Dare to Kiss by Jo Beverley Read Free Book Online Page A

from the maids and then gathered her children and set them all to work. Even with Anna "helping" and Tommy's over-enthusiasm, the room was soon damp-dusted, the floor swept, and the windows polished.
    She was praising them for their work when Sir Benjamin came in, triumphantly holding a hobby horse. He offered it to Tommy, who ran forward to grab it. "Thank you, sir!"
    Lily said, "You must share with the others if they want to play with it."
    He agreed, but judging from his clasp, that wouldn't happen soon. She thanked Sir Benjamin.
    "I'm glad it was still here. I found some other toys."
    He gestured, and the footman carried in a box. Lily saw a handle poking out, some balls, and a few smaller boxes. She smiled at her wide-eyed children. "You may explore. Carefully. After you've said your thank-yous."
    They did, then fell on the box like starving animals, even Charlotte and Michael. They were still children.
    "So much excitement over so little," Sir Benjamin said.
    "It is not little to them. They had to leave their toys behind."
    "Can they be retrieved?"
    "I fear not. My husband left debts."
    In truth, she'd been unable to face the world and in some fear of the mob, and they'd taken only what they could carry in their urgent flight. She was suddenly miserable about all the lies and wished she could tell Sir Benjamin the truth. He deserved the truth!
    That, however, would be to sacrifice her children in order to ease her conscience. It would not do.
    "Don't be sad," he said. He took her hand and squeezed it.
    She stilled, frozen by guilt, but then she squeezed back and smiled up at him. That wasn't an effort. It had been a long time since someone had taken her hand like this, offering comfort, offering strength and support, and she truly appreciated his kind heart.
    She'd not thought of those additional advantages to marriage because she'd not received strength and support from Tom for a long time. Perhaps never. It had taken her time to recognize that he was selfish to the bone, and that she was the one holding everything together.
    "Is there anything else you need, ma'am?"
    She separated her hand from his, hoping it didn't seem that she was uncomfortable with the touch.
    "I will need to do some laundry, sir, but I'm not sure how to go about it. I hesitate to ask more of your servants."
    "Laundry? I think we send it to the village on a Monday. It'll be no burden if you add some items."
    Her smile was pure relief. "Thank you! I can pay--"
    "No, no. And you must stop thanking me, Mistress Gifford. I've done little, and it's been no burden to me."
    "As long as you're so kind, sir, I must continue to thank you, and delight in doing so."
    Once he left the room, however, the fear trickled back.
    She still had Sunday to face.
    Why had she ever imagined that a recluse would stay away from Sunday service? No decent person would. And that was the problem. All the other decent people around here would be there, and one might recognize Lillias Dellaby.
    ***
    Lily prepared her children for church almost sick with nerves. Even if no one recognized her, there would be introductions. She and her children would be presented as Sir Benjamin's guests, but people would know they'd arrived in a desperate condition.
    The new tenants in Uncle Henry's cottage knew.
    The servants, knew, and would have gossiped.
    Perhaps the parson knew, for Sir Benjamin might have walked into the village to consult him.
    There was no escape, however. She surveyed her scrubbed and tidy children and then led them out to the fray.
    The day was a little warmer than the past few, and the sun came out to brighten the scenery, so the walk across the park and down a lane to the ancient church was pleasant. She frequently had to stop Tommy from running around in play, but she might permit it on the way back.
    The church was full, and of course Sir Benjamin’s box pew was right at the front, so they had to walk the length of the aisle, eyes upon them. Lily was alert for any