Chapter 14
Caroline stood on top of the hill and looked out over the huge expanse of green land before her. It was stunning, especially with the lakes scattered around. The one below her was bigger than she had ever seen, barely a ripple in the water. She had never seen anything like it.
Not for the first time, she was glad that David had taken her and the girls along with him to visit his house in the Lake District.
“Caroline!” Gwen was waving at her by the path. “Come on! We’re going down to the water.”
Caroline peered at the path, which looked decidedly steep. A flutter of unease started in her stomach. She was used to the mostly flat landscape of her home. While the Lake District was beautiful, there were far too many hills. Standing at the top was making her feel a little light-headed.
But the idea of going down the path where the slope looked to drop a bit too much …
“Are you sure? It looks a little dangerous going down that.”
“David says it’s fine.” Henrietta joined her and took her hand. “We’ll hold onto you while we go down.”
“I’m not …” Caroline tried to protest, only to fall silent when she heard David’s voice.
“Leave her be, Henrietta. Caroline can see the three of you from up here.”
Henrietta turned to her brother with a pout, hands on her hips.
“You know how to kill the mood, brother.”
David walked towards them, swinging an ebony cane in his jaunty stride.
Caroline had never seen it before, and it somehow clashed with the dark green jacket and cream breeches.
It wasn’t his style at all, yet it seemed to work.
Caroline would never understand how David could make things that didn’t match up pair together incredibly well. She couldn’t do that.
“You don’t need Caroline running around after the two of you, do you? You’ve already got Nanny Drew chasing Gwen.”
“Who’s going to be chasing me, then?” Henrietta shot back.
The remark was so out of the blue that Caroline burst out laughing. Henrietta had gained the ability to make her laugh at pretty much anything. Her sharp wit was remarkable. David chuckled, approaching his younger sister, and tapping her nose with his finger.
“At your age, nobody should be chasing you. Give it a few more years before I allow it.”
Henrietta simply stuck out her tongue, which made David shake his head, his smile curving his beautiful mouth.
Beautiful? Where had that come from? Caroline pushed it aside and turned away as her face started getting warm. She should not be looking at David and thinking about how good-looking he was.
But it was all she could think about whenever David was close by. She found herself admiring his finely-cut figure, how his clothes were made to perfection with his size, and how he ran his fingers through his hair. And that smile …
You’re starting to live in one of your romance novels. Stop doing that, or you’re going to get yourself into trouble.
“Are you still not too keen on heights?”
Caroline glanced around to see David had moved to stand beside her, his gaze on the lake far below.
There was no sign of Henrietta, but then Caroline saw a flicker further down the path.
She looked down to see the older sister hurrying down the trail after Gwen and Jennifer Drew, her body struggling to keep upright while trying not to fall over. Caroline couldn’t help giggling.
“She looks like a baby deer on her feet for the first time.”
“I think that’s how she walks normally. I swear she was shorter when I left the first time.” David chuckled. “Gwen’s definitely got taller. They’re both growing up too fast.”
Caroline hadn’t noticed. Then again, she was always with the girls; she wouldn’t notice something so subtle. She looked at the cane David was leaning on.
“Where did that come from? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before.”
“It’s one of Father’s canes. I found it while I was exploring the study yesterday.
” David lifted it, the sun glinting off the silver cover on the tip.
“I was told that he used it when he was out walking to help him get out of the tighter spots. If he slipped, he had something to get him back on his feet. I thought it might come in useful.”
On closer inspection, Caroline could see there were scratches and grooves along the cane. It looked like it had been on a journey through prickles.
“It makes me wonder which paths your father took for that to happen.”
“Same here. It’s sturdy enough.”
“It’s not making me feel any better if I take a tumble, though.”
David smiled as he lowered the cane.
“As I asked, you’re still not good with heights, are you?”
“Not really.” Caroline wrapped her arms around her middle, hoping she wasn’t blushing as much as she thought, and that David would think it was from the warm weather. “I mean, this is beautiful, and I could spend all day looking at the scenery. But then I look down, and …”
“There is a less steep way to go down to the lake,” David offered. “But it takes a bit longer, and it’s further along. This is the quickest way from the house.”
