Love's Promise (41 page)

If he could see what the Wainwrights had done to Thomas, what would he say?

Michael had to fix the mess he’d created, and as he pondered—like a bolt of lightening—the most marvelous idea swept over him. It was the perfect way to make amends; it was the perfect way to redeem himself.

“Would you like to go live with your Aunt Fanny?”

“I don’t know where she is,” Thomas wailed with dismay. “I don’t know how to find her.”

“Well, I do. If you could stay with her, would you leave this terrible place with me?”

Thomas stared, gauging Michael’s credibility, and he was extremely dubious. Michael had squandered Thomas’s trust, and it was clear that if Michael failed to follow through, Thomas wouldn’t be surprised.

“Yes,” Thomas cautiously said, “I would like that. She was always kind to me.”

“Then that is what you shall do.” Michael stood. “Let’s get you out of here.”

He went over and extended his hand again, and he waited and waited, but Thomas never clasped hold. Michael walked on alone, and Thomas trailed after him, exiting out into the dreary, gray winter day.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

As Fanny stepped out of the woods, Phillip was on the verandah, gazing across the park and obviously watching for her. He was bundled in a heavy coat, his breath circling his head like a cloud.

He and Anne had been home for a week, happily wed, and content to stay put after the treacherous weather that had dogged them to Scotland and back. While Phillip had promised Anne a romantic honeymoon, they weren’t in any hurry to leave, which thrilled Fanny very much.

It was almost Christmas, and though she’d settled in at Phillip’s house, and was comfortable with the servants, she hadn’t wanted to spend it alone.

She wondered where Thomas would be spending the day, and she worried that the Wainwright men would forget to make it special for him. Hopefully, they’d remember that he was a little boy and would love to have someone make a fuss.

She waved to Phillip, and he waved back, continuing to watch as she approached. With her being six months pregnant, her stride was ungainly and the walk took longer than it should have.

Kicking the snow from her boots, she climbed onto the verandah, and as she neared him, she could see that he was troubled. Something had happened, something that would distress her, and she was afraid to hear what it was.

“What is it?” she asked. “What’s wrong?”

“You have a visitor.”

“A visitor?”

“It hadn’t occurred to me that he might come here, so I never advised the staff to refuse him entrance. They invited him in before I was aware he’d arrived.”

“Who is it?”

“Michael is here, Fanny. He’s in the front parlor.”

“Michael Wainwright?”

“Yes.”

A thousand thoughts spiraled through her head. Why had he come? What did he want? What did
she
want?

“Have you...have you spoken to him?” she inquired.

“Briefly.”

“You didn’t fight with him, did you?”

“No. Anne was there. We were all very civil.”

“Good. I don’t want anymore quarreling between the two of you.”

“Neither do I.”

“Did you tell him you married Anne? Did he congratulate you?”

“Yes, actually, and he even seemed sincere.”

“I’m glad.”

There had been too much discord and conflict, and with Phillip having wed Anne, reconciliation was the only proper conclusion.

“Ah...your nephew is with him.”

Her pulse pounded with delight, but also a bit of alarm.

“Thomas is here?”

“Yes.”

She started away, wanting to be inside immediately, but he clasped her arm to stop her.

“I need to talk with you before you go in.”

“What about? Is Thomas all right?”

“Well, he’s not hurt, if that’s what you mean.”

“Is he ill? What?”

“I guess he’s had a hard time of it. The Duke sent him off to school, but it was a very bad place. Michael went for a visit, and it was quite disreputable, so he brought him home.”

“What happened to him there?”

“I don’t think anything
happened
exactly. The headmaster was cruel to him, when Thomas didn’t understand why, and he’s just very quiet now. Very sad. Michael says he’s very different from how he was last summer.”

“I see.”

Fanny took several deep breaths, calming herself.

The information was too much to absorb. The Wainwrights had seized Thomas, with the promise of a better life. Of all the terrible behaviors she might have anticipated from Michael, she’d never have supposed that he’d let Thomas be abused.

She was very angry, but she couldn’t have it show. She hadn’t seen Lord Henley in months, and she refused to bicker. They were all adults, related by blood and marriage. They had to carry on in a polite fashion.

