Chapter 4 #2
But David wasn’t there. Caroline never saw him. Whenever she went to a social gathering or ball, she looked around for him. And she never saw him there. Either there were so many people, and she missed him, or he was doing something else.
He was probably married with children by now. He had his own family to look after. Caroline hoped that he was happy. David deserved it.
“Caroline!”
Caroline jumped. She wasn’t expecting anyone else to be up here with her, but when she turned around, she saw a dark-haired man with broad shoulders half-walking, half-hurrying towards her. He was approaching her with long, confident strides, his eyes fixed on her face.
Who on earth was this man? How did he know her?
Then it fell into place as he came closer. She did know him. Caroline stared, lowering her hand.
“David?”
David slowed momentarily, giving her that lopsided grin Caroline had found adorable.
“I’m glad that you recognised me. I was beginning to think that you were going to stare at me like I was a strange man.”
Caroline couldn’t help laughing at that. Then she hurried towards him, throwing her arms around his neck as she hugged him. David started, freezing for a moment before he rested his hands on her back.
“I didn’t think it was proper for a woman to throw herself onto a man like that,” he said, his voice laced with amusement.
“Oh, be quiet.”
Caroline didn’t care that this was inappropriate right now. No one was around, and this was the first time she had seen her friend in ten years. Surely, she could be allowed to behave differently.
For a second, she thought David might push her away, but instead, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. For another moment, they didn’t move, just soaking up the fact they were together again. Then Caroline drew back to inspect David’s face.
There were still elements of the young seventeen-year-old boy who had been around her for many years, causing trouble, but things were different.
He was grown-up, bearing stronger features and broader shoulders.
Caroline had felt how firm his frame was when she embraced him.
He was certainly not a boy anymore. David had changed, and he looked well for it.
Just then, a flutter went through Caroline’s chest, and she momentarily forgot how to breathe. Where had that come from? What was it, anyway? She pushed it aside, trying to ignore how she was reacting to his presence, and smiled up at David.
“I’m so happy to see you,” she said, clasping his hands. “It’s been ten years. Although I should be slapping you right now.”
“Slapping me?” David arched an eyebrow. “You’re looking to show you haven’t become a proper lady, aren’t you?”
“You said you would keep in touch, and you never did.”
David winced.
“Ah. That. I will admit that this was my fault.”
Caroline snorted.
“I did spend a lot of time being angry at you for not keeping in touch. That hurt, especially when Joseph said you and he talked all the time.”
David cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck.
“You’re not going to let me live this down, are you?”
“No.”
“At least you’re honest about it,” he grunted. He squeezed her hands. “I hope you can forgive me for that. Joseph can tell you it took a while for me to reach out to him. After what happened with Mother, it was painful.”
Caroline couldn’t argue with that. She remembered Lady Bayntree and recalled a loving, kind woman who always had a twinkle in her eye. To hear that she had been cruelly taken away had been horrible. Caroline knew David had been crushed.
“Then I may be able to forgive you. Just.”
David threw back his head and laughed, and Caroline felt a shiver go down her spine.
“Honestly, Caroline, you haven’t changed. You’re still as sharp-tongued as always.”
“I do know when to hold it back now, though. I’m not completely feral.”
“I know that. Even after all this time apart, I know you’re not like that at all.” David looked at their hands and let go, clearing his throat. “Perhaps we shouldn’t be touching each other, though. Someone will come along and spot us and think we’re having a clandestine meeting.”
“Oh. I see.” Caroline felt her face getting warm and put her hands behind her back. “We can’t have that, can we?”
She wished that David hadn’t said anything; she wanted him to keep holding onto her. Even if it was touching hands.
What is wrong with you? This is your friend; someone you’ve known for years. Why are you reacting in this way?
“So, what brings you back?” Caroline asked, her voice squeaking a little. She cleared her throat and hoped she didn’t sound like a fool. “I take it you’re back in the house?”
“I am. My sisters and I have moved here again.” David sighed. “Things happened, and … I can’t stay where we moved without remembering …”
That was when Caroline remembered. David’s father had died. It had been in the newspapers a short while ago, something Sir Geoffrey had commented on with great surprise. Now David was the Duke of Bayntree.
It felt strange that he would now be the duke when she knew him as David.
“You have my condolences, David,” she murmured. “About your father, I mean.”
David glanced away, bowing his head.
“It’s not something I thought would happen. It just…happened out of nowhere. One minute we were riding together, and then the next …”
“You were there when it happened?”
“I was. And I saw him die.” David shuddered. “That’s not something I want to remember again. It’s taken me until recently to get rid of the nightmares.”
Caroline felt bad for bringing it up. She reached out and squeezed his arm.
“I didn’t mean to bring it up again.”
“It’s fine. I’ve come to terms with it, even if it is harder than I thought.” David covered her hand with his. “These things have to occur at some point. I just didn’t expect it to be right before me.”
Caroline wanted to put her arms around him again to comfort him, but she stopped herself.
They may have known each other as children, but she couldn’t forget they were grown up now and weren’t able to behave as they had been before.
It was annoying, but she couldn’t do much about it, even if they were on their own and nobody could see them.
She slowly removed her hand.
“I don’t think you’ll have any problems being a duke. You’ll take to it really easily.”
David gave a wry chuckle.
“I doubt it. I’m still struggling now. Someone called me Lord Bayntree the other day, and I thought they were talking to someone else. I still feel uncomfortable being called ‘Your Grace’.”
“I’ve always thought it sounded a bit odd to address someone like that.” Caroline looked him up and down and giggled. “I think it will suit you, though.”
“Charming.”
Even as he rolled his eyes, there was a smile on his face. It went up to his eyes and seemed to warm his expression. Much like it used to when they were younger. But there was something different about it this time. Something more … intense. Caroline couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
“So, you’ve moved back, have you?” Caroline gestured at the house far below. “Are you alone, or are your sisters with you?”
“Henrietta and Gwen are with me. They arrived earlier today.”
“So you’ve not been here long?”
“I came back yesterday. I’ve barely had enough time to explore and see what’s changed.” David gestured towards Caroline’s home. “Although I can see that something’s changed over at your property. Is everything alright?”
“Never mind about that.”
Caroline didn’t want to talk about how things had become tough for her and her parents.
Not yet anyway. After all, David was now a duke, and he was far above any social standing she could ever have.
They may be childhood friends, but now they couldn’t be any more different.
It made her feel a little sad that she might have lost her friend.
“How about we walk back to your house, and you show me around? I know you have had staff looking after the place, and I want to see if things are any different. And I want to see how your sisters are getting on.” She managed a smile.
“They’re growing up, aren’t they? Gwen was still a newborn when you left, wasn’t she? ”
“That she was.” This time David’s smile was warm. “She turned ten just last month. Henrietta’s fifteen now. She’ll be heading into Society herself in a couple of years.”
“Ten and fifteen?” Caroline let out a low whistle. “Now I’m beginning to feel really old.”
David laughed.
“You’re not the only one.” He held out an arm. “Shall we? I’m sure my sisters would like to meet you. I recall Henrietta being rather fond of you.”
Caroline wondered if she should turn his offer down and hurry away.
Something was happening that she wasn’t sure about, and she didn’t know how to react to it.
But to be in David’s company again overrode her concerns, and the desire to see his sisters was too great to ignore.
Caroline had to admit that she wanted to be nosy and look around a place where she had spent many hours in her childhood.
Smiling at him, she took his arm.
“Why not? I’m keen to see everything again.”