He closed the watch case and slid his thumb over the smooth gold, the memory of Laura’s skin beneath his as troubling as his behaviour with her tonight. She’d caught the reluctance in his caress as easily as he’d noted the hesitation in her answer to his question about being here. At least her hesitation had been honest and affirmative. It was more than he’d expected after this morning’s debacle. Sadly, he hadn’t been as unguarded with her.
He dropped the watch back in his pocket and rang for Chesterton, eager to be at his boxing club. He didn’t need to bare his soul like some poet to establish a solid relationship with Laura. What he needed was time and knowledge. In the coming days, as he taught her his business and she became further enveloped in his life, they would come to know each other and the awkwardness they’d experienced today would lessen. He would keep the hardness inside him hidden as well as the sense of failure fuelling it. They would build a relationship on mutual respect and affection, not worries and fears. They would enjoy a solid future together. The past need not trouble them.
Philip sat in the big chair by the window in the sitting room. Outside, the sunlight was dampened by the darkening clouds beginning to cover the city. They thickened the shadows in the room and made it seem as if sunset had arrived early today. A lively fire danced in the grate and candles burned in the holder beside Laura’s chair, flickering in the faint light streaks in her amber hair. Thomas sat snug on her lap, his little head against her full chest as she read the horse story to him for the third time.
Gone was the ragged, desperate woman who’d slipped into his dressing room a short time ago. In front of him sat a poised lady and her confidence increased each day. Whether it was due to the gowns Mrs Fairley sent over every morning or Laura’s growing confidence in her place here, he didn’t know. He did know the modiste’s bill at the end of the month would be substantial and he would gladly pay it.
‘You’re staring again,’ Laura chided with a sideways smile when she reached the end of the book.
‘I’m enjoying listening.’ Philip laced his fingers beneath his chin. Over the past three days, he’d made a point of spending time with Laura, instructing her on the management of his business or, like tonight, joining her and Thomas in the evenings. ‘You have a way with him.’
‘He’s a sweet boy.’ She pressed her lips to Thomas’s neck and kissed him, eliciting a peel of baby laughter from the child. Then she threw Philip a teasing look from beneath her long lashes. ‘And not nearly as serious as his father.’
Philip lowered one hand to trace the curve of the chair’s carved arm, fighting to douse the heat licking through him. ‘Good.’
Thomas slapped his little hands against the book, demanding Laura start the horse story again.
‘Yes, Master Thomas, I will read it once more.’
Thomas clapped with delight as Laura turned to the first page, ready to begin their fourth reading when Chesterton entered the room.
‘Dr Hale,’ the butler announced.
Philip’s ease vanished as he rose to greet his father-in-law. ‘Dr Hale, I didn’t expect to see you today.’
‘I was on my way to visit a patient. Thought I’d stop in and see my grandson.’ Dr Hale reached for Thomas, who held out his chubby arms to his grandfather. ‘How is my little man?’
Without hesitation, Laura rose and handed Thomas to the doctor. He bounced the boy on his hip, making Thomas squeal with delight. The two of them shared the same smile, top lips flat whilst the bottom lips spread wide to reveal the gentleman’s full set of teeth and Thomas’s small scattered ones.
Over Thomas’s shoulder, Dr Hale examined Laura with an appreciative eye. ‘You must be Thomas’s new nurse?’
‘No, I’m...’ Laura’s voice failed as she looked to Philip for assistance.
‘Miss Townsend isn’t the new nurse. Mrs Marston doesn’t leave until the end of the month,’ Philip corrected, reluctant to announce the end of his mourning, but he had no choice. ‘Miss Townsend, allow me to introduce Dr Hale, Arabella’s father. Dr Hale, Miss Townsend is my intended. We’re to be married.’
Dr Hale looked back and forth between them so fast, the fine wisps of grey hair at the sides of his head swung out. ‘Married?’
Philip’s eyes darted to Thomas, then the floor before fixing on Dr Hale. Until this moment, Philip had ignored the guilt lacing this marriage, the guilt which had pricked him when he’d engaged Mr Woodson, his solicitor, to secure the common licence. He didn’t want to admit how much this new union felt like a betrayal of the old. ‘Yes.’
Dr Hale moved Thomas to his other hip. ‘I see.’
‘I apologise for not informing you of the situation sooner.’ He’d written the note summoning Dr Hale to discuss the matter. It still sat on his desk, unsent, just as the common licence now rested there unopened after Mr Woodson had delivered it this afternoon.
‘I’m sorry if the news has come as a shock,’ Laura soothed, dispelling some of the increasing awkwardness threatening to suffocate them all.
Dr Hale stroked Thomas’s cheek, then offered her a grandfatherly smile. ‘Miss Townsend, I’ve found there’s very little news in this world, good or bad, that doesn’t come as a shock to someone. Don’t let me make you feel awkward. I wish you and Philip the greatest happiness.’
‘Thank you, and please know you may continue to come here at any time. I want Thomas to know his grandfather, and his mother.’ She brushed Thomas’s hair off his forehead, then squeezed the doctor’s arm.
It humbled Philip to see her so welcoming when all he could do was stand there.
Thankfully, Mrs Marston’s arrival prevented yet another uncomfortable quiet from settling over them.
‘It’s time for Thomas to prepare for bed,’ the nurse announced.
‘Don’t want to keep the lad from his sleep.’ Dr Hale kissed the boy’s chubby cheek, then handed him to the nurse. ‘There you go. Sleep well.’
Mrs Marston presented Thomas to Philip. He pressed a kiss to his son’s temple, lingering with his eyes closed, seeking comfort, not giving it. Philip was flailing this evening and he hated it.
‘I must be going, too. I have a patient expecting me,’ Dr Hale announced as Mrs Marston carried Thomas from the room. ‘Mrs Linton. Healthy as a horse, but convinced she’s dying. I suspect its unhappiness keeping her in bed. Husband ignores her. I do what I can to encourage her to pursue other interests, but instead she focuses on every twinge and cough.’
‘Wish her good health from us,’ Laura said.
‘I will. Congratulations again to you, Miss Townsend.’ He turned to Philip, his smile fading. ‘Will you see me out?’
‘Of course.’ Philip might have avoided telling him of the marriage, but he would face like a gentleman whatever harsh words the doctor wished to level at him.
Laura remained behind as Philip accompanied Dr Hale to the entrance hall. The house seemed unusually dark, and when Chesterton opened the front door to let in the fading daylight it didn’t dispel the gloom.
‘You’ve chosen well with Miss Townsend,’ Dr Hale offered as he accepted his hat from Chesterton and settled it over his hair. ‘I can see she’ll love the boy as if he were her own. It’s the most I could’ve asked of you in choosing your next partner.’
Philip stiffened, wishing the man would curse at him for all his mistakes and failures the way he cursed himself. ‘I do still grieve for Arabella.’
‘And part of you always will, just as I grieve for my dear