“Then I’ll stay here for now.”
David shook his head and offered his arm to her.
“Let’s take a walk, then. We can still watch my sisters from here.”
Caroline hesitated. Should she take up his offer? He was a friend but still the duke, and she was the governess. That wasn’t what they were supposed to do, even if nobody was watching them.
Also, if she ended up touching him, she wouldn’t want to stop. The realisation was enough to give her pause, and Caroline didn’t want to look like a fool practically pawing her employer.
Something was really wrong with her, and she needed to regain her composure.
But that was easier said than done every time David came to join them.
He had been doing that a lot lately, spending time with both his sisters as well as Caroline.
She appreciated it and knew that Henrietta and Gwen enjoyed being with their brother, but Caroline didn’t think her nerves would be able to cope for much longer.
Since when had she become so antsy around David? That had never happened before.
“Caroline?”
Caroline blinked. David was peering at her oddly; his arm still offered to her. Then she remembered where she was. Swallowing and hoping she wasn’t blushing too much, she took his arm as loosely as she could without causing offence.
“Alright. Just don’t lead me to any of the slopes.”
“Would I do that to you?”
“You don’t want me to answer that question.”
David threw back his head and laughed, the sound sending a warm shiver down Caroline’s spine.
“You have no faith in me whatsoever, do you?”
“Oh, I have faith in you. I just don’t have faith in my ability to stay upright at the top of a hill. Do you recall what happened to me when we were younger, and I lost my balance on that hill?”
“You mean when you were walking along a fallen tree trunk, fell off, and broke your leg while ripping your dress?” David’s eyes danced with amusement.
“I remember your parents were momentarily more concerned with the dress than your leg. It was your best, after all, and you were meant to be going to tea with someone in the family.”
“I still tease them about that when they comment on how much they love me and remind them about that day.” Caroline couldn’t help giggling. “I don’t think I’ve seen Father blush so much. Anyhow, that’s put me off heights, and I’m glad it’s mostly flat where I live.”
“Well, I won’t let you fall. Just hold onto me, and I’ll look after you.”
It was a teasing remark, but somehow it felt like a flirtation, and it made the hairs on the back of her neck prickle. Maybe the air in the north of England was going to her head. Caroline knew she couldn’t let it sweep her up. She had to remember her place.
But, even then, she couldn’t help thinking about what it could be like.
#
David’s chest felt warm as he looked at Caroline, who was looking over at the landscape below. His Lake District home was on the top of a hill, and the garden eventually sloped down to one of the many lakes dotted all over the place. From where they were, the sight was breathtaking.
Much like Caroline. She was breathtaking with that backdrop.
Stop looking at her like that. You can’t have her. You know that.
“I must say,” Caroline said as she looked up at him, brushing strands of hair out of her eyes, “You are looking far more relaxed than you did when you returned from Cornwall. Is it the air around here, or is something else going on?”
“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’m not as stressed as I was beforehand.” David shrugged. “I’ve done everything I needed to do with looking over all my estates. Now I’ve done that, and I’m looking forward to spending time with my family.”
“I didn’t think your sisters would be what you needed to relax.”
“Neither did I. But we’ve come to a happy medium.”
David had been surprised when he felt better being around Henrietta and Gwen. They were lively – Gwen a little too lively – but they were good company.
Things between them were far better than before their father’s death.
David had to admit that was because he wanted to spend more time with his friends and have fun than with his young sisters.
But things changed when he became the duke, and his priorities shifted.
Now he found he was happier being around the girls.
And around Caroline. David still couldn’t believe his luck that he had managed to meet Caroline again, and now she was in his life as a slightly more permanent fixture.
He knew that looking and thinking about Caroline as he did was not a good idea, but he couldn’t help it.
Caroline’s presence was something he looked for, her smile something he wanted.
And they could talk for hours or be in each other’s company without getting awkward in silence.
David didn’t think he could get that with anyone else.