Snowbound With the Notorious Rake by Sarah Mallory Page B

for Janet—’
    ‘She will be helping Mama put Sam to bed.’ Rose went to the door. ‘This way, sir, if you please.’
    The hall was blessedly free of people, but suddenly all the questions that had been flying around in Rose’s head disappeared. All she could think of was Lawrence standing at her shoulder.
    ‘Do you know, I am not sure I can recall my way back to the inn?’ His low voice provoked in Rose a shiver of aching memory.
    ‘Nonsense,’ she retorted. ‘You walked here only a short while ago.’
    ‘Ah, but I was distracted by my companion’s non-stop chatter. Would you be good enough to walk a little way with me?’
    Rose knew she should refuse, but she took up her cloak and threw it around her shoulders. As they stepped outside Sir Lawrence stopped and she saw that he was staring at the shrubs beside the door, illuminated by the lamp from the parlour window.
    ‘Rosemary,’ he muttered. ‘For remembrance.’
    Rose gave a little shrug, trying to ignore the sensation of his eyes boring into her.
    ‘I planted it as soon as I got home. By some miracle it has survived.’
    She turned away quickly, hurrying through the garden and across the stream. Once they were on the road Sir Lawrence held out his arm to her and she laid her fingers on his sleeve. Beneath the fine cloth the muscle felt reassuringly solid.
    ‘So you did not marry him on Lady Day.’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Because of your visit to Knightscote?’
    ‘Of course not.’ The denial was far too quick, unconvincing even to her own ears. ‘My son is not yet ready for a new father.’ She added, so he should be in no doubt, ‘My opinion of you is unchanged, Sir Lawrence. You should not have come in search of me.’
    ‘I did not. I am here on business of my own.’
    ‘Oh.’ Rose bit her lip, trying not to dwell upon her sense of disappointment. ‘Well, I am glad of it. I, um, I suppose I should thank you for not mentioning the fact that we have met before.’
    ‘Your mother was clearly unaware of it and I doubted very much if you had told Emsleigh.’
    ‘No indeed.’
    ‘So what did you tell them?’
    ‘They think I was stranded at one of the outlying farms.’
    They had reached the crossroads and Rose stopped.
    ‘There.’ She pointed. ‘The Ship is just around the corner; you can see the glow from the lighted windows on the road.’
    ‘Ah, yes, of course.’ He caught her outstretchedhand. ‘Thank you. And will you give me permission to call—?’
    ‘No!’ She stepped away from him, pulling her fingers free. ‘No. We agreed.’
    ‘We agreed nothing. Ten months ago I let you ride out of my life—’
    ‘I told you then it was better if we did not meet again. Nothing has changed.’
    ‘You do not know that.’
    Rose desperately wanted to believe him, just as she had wanted to believe Harry every time he promised he would mend his ways. She took refuge in her bitterness.
    ‘A rake reformed?’ Her lip curled. ‘An impossibility.’ She shivered. ‘I must go back.’
    She pulled her cloak about her and began to retrace her steps.
    ‘So you will not allow me to call upon you?’
    Rose stopped.
    ‘No.’
    ‘But you will be at the Assembly?’
    She shrugged.
    ‘That is not until the end of the month. I cannot think you will want to stay at Knightscote for so long.’
    ‘I shall be there.’
    ‘I cannot prevent you from attending a public assembly, Sir Lawrence, although I think you will find it dull work.’
    She saw the flash of his white teeth in the moonlight.
    ‘We shall see!’
    He strode away, whistling, and Rose hurried backto Bluebell Cottage. How dare he come back into her life? What was he doing in Mersecombe, if he had not come to find her? She had told him they should not meet again and she would hold to that. After all, it was not just her happiness that was at stake if she allowed herself to become entangled with a rake, but that of her son.
     
    Rose returned to the house to find her mother and Magnus waiting for