I figured you couldn’t chase down your lady fair without a daring steed.” “You rode here?” Layton asked, hardly believing he’d missed the sound of a horse’s approach. “Take Devil’s Advocate,” Philip immediately offered.
“What have I done, Flip?” There was no answer. “Marion.” Layton half sighed the name as he fished out a handful of damp leaves. “Drops of Gold?” Philip replied incredulously. “Leaves?” Layton came to stand beside Philip.Īt least a dozen leaves, the golden brown of late fall, swirled amongst the roots of a tree growing close to the water’s edge. Would Marion come back? Write, at least? “End of February, and we have a whole assemblage of autumn leaves holding court right there in the river.” Layton barely registered the rhetorical question. “Have you ever seen anything quite like that before?” Philip asked, pointing toward the river. Two hours! How long had he been sitting on the banks of the river? They’ve been on the road at least two hours.” Perhaps it was only my imagination, but I thought you would have wanted to at least say good-bye.” It’s one of the reasons I came looking for you.
“Lord Grenton and Lady Marion left for Derbyshire immediately after services. “Caroline was quite beside herself when she said good-bye in the churchyard,” Philip said. Layton knew he was supposed to laugh, but his brain was caught on the first part of that sentence. “Without the benefit of Lady Marion’s calming influence, Caroline would wreak havoc on the masterpiece my valet makes of me every morning.” “I suppose I should show up for a sermon or two. “Holy Harry.” Layton laughed as he shook his head. “Harry preached from it,” Philip corrected, flashing a grin over his shoulder. “You were the only one of us brothers who actually read your prayer book outside of church.” “I always did like attending services,” Layton remembered wistfully. “Does that mean I won’t have Caroline climbing all over me during the sermon from now on?” A certain urgency in his tone belied his casual choice of words. “Yes, he will,” Philip answered with a hint of pride in his voice.
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