“You need to know one more thing,” Phillip murmured.

“What is that?”

“Michael wants to speak with you. Alone.”

“Whatever for? What could he possibly have to say?”

“I haven’t a clue, but I told him I’d pass on the request. If you’d rather not, you can sneak up the rear stairs to your bedchamber. I’ll bring Thomas up to you so you can chat with him for a bit, and when you’re finished, I’ll ask Michael to leave. You won’t have to so much as lay eyes on him.”

For a long while, she considered. Could she bear it? Could she converse with him as if they were two normal people, sharing a common nephew? Could she pretend that her heart wasn’t broken? Could she pretend that she didn’t care?

“It’s all right,” she said. “I’ll talk to him.”

“Are you certain?”

“I think he owes me an explanation about Thomas.”

“I do, too, and I believe he might apologize.”

“For what?”

“For...everything.”

“If he does, I’ll graciously accept—then I’ll punch him in the nose.”

Phillip chuckled, then led her into the house. Anne was hovering outside the parlor, appearing nervous and worried.

“We’ll wait out here,” Phillip said. “Just call if you need us.”

“I’ll be fine,” Fanny insisted, though her knees were knocking with anxiety.

She opened the door and slipped into the room. Lord Henley and Thomas were over by the fire, and she took a moment to study them. They were standing side-by-side, silently staring at the flames, and they seemed uncomfortable with each other.

Thomas was dressed as the little lord of the manor in a dark blue suit, short pants, and black shoes with fancy buckles, but the boisterous energy he always exuded had vanished.

He looked older and wiser, as if all his dreams had been dashed.

Lord Henley looked different, too. He’d lost weight, and he was weary and pensive, his bluster and pomp carefully concealed.

At one time, they’d been the two most significant men in her life, but now, they were so altered that she scarcely recognized them.

“Thomas,” she said, “is it really you?”

They turned together and peered at her, and though she’d been expecting Thomas to rush over, he remained where he was, as if he was too tired to display any enthusiasm.

She walked to him, instead, and she acted as if she was gazing directly at Lord Henley, but her focus didn’t quite reach his eyes. They were strangers now, awkward and ill-at-ease, but it couldn’t be helped. There was no other ending that could have been salvaged. His misdeeds had seen to that.

“Lord Henley.” She was very formal with him. “Welcome.”

“Hello, Fanny.” To her great surprise, his tone was warm and fond.

Thomas still hadn’t moved, and she fell to her knees in front of him.

“Hello, my darling Thomas.”

“Hello Aunt Fanny.”

“My, how you’ve grown.” She riffled a hand through his hair, but he didn’t exhibit the slightest reaction.

“Lord Henley says I may live with you. Forever. May I?”

Fanny was shocked by the change in Thomas’s relationship with Lord Henley. They’d once been very close, Henley had been
Uncle Michael
, but apparently, their bond had been severed.

“Yes, you may,” Fanny replied. “There’s nothing I would like more.”

“Are you sure he’s telling the truth? What if he tries to take me again? Will you let him?”

She glanced up at Henley, their gazes locking, and he shook his head, indicating he wouldn’t take Thomas anywhere. Tears of relief and joy flooded her eyes. Thomas would be with her! Thomas would be with her always!

“No, I won’t let him,” Fanny firmly declared.

“What if the Duke’s men come? What if my mother tells him where I am? How could you stop them?”

“I have Phillip to assist me now. He’s very brave, very strong. He’s not afraid of the Duke.”

“Lord Henley also said that I won’t have to see my mother again. Or the Duke or Lady Rebecca.”

“No, never.”

Thomas scrutinized her, and Fanny could sense that he was weighing her answers, as if he didn’t trust her. What on earth had occurred to leave him so skeptical? What had they done to him?

Finally, he nodded. “All right then. I’ll stay.”

“I’m so glad.”

Fanny pulled him into a tight hug, and she touched him all over, running her fingers up and down his body, feeling how solid he was, how real. She drew away and peered into his cherubic face, wishing he’d smile, wishing she could observe some spark of the child he’d previously been.

“I need to speak privately with Lord Henley,” she advised him.

