“It is not the same, is it?”
Ava shook her head solemnly. “It is not the same at all, madam.”
A soft laugh escaped Rebecca’s lips suddenly. “Mistakes teach us to use better judgment.”
Adam cleared his throat. “His grace allowed me to send for my daughter. She’s going to stay for the wedding.”
“I do wish he’d informed me earlier. Excuse me.” Mrs. Warner turned away to sit at her table again before Adam could decide if she was annoyed or not that his daughter was a late addition to the party. She pulled several sheets of paper toward her and studied them carefully.
Ava edged nearer to him, slipping her hand into his larger one. “Is something the matter, Papa?”
“Nothing is wrong, my dear,” Mrs. Warner answered for Adam. “I just need to decide where best to place you in the house. With all the guests coming for the wedding, it’s a little complicated.”
“She could have my chambers.”
“That will not be necessary, my lord. Besides, I would then have to find somewhere else to put you.” Rebecca made some notes on a page. “There. Brown, will you place Lady Ava in the Primrose bedchamber?
The room next to mine.”
Adam stepped forward. If his daughter slept in the chamber next to Rebecca Warner’s, any seduction attempt would fail before it could truly begin. “Ava should be in the nursery.”
“The nursery is currently empty of occupants, and when my brother’s twins arrive, I would most likely move her out anyway for safety’s sake.”
“So it’s true then what they say about the boys?” Devil spawn brats!
“I adore my family,” Rebecca warned.
Adam bit his tongue. He hardly had a perfect child, but he was thankful Rebecca thought to protect Ava from her boisterous nephews. “If you think it best.”
“I do,” Rebecca began. “Now, let’s get you settled upstairs, my lady.”
“I’ll come with you,” Adam said quickly. While he was in that part of the house, he might be able to determine if his hope to visit Mrs. Warner’s bedchamber one night was well and truly lost.
Rebecca seemed highly suspicious of his suggestion but nodded. “Very well, if you must.”
“Oh, I must.” When Ava skipped ahead to the door, Adam pulled Rebecca near to whisper, “I’m still waiting for that invitation.”
She stared at him. “Are you not forgetting something, my lord?”
Adam blinked.
“Your book? I should hate for it to be returned to my father’s vast library by mistake.”
Since Adam had not yet finished reading it, he would hate that, too. He turned back to fetch it and when turned around again, Rebecca and his daughter were gone without him.
He had to hand it to her, Rebecca was turning out to be a worthy sparring partner. He hurried to catch up.
Chapter 6
Over the next week, Lord Rafferty proved to be a surprisingly good father to Lady Ava. He was affectionate, indulged her every now and then, and the girl did as she was told. Mostly.
Right now, Lady Ava was throwing sticks into the stream, as boys were often prone to do, and watching them float away. Lord Rafferty was helping.
Truth be told, Rebecca wasn’t sure what to make of the earl anymore.
He was no longer flirting with her, but still dogging her steps whenever she stepped from the manor. He had been a perfect gentleman in every respect—which she found confusing. She had begun to think she had imagined his interest. “I must return to the manor soon.”
“Oh no, just one more,” Lady Ava cried, and rushed off into the nearby wood to hunt for fallen branches again.