Stranger in My Arms(95)

Arthur was incoherent with fury, Sputtering and gasping, he made his way to the nearest chair and collapsed.

Sophie regarded Hunter with a strange look of perplexed admiration, while she addressed her words to the lord chancellor. “I should think this settles the matter quite neatly, Lord Sunbury.”

Lonsdale’s face twisted with murderous fury. “You won’t win,” he hissed at Hunter. “I’ll see you dead first!” He fled the room with a torrent of curses, slamming the door with a force that seemed to shake the building.

The lord chancellor rolled his eyes and turned his attention to the pocket globe in his hands. He snapped it open to reveal a tiny map of the constellations, and drew his finger along a trail of painted stars.

“Well, my lad,” he murmured, sliding a glance at Hunter’s sullen face. “I’m rather inclined to believe your wife. Trying to punish yourself for an indiscretion, eh? Is that the case? Well, even the best of men sometimes struggle with that particular weakness.

And in the event that you aren’t the Earl of Hawksworth I’m not inclined to argue with the majority of people who say you are. It seems reasonable to settle the question immediately in favor of Lord Hawksworth being, ---- . Lord Hawksworth, and I’ll discharge the case forthwith.” He glanced at Hunter hopefully. “I trust you will not persist in arguing, my lord? I should very much dislike to be late for my midday meal.”

“Where is he?” Lara exclaimed in frustration, striding across the parlor floor under Sophie’s disapproving gaze. “I can’t leave London without seeing him, but I must return to Rachel and Johnny. Oh, what could have gotten into his head, to vanish like this?”

During the tumult that followed the lord chancellor’s decision, Hunter had disappeared. Lara had no choice but to return to the Hawksworth town house and wait for him. It had been four hours, and there was no sign of him. She wanted desperately to talk to him, but she felt an urgent need to leave at once for Lincolnshire. Her instincts warned that she must return to Rachel as quickly as possible. There was no telling what Lonsdale might do in his fury-Lara was certain he meant to collect his wife without delay, by force if necessary.

An awful thought occurred to her, and she stared at Sophie in dawning horror. “You don’t think Hunter has disappeared for good, do you?

What if he never comes back?” Uncomfortable with displays of volatile emotion, Sophie frowned reprovingly. “Don’t carry on so, Larissa. I promise you, he’ll find you when he’s ready.

He isn’t about to disappear after the surprise you dropped at the hearing until he discovers if it’s true or not. Which leads to the question… are you expecting or not?”

“I’m certain that I am,” Lara said shortly, too occupied with her worry over Hunter to share Sophie’s evident pleasure in the news.

The dowager settled back with a wondering smile.

“Praise be. Harry’s line will continue after all, it seems. A virile creature, your errant lover. He certainly had no problem in starting you breeding.”

“Husband,” Lara corrected. “We’ll refer to him as my husband from now on.

Sophie shrugged nonchalantly. “As you prefer, Larissa. Do calm yourself. You’re far too agitated. It can’t be good for the babe.”

“I don’t think he believed me about the child,” Lara murmured, standing at the window and recalling Hunter’s stunned expression in the lord chancellor’s office. He must have thought it was yet another lie to save him. She pressed her palms and her forehead against the cool, misty glass panes, while her chest ached with the fear that he might never return.

Chapter 24

LARA’S CARRIAGE REACHED Hawksworth Hall late in the evening, when most of the household was asleep.

She was grateful to be spared the task of explaining an inexplicable situation to Johnny and Rachel and the others tonight. She was weary of talking and traveling and trying to ignore the thoughts buzzing in her head. With each turn of the carriage wheels that conveyed her from London, she had felt increasingly defeated and hopeless. She wanted to lose herself in sleep.

“Lady Hawksworth,” Mrs. Gorst asked quietly, welcoming her inside, “shall Lord Arthur be returning?”

“No,” Lara replied with a shake of her head. “The case was discharged by the lord chancellor.”

“I see.” A genuine smile covered the housekeeper’s face. “That is very good news, my lady! Shall we expect Lord Hawksworth to arrive soon?”

“I don’t know,” Lara said, her dejected manner seeming to dampen Mrs. Gorst’s good spirits.

Forbearing to ask further questions, the housekeeper directed a footman to bring Lara’s trunk upstairs, and a maid to unpack it.

While the servants were thus engaged, Lara hurried up two flights of stairs to the nursery where Johnny slept. Entering the room carefully, she set a single candle on the painted blue dresser. The sound of the little boy’s breathing, soft and serene, made her heart contract in sudden gladness. This, at least, was something she could count on…

the trust and innocent love of a child. His head was snuggled deep into the downy surface of a pillow, the babyish roundness of one cheek glowing in the candlelight Lara bent low to kiss him. “I’m home,” she whispered.

Johnny stirred and murmured, black lashes lifting to reveal slitted blue eyes. Satisfied to see her, he produced a drowsy smile before falling asleep once more.