott mumbled something under his breath. Charles could not discern what his friend had said, but he hoped his own thoughts had not been vivid on his face. He had no place admiring the woman who was meant for Herriott.
    “My lord,” she asked, her voice like a song in his ears, “would you be willing to let me take the children down to the shore? There is a path down to the beach that is not too steep. Even Michael could manage it, though holding the children’s hands would be the best idea.” She faltered, then said, “The choice is yours. I did not tell them what I planned to ask you.”
    “I see no reason not to let them get closer to the water,” he replied, “as long as this path is as gently sloped as you say.”
    She drew herself up to her full height, and he was amazed anew how pleasant he found having her eyes close to his own. Even when they snapped with green fire as they did now.
    “I would never put your children in danger.” Her voice was as cool as a winter morning.
    “I know that. If my words suggested otherwise, it was never my intention.” He folded his arms over the front of his greatcoat. “I have become accustomed to being blunt in the company of men. I see I need to watch more words with more care in a lady’s company.”
    “Oh, no!” Her icy facade fell away as she looked from him to Herriott and back. “Please do not fret about each word you speak. If we feel we must do that, our conversations will consist of pleasant nothings.”
    Charles was taken aback at her fervor, and he wondered what she and Herriott had discussed. Not that it was any of his bread and butter, but he clearly had touched a nerve.
    When Sophia returned to the children to tell them what had been decided, Herriott said, “I am wearing my new boots, which I have no interest in ruining along the shore. I trust you will escort my cousin to the house.”
    “Certainly.”
    “Good.” Herriott turned on his heel to leave, but stopped when Charles spoke.
    “Are you all right? If we truly were intruding...”
    “It is nothing, Northbridge, but concern for my boots and some work I delayed doing earlier today.” His tone was bleak.
    Charles nodded, though he guessed his friend was still wrestling with how he would balance a business enterprise in London and an estate in North Yorkshire. Herriott seemed utterly overmastered by the obligations that had become his. Charles hoped Herriott would find a way to handle both with the ease he once had shown in business.
    So much had been easier before they went to war...
    Shaking the dreary thoughts from his mind, Charles went to where Sophia waited