CHAPTER 27
Life at Aycliffe Park had settled into a routine of sorts.
She continued to have breakfast in the nursery and then spent the mornings playing with Edward.
As long as the weather permitted, she took him outside for a romp in the garden.
After luncheon with the duchess and Michael, and during the child’s afternoon nap, she tried to work on her perfumes.
She had ordered a few more items and set up a small laboratory in a corner of the conservatory.
She was afraid to have these substances inside the house, so she had selected a place that was as far removed from the inhabited rooms as possible.
Some days Michael joined her in her makeshift lab.
Sitting on a padded sofa, he would ask her questions about her work or make light conversation.
In the evenings, after supper, they all retired to the parlor for games.
Sometimes the duchess would entertain them at the pianoforte.
Once, Michael had invited her to dance, but she had declined.
She could very well imagine what being in his arms and moving in synchrony with him would do to her sanity.
He had not insisted, but there had been a flash of hurt in his eyes before he could cover it.
Since the duchess and Michael liked to play chess and were ruthless competitors, she, who didn’t have as much interest in the game and could imagine nothing more gut wrenching than sitting across from Michael, sparring with him, mostly read as they played.
The duchess liked to retire early, and she had become adept at reading when the older lady had had enough and was nearly ready to excuse herself for the night.
Josephine always made sure she retired before Her Grace.
The last thing she needed was to stay alone with Michael at night, in an intimate setting.
So far, she had avoided charged situations between herself and Michael, but the situation couldn’t perdure. His feelings had not changed; she could see them glowing in his eyes, vibrating in the energy he emanated.
She prayed, for both of their sakes, the hearing for Edward’s custody was set soon and the verdict would be in her favor. The sooner they could part ways, the better for all involved.
This morning, the weather was lovely, and as was their custom, she was taking Edward outside to play.
“Horsy! Horsy!” Edward cried delightedly, wrenching his tiny hand from her clasp in his excitement and running toward the front door. She hurried after the child as he ran out of the house ahead of her.
The sight of Michael sitting atop his horse in front of the house brought her to a breathless halt.
Was he going somewhere or was he returning home?
Regardless of his plans, he dismounted with a chuckle at the sight of Edward.
Josephine, shameless woman that she was, was unable to avoid ogling the mesmerizing play of muscle and sinew in his muscular legs and shapely bottom as he dismounted.
The gentle heat that stole over her face at the sight turned into a violent blush when she lifted her gaze and realized he had caught her staring.
His knowing smirk left no doubt of it.
Damn it. Why did he still have this effect on her?
Why did she accept his invitation to stay at his estate?
How could she have ever thought it would be easy to coexist under the same roof, see him every day, and still resist the pull he had over her?
Wrenching her gaze from his, Josephine moved to take hold of Edward before he could be trampled by the horse, but Michael caught him first.
“Hey there, little chap. Fancy a ride?” he said while lifting the boy in his arms.
She was about to object, to say Edward was too small to ride a horse, when Michael playfully tossed the child over his head and eased him into a sitting position straddling his wide shoulders.
Edward guffawed with delight, his little legs swinging in a two-year-old’s imitation of riding a horse.
Her heart was not prepared for the emotion that swelled in her when Michael, holding Edward securely with his hands, emitted an undignified imitation of a horse’s neigh and then took off running around the entrance yard.
His Grace, the Duke of Aycliffe was frolicking around the entrance yard, pretending to be a horse for a two-year-old who wasn’t even his child. In full view of his servants, with nary a care in the world. Laughing in tandem with Edward, who was cackling and holding on to Michael’s hair.
After a full turn around the fountain that adorned the entrance yard, Michael stopped in front of her, his face flushed, his hair mussed by little hands, eyes dancing with mirth. “Can I take him for a ride on the real horse?”
The fact that he asked her meant a lot. It was an acknowledgment that he deferred to her in matters of the child. She knew Michael was a superb rider, but Edward was so small and the horse so large.
“Is it safe?”
“My horse is very well trained, and I’d never take any risks with Edward. I will hold him securely and give him a turn around the house, no more.”
“Horsy! Horsy! Uncle Mac, go, go!” Edward exclaimed, swinging his legs impatiently, obviously having no compunction about using a duke as his mount.
She had to bring her hand to her mouth to cover her smile. When had her nephew started calling Michael Uncle Mac? She gave a quick nod, and Michael wasted no time before swinging into the saddle while keeping Edward secured in his arms in an exuberant display of athleticism.
Watching them ride around the yard, seeing Edward’s elated face and Michael’s indulgent smile, her heart gave a painful twist inside her chest. Michael would be a wonderful father; patient, fun, and loving.
She imagined him cradling a boy with russet locks and green eyes and could have wept with longing.
Because she would not be the mother of that child. She would never be a mother at all.
She had better stay away from him. Had to avoid any more scenes like the one that had transpired in the maze. She wasn’t sure she could resist him. It certainly didn’t help that he was actively trying to seduce her.
Well, not seduce, per se. More like wooing her.
Although she was sure he wouldn’t oppose a full on seduction, he was respecting the physical boundaries she had set and had not kissed her or even tried to touch her since that devastating kiss in the gardens.
Instead he was crumbling her defenses with scenes such as this.
Being wonderful and kind. What he didn’t know was that the very thing that drew her to him the most was also what separated them, as it made her realize how unfit she was for him.
Because she couldn’t give him all the things he deserved.