Sabrina led Isla back to the nursery, and Peregrine stayed by her side as she tucked the girl into bed. The whole time she felt his gaze on her.
“She must be tired, after running about the house as we did this afternoon,” Peregrine mused.
Sabrina brushed the hair back from Isla’s face and kissed her forehead. She’d come to love the child fiercely.
She rose from the little bed. “She’s such a wonderful child. To think, she was an orphan . . . She is lucky to have Rafe.”
“And he’s lucky to have her,” Peregrine added as they stepped back into the corridor. “I’ve never seen him happier. She makes him glow.”
“She does, doesn’t she? Love has that effect.”
Peregrine’s tawny eyes glowed. “Have you ever been in love before?”
“I . . .” She thought of him that night at the ball and how he’d given her what she needed most and now was doing the very same. “I think perhaps I have. What about you?”
A gentle, intimate look settled on his handsome face. “I believe I might have as well.” He cupped her chin, and she closed her eyes. His lips were soft and warm as he kissed her, lighting that fire within her that she’d first discovered with him that night beneath the stars. After today’s little challenges, she was convinced it was him, even if kisses alone weren’t proof enough. Against all odds, she’d found him, and yet she had so little time left to enjoy being with him.
He feathered kisses along her jaw and down to her neck, touching places that made her shiver inside. “Am I mad for feeling so much for you?” he whispered in her ear. “Tell me I’m not alone.”
She couldn’t deny the truth. “I must be mad as well.” She brushed her fingertips along the line of his strong jaw and simply stared up at him. Love at first sight was just a fairy tale. But love at first touch, first dance, first kiss—that was something she was beginning to believe in.
“What are we going to do?” he asked her, worry lurking in his bright golden eyes.
“I don’t know . . .”
11
Three blissful days passed in which Sabrina played lawn games with the other guests, lounged about on idyllic hillsides, and walked in the gardens. And for nearly every moment, she was close to or with Peregrine.
They’d had dozens of moments to enjoy the quiet together, but also moments where they’d been able to talk more of their lives, of their hopes and dreams, and all the things they both wished to do. Peregrine had a desire to travel, just as she did, but neither of them had had a chance in their lives—at least until now, for Peregrine. For a few brief days, she’d had a chance to dream about a life that would never be hers.
Now Sabrina knew that tonight was to be her final night at the Russell house. The house party was finally at an end. Rafe, Isla, and she would be returning to London tomorrow. Knowing that, Sabrina didn’t want to waste another moment with only stolen kisses.
She wrote Peregrine a note and slipped it under his door. Hopefully, he would see it after dinner. Then she proceeded down to the dining room, where the others were waiting.
“It’s such a terrible thing, isn’t it?” Perdita whispered to Alexandra as the two women stood close to where Sabrina stood.
“Yes, for any man to be forced to enter a loveless marriage is simply awful, but why must he?” Alexandra asked.
“Because he inherited his title as an earl, and now he must do his duty, and there are expectations of him to marry someone suitable. He cannot marry beneath his own title.”
“He must be incredibly unhappy,” Alexandra sighed. “I wish we could do something.”
“I quite agree, but there’s nothing to be done.” Both women then hushed their voices even more, and Sabrina couldn’t help noticing their gazes suddenly drifting to Peregrine. Were they talking about him? Did Peregrine have to marry someone at the same level in society to secure his title with a proper heir? If that was true, she had no chance of ever being good enough for him to marry. It only strengthened her resolve to see him tonight and have what joy they could before she had to let him go.
The dinner gong rang, and she looked about for Peregrine to escort her as he’d done since they’d arrived, but he was speaking to Zehra on the other side of the room.
Lord Darlington offered her an arm. “Allow me. It seems our partners are currently occupied.” There was a fondness in Darlington’s tone that made Sabrina want to smile. He seemed so intimidating and brooding, yet when one interacted with him, he was anything but. According to Zehra, marriage had changed the notorious rogue for the better.
“Thank you, my lord.” She accepted his arm, and they proceeded into the dining room, making small talk as Vaughn escorted her to her seat.
A moment later, Peregrine sat down beside her and murmured an apology. They had been doing their best to hide their attraction to each other, but tonight she felt like everyone could see that her heart was pinned on her sleeve.
“How are you this evening, Miss Talleyrand?” Peregrine asked politely.
“Well, and you, Lord Rutland?”
“Well indeed.” She felt him touch her knee beneath the table, and she put her hand on top of his.
“So, Miss Talleyrand, when are you to take ownership of your colt?” Lord Lonsdale asked her.
“Oh, heavens. I’m not sure. I have Celeste, but I shall need to find a place to stable it.”
“I’m happy to help with that,” Rafe volunteered. “When we return to London, we shall meet with Cedric and see to moving the foal to my stables once he is old enough. There’s plenty of room for both Celeste and the new horse.”
“Actually, Mr. Lennox, I believe I would like to gift the foal to Isla, since I already have Celeste. She can grow up and learn to ride him if he does not end up becoming a decent racer.”
At this Charles scowled. “Oh, now I see your game, Rafe. You convinced Miss Talleyrand to give him to you, didn’t you?”
“I did not. How dare you!” Rafe growled back.
Sabrina tensed, half expecting the men to come to blows. Lonsdale broke into an arrogant grin.
“Please, Lord Lonsdale, it’s a gift for the child, not for Mr. Lennox.” But the two men ignored her.
“Settle this the usual way?” he asked Rafe.
Rafe grinned back, but his expression was dark. “Naturally.”
Sabrina leaned in toward Peregrine. “What do you suppose is the usual way?”
He shrugged. “I have no idea. And frankly, I’m afraid to ask.”
Lysandra peered around Peregrine’s other side. “They will both drink until the first man collapses.”
Sabrina blinked. “What? But that is . . .”
Lysa rolled her eyes. “Idiotic? Yes.”
“I suppose that’s where us men will be after you ladies retire,” Peregrine sighed, clearly not in the mood for such behavior. Sabrina wanted to tell him about the note, but hopefully she would have a chance to mention it after dinner.
When the meal was finally ended, the ladies left the gentlemen and gathered in the drawing room. Each evening during their stay, Sabrina had managed to slip away. Even though all the ladies had made her welcome and had formed friendships with her, Sabrina still felt unsure as a governess where she ought to be at times like this.