Winterberry Spark: A Silver Foxes of Westminster Novella (The Silver Foxes of Westminster #2.5)(6)

He glanced up, his eyes meeting hers as if by accident. The businesslike look on his face as he spoke with Mr. Croydon shifted to a cold, closed stare. His expression went blank even as his back stiffened. He snapped his eyes away from her, focusing on what Mr. Croydon was saying.

“So you’d better complete a full inventory of clothing, shoes, and whatnots before we place the advertisement for a valet,” Mr. Croydon said. “Once applications start coming in, you’ll be up to your eyeballs in interviews.”

“Yes, sir.” Gil nodded to his employer.

Ruby pressed a hand to her stomach to still the butterflies. She didn’t know what upset her more, the thought of Gil so close to her but barely speaking to her or the fact that he would soon be leaving his post as Mr. Croydon’s valet to become his man of business full time. The latter meant he would spend the majority of his time in London, far away from Winterberry Park. Far away from her. James was too young to spend so much time in the city, and if he stayed in Wiltshire, so would Ruby.

“It’s about time to go through things to see what needs to be replaced,” Gil told Mr. Croydon as both men stepped back from the table. Mr. Croydon headed to the sofa to greet James, his smile as wide as the horizon. Gil’s expression remained unreadable. “I’ll parcel up the older things to give to local charities and order new shirts before the new man is hired.”

“Yes, yes, that will be fine.” Mr. Croydon sat beside his wife, and James shifted to jump into his arms. “Hello, my fine young man.”

For all the Croydons were concerned, Ruby and Gil were suddenly part of the furniture. The love that the three of them shared was so potent that it drowned out everything in its presence. Ruby rested her hand on Faith’s head, her heart squeezing. She risked another peek at Gil.

Gil was staring at her, but he instantly turned to the table and started gathering papers to hide the fact. What he couldn’t hide was the frustration that pinched around his mouth, or the kindness in his eyes. It was still there, in spite of how disappointed he was in her. He slipped the papers into a small case, shut it with a snap of finality, then headed out of the room.

“I could help, if you’d like,” Ruby blurted as he passed her.

Without looking her way, jaw tight, Gil said, “No, thank you.” Then he kept walking out to the hall.

Ruby glanced anxiously toward the Croydons. Mrs. Croydon had noticed the exchange and nodded softly. Ruby bobbed a fast curtsy to her, then rushed after Gil, holding Faith close.

“It’s really no trouble,” she said, catching up with Gil as he strode toward the main staircase. “James is with his parents for the day, and I’ve finished most of the mending.”

“All I’m going to be doing is sorting through Mr. Croydon’s clothes,” Gil said, walking on, still not looking at her. “I can manage on my own.”

“But I want to help.”

At last, two steps up the stairs, Gil stopped and let out a breath. He turned to Ruby, seeming even taller than he was so high above her. His glance dropped to Faith, who stared back at him, wide-eyed, for a moment. “What do you want from me, Ruby?” he asked meeting her eyes again, his voice low and his voice tight.

Ruby drew a few shallow breaths, licking her lips and swaying from one foot to the other. She wanted so many things, but all she could think to say was, “I just want to help you,” in a small voice.

Gil descended the two stairs to stand on level with her, but his expression was still dark and tormented. “I don’t need your help. You should stick to your duties.” He paused before saying, “That’s what you should have done in the first place.”

He started back to the stairs, but Ruby caught his hand before he could get away. “I’m sorry,” she said with all the passion of her heart. Faith huddled against her chest, as if she sensed something was wrong. “I’m so, so sorry. You know that. I didn’t know who Miss Goode was. If I had, I never would have let her take James. I wouldn’t have let her anywhere near Winterberry Park.”

Gil slowly turned back to her. “She shouldn’t have been here in the first place. You were breaking the rules to be visiting with her when you were supposed to be working.”

“She said she was here to help.” Ruby blinked back the painful tears that came to her eyes. “I trusted her.”

“Well, you shouldn’t have,” Gil snapped. “James could have been killed. He could have been hurt in that horrid club.”

“I know,” Ruby said, hoarse. “Believe me. I know. More than anyone. And if I could go back and change things, you know I would.”

“But you can’t.” Gil let out a breath. “Every rule was broken for you, every concession made, and you could have been the end of an entire family.”

The pain that welled up in Ruby’s chest closed her throat. Faith squirmed and fussed against her. There was so much she wanted to say, but all she could squeeze out was, “I’m sorry.”

Gil’s expression pinched with regret, and he pressed his lips together as though he too had more he wanted to say but couldn’t. He went back to frowning, but something deeper, warmer glowed in his eyes. He hadn’t let go of her hand when she grabbed it to stop him. She could feel his warmth radiating from her fingers up her arm. However furious he was with her, he hadn’t let go. And as long as he didn’t let go, there was hope.