“Wherever did you get that idea?” He looked shocked, theatrically so for a moment, and then he laughed. “I’ve been hovering around you to protect my friend’s interest, and even kept some unscrupulous scoundrels away. I know better than to interfere in young love.”
Her heart sped up. Love… A word that had terrified her since she was a child.
“Go on,” Scarsdale urged. “Don’t think. Go. Fetch a valise or something pretty to wear to bed tonight and hurry back. I really am on my way out of Town today.”
Aurora was on her feet and running for her rented room before she realized the only thing on her mind was seeing Drew again.
Once in her room, she looked around her, snatched up a few things she couldn’t do without and decided that if Drew wouldn’t forgive her, she could always come back.
That thought was even more terrifying than losing his good opinion.
Once downstairs again, she was hurried into Scarsdale’s traveling carriage without another word. He gave the coachman the directions that would take her home.
She bit her lip as they traveled along in silence, determined to see Drew and terribly nervous. She was happy to be going home, but terrified of her reception.
Her hands were shaking when Scarsdale deposited her before the house and waved goodbye, stranding her there. She climbed the stairs slowly and put the key in the front door lock with hands that shook. It opened easily with one twist, and she crossed the threshold.
She breathed deep, and her eyes filled with tears. Home. This was where her heart longed to stay.
But was she welcome here?
Only Drew could answer that after she’d told him everything.
The butler, alerted by the sound of the door, was suddenly in the hall right in front of her. His smile of welcome heartened her. He took her bonnet, quickly pointed to the library and then backed away, vanishing into the servants’ doorway, silent as always.
She took a deep breath and turned for the library, knees nearly buckling with each step toward him.
A cheerful fire was burning in the hearth, as it had on the last night she’d sat in this room, listening to Drew talk about work he wanted completed on his estate in Kent. They had been sitting together comfortably, Aurora wrapped up in his arms. It was the last time she’d ever felt sure of herself.
She took several steps into the room and looked about. Drew was not to be seen. Had he left to avoid her?
The sound of the door shutting behind her spun Aurora about.
It was Drew who had closed the door to the library. He was leaning on it. He was almost exactly how she’d left him. Wearing a coat of muted green, fawn breeches, and black boots on his feet.
But he looked to have aged. There were more lines on his face than he should’ve had. More lines about his eyes that were not from laughter. He reminded her of when they’d first met. He’d come to the academy, a man barely held together. Too serious to be healthy for him.
They stared at each other. “Aurora.”
“Drew.”
He straightened at the sound of his given name tumbling from her lips. He took a step forward. “What are you doing here?”
She winced. So, he hadn’t been expecting her. She shook off the disappointment and smiled as best she could. “I wanted to tell you Juliette is on her way to the country.”
“That is good to know,” he answered, his voice devoid of any joy in the news.
“You were very kind to help your father’s mistress,” she whispered, knowing she should never have come. A note would have sufficed to tell him that.
“Juliette has been almost a mother to me over recent years. She held my hand many times after Clare died. I owed her, and loved her for her limitless compassion,” he whispered, taking a step more in her direction. “I’m glad you met her and wanted to help her, too. I had been unaware of the duke’s actions until Scarsdale informed me of what he’d done.”
“Scarsdale has become such a meddlesome, bossy creature of late,” she murmured, taking a step in his direction.
A flicker of pain crossed Drew’s face. “You are with him now, then?”
Aurora frowned. “No. Why would you say such a thing?”
“I saw you arrive in his carriage.” Drew rocked back onto his rear foot. “He’s always been keen on you. I understand.”