Chapter Ten

Gretchen gently placed Ellie in her crib, afraid the child would wake up if she made too much noise. While it usually took nearly the entire night to put Ellie to sleep, she was starting to warm up to Gretchen's presence and was beginning to feel safe in her absence, the result of which was the child's ability to easily fall asleep. But, for some reason tonight, sleep eluded Gretchen.

Deciding that the night air would somehow help to lull her to sleep, she turned from the crib and made her way out of the room.

She walked through the silent castle, maneuvering her way down the stairs until she was pushing the front door wide open and stepping into the chilly evening.

The feeling of loneliness washed over her; the feeling of love lost and hopelessness that clung to her since her departure from San Francisco. She found that being stuck in a castle with an infant was a good distraction from her predicament, but she was quickly burdened by it every time the child fell asleep and she was left alone with her thoughts.

Releasing a soft sigh, her gaze traveled the vast property. She thought of having to live here for the rest of her life, sentenced to caring for little Ellie. It almost seemed to her that she didn't have a future beyond these walls, and soon enough, she imagined that Ellie would grow big enough to stop requiring the help of a nanny. There was also the possibility of Ethan getting married again and Ellie's need for a mother transcending her need for a nanny.

She thought of Ethan, a small frown creasing her face at the idea of him getting married again one day. She knew it was no business of hers, but she wasn't certain she could help the unfamiliar feeling of unease that bombarded her at the thought.

A cold shiver ran through her body and she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself.

"You are unable to sleep?"

The unexpected and highly intrusive voice from behind, startled her enough to cause her to jump a little. Turning sharply, her eyes came to rest on Ethan's silver eyes that sparkled in the dark. She didn't know whether it was because she was startled by his presence or in awe of his beautiful eyes, that she all of a sudden found it difficult to breathe.

Ethan's brows pulled together to form a frown. "I apologize, Miss Riverside, I did not intend to frighten you."

She studied his eyes for a few seconds and found him to be genuinely apologetic.

With a small nod, she said, "I'm the one who's sorry, Lord Williams, I should not even be here but by Ellie's side." She nodded, before turning to walk past him.

"Miss Riverside," Ethan's hand took captive of her wrist, pulling her to a halt beside him.