Secrets Behind Locked Doors. Laura Martin

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ to sell me to that travelling fair. I am quite expensive to feed after all.’

      The humour was back, her protective armour against the world.

      Robert stopped himself from reaching out and taking her hand. He knew she wasn’t ready for that kind of contact yet. Instead, he leant forwards slightly and looked her in the eye.

      ‘You’re not going anywhere, Louisa,’ he said. ‘I’m your guardian and I promise you have a home here with me for as long as you want or need it.’

      ‘The last thing you want is a half-crazy penniless orphan getting in your way.’

      This time Robert couldn’t stop himself reaching out to touch her, it was an automatic gesture.

      ‘You’re not crazy, Louisa,’ he said seriously.

      And he believed what he was telling her. All his doubts from the asylum had been quashed a while ago. Louisa wasn’t insane, she was the victim of an awful old man’s plot to steal her inheritance.

      ‘Sometimes I feel it.’

      It was said so quietly Robert barely heard her.

      No, she wasn’t insane, Robert thought, but she’d been badly hurt by her experiences and he’d have to remember not to push her too hard.

      ‘You’re not crazy,’ he repeated, ‘and you need to stop telling yourself that you are.’

      The footman chose that moment to bring in the main course. Robert lifted his hand from Louisa’s and sat back, watching as she tried to conceal her emotions.

      They ate in silence for a few minutes. Robert could tell Louisa was still thinking about his declaration and wondering if she could trust him. He knew the best thing to do was to give her time.

      ‘How will it work?’ she asked eventually.

      ‘What do you mean?’

      ‘You being my guardian, me living here. The whole thing.’

      Robert could tell that how he answered her would be very important.

      ‘I’ve never been a guardian before,’ Robert said, buying himself some time to think. ‘I’m not sure what to do for the best.’

      The military man in him perked up and Robert started to formulate a plan.

      ‘But I guess it all depends on you.’

      Louisa leant forwards. He’d at the very least got her to engage.

      ‘For instance, would you prefer to live in town or the country?’

      ‘You have a house in the country?’ Louisa asked.

      Robert thought of his extensive estate far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

      ‘I have a house in the country,’ he confirmed.

      She took another bite of beef and chewed whilst she thought.

      ‘I’ve never lived in London before,’ she said slowly. ‘At least not as a free woman.’

      The Lewisham Asylum didn’t count.

      ‘Would you like to?’

      ‘I’d like to give it a go.’

      ‘Then why don’t we plan on spending a few weeks in London. I will have to employ a chaperone for you, a companion.’

      Society would be scandalised at the thought of a gently bred young woman spending even a night alone in a house with a bachelor such as he, but Robert knew his servants would be discreet and he had no intention of telling anyone.

      Louisa nodded, spearing a piece of carrot with her fork. She lifted it up to her mouth and chewed on it thoughtfully.

      ‘Tomorrow we’ll visit the modiste and get you some clothes of your own,’ Robert said, looking at Mrs Kent’s sizeable dress.

      The last thing he wanted to do was spend his days visiting dress shops and interviewing companions, but he felt as though he owed it to Louisa. If he palmed her off on some female friend, she would probably feel as though he was abandoning her. Not that he had any obliging female friends in any case, or many friends at all for that matter. The last few years he hadn’t exactly been a social butterfly.

      No, he’d have to spend a bit of time helping Louisa settle into her new life. Once she was used to living as his ward and had a suitable companion he would be able to back off a little and return to his normal life.

      The footman entered one final time, bringing dessert. Robert watched as Louisa’s eyes lit up at the sight of the fruit crumble that was placed in front of her.

      ‘Do you like fruit crumble?’ he asked.

      Louisa nodded and Robert was surprised to see tears in her eyes.

      ‘It was my mother’s favourite,’ she said.

      He didn’t know what to say. Louisa stared for a few long moments at the dish in front of her, then stood abruptly.

      ‘Please excuse me,’ she said, then fled the room.

      Robert was left staring at the door, wondering whether he should go after her.

      ‘Best leave her for the night,’ Mrs Kent said as she watched Robert pace the hallway. ‘Poor duck has had a hectic day, I’m sure she’ll be happier in the morning.’

      Robert glanced up the stairs one final time before retreating to his study. He’d never professed to understand women.

       Chapter Four

      Louisa dried the tears from her cheeks and tested the door handle for the tenth time. It was strange not to be locked in and every few minutes she wondered if she’d imagined her freedom and just had to test the handle again.

      The corridor outside her room was quiet. She’d listened as slowly the household had retired for the night and now she was sure she was the only one still awake. She looked left and right, allowing her eyes time to adjust to the darkness. There was no one there.

      With one final glance into the bedroom Louisa stepped out into the corridor. As she crept along in the darkness she allowed her fingers to trail across the plush wallpaper, luxuriating in the expensive textures. Everything in this house was the polar opposite of the asylum, from the wallpaper and plush carpet to the kindness of the inhabitants. For a second Louisa hesitated. Maybe she was being foolish.

      She probably was being foolish, but in her mind it was her only option. For a little while, during the delicious dinner Robert Fleetwood had given her, she’d allowed herself to dream. She’d wondered if he had meant everything he’d said: the promise of safety and security, the life of comfort as his ward. On first impressions he seemed a good man, an honest man, but despite all that Louisa knew she couldn’t stay with him.

      She’d СКАЧАТЬ