“About what?”

“About you.”

“I was always a good boy, Aunt Fanny. No matter what he says, I always did what they told me. Always.”

“Of course you did. I know that.”

She was disconcerted, and she peeked up at Lord Henley, but his expression gave nothing away.

She stood and clasped Thomas’s hand, but it felt lifeless.

“Do you remember your Aunt Anne?”

“Yes.”

“I want you to go upstairs with her. She’ll show you to my room. We’ll put your things in there, and you can sleep with me. Would you like that?”

“I suppose.”

“I’ll be up in a few minutes—after Lord Henley departs.”

Fanny led him to the hall, and as she delivered him to Anne, he gazed up at Fanny.

“Do you promise you’ll come upstairs?”

“Yes, Thomas, I promise. In a bit.”

He studied her again, but his doubt was obvious. Anne guided him away, and Fanny heard her ask, “Are you hungry, Thomas?”

“Yes, Aunt Anne,” he responded, “but you don’t need to trouble yourself. I’d just like to sit and wait for my Aunt Fanny.”

Anne shot a worried glance over her shoulder, then their footsteps faded. With a pat of encouragement from Phillip, Fanny went back into the parlor and shut the door.

Lord Henley was still standing by the fire, and she walked over to him. He was extremely flustered, and he cleared his throat and swallowed several times while she silently fumed, wanting to shake him, wanting to snap at him.

Ultimately, he murmured, “May I say that you look wonderful? You’re absolutely glowing.”

“Lord Henley, please...”

“I realize I have no right to ask, but how are you feeling? How is the baby? After you left me, I was just so—”

“Please! You’re embarrassing me!”

He halted and sighed with regret. “I’m sorry about Thomas, Fanny.”

“Are you? How could you let this happen to him? He is just a boy—a sweet, loving boy.”

“I thought he was at Wainwright Manor, but my father intervened without my permission. I didn’t know what had transpired until much later. I accept full responsibility for what occurred. I should have minded him better.”

“He’s very different.”

“As soon as I learned what they’d done—“

“Who do you mean by
they?”

“My father and Rebecca. They were complicit in arranging for him to be sent away to school. It was a terrible place, and the headmaster was very cruel.”

“Your father—and Lady Rebecca—were punishing him?”

“Apparently so.”

“For what crime?”

“Rebecca didn’t want him to live with us.” He shrugged. “She and my father were very harsh with him, and he took it to heart. Rebecca kept telling him that he was...was...an awful child and that he didn’t deserve any of what his father had bequeathed to him.”

So...Lady Rebecca had had her revenge on Fanny after all, but she’d extracted it against Thomas. How shrewd of her! She must have realized how any pain inflicted on Thomas would hurt Fanny a thousand times more.

“I don’t want her to ever have any contact with him. I don’t want her to have any influence or control.”

“She never will. I swear it to you.”

“Pardon me if I say that your vows don’t carry much weight with me.”

“I recognize that. I...ah...I’ve severed my engagement to her—over this very issue.”

She sucked in a sharp breath, riveted by the news. He was no longer betrothed, and she hated how the discovery rattled her. What did it matter if he was free? What did it matter if he might once again be pondering marriage?

She would never be his choice of bride. On that point, he’d always been very clear.

“And your father?” she pressed. “What about him?”

“He’s being silenced. He won’t interfere with me in the future. I’m in the process of making sure of it.”

“I hope you’re correct.”

“I am.” He flashed a weary smile. “We’re being so formal. It seems odd to talk to you this way.”

At the comment, Fanny felt a softening in the protective wall she’d erected to keep him at bay, and instantly, her mind screamed a warning. She was still very affected by him, and she couldn’t risk their being friendly. When she was so vulnerable, it was hazardous.

“It’s better if we keep a distance,” she said.

“Yes, I imagine it is.”

He sighed again, as he retrieved a satchel he’d left on a nearby table. He pulled out an envelope and extended it to her.

“I’m signing over complete custody to you.”

“You’re joking.”

“No. You’ll be his guardian until he comes of age.”

There was no kinder act he could have performed, and she was deeply, profoundly grateful.

“Thank you so much.”