Summer's Distant Heart - Laura Landon Page 0,12
lord. This hasn’t been easy for her. She has found herself in a position she neither wanted nor expected.”
“No, I don’t imagine she did want it. But neither did I.” Hunter watched the liquid slosh as he turned the glass in circles with his thumb and forefinger.
“Of course not, my lord.”
“Why do you insist on referring to me by my brother’s title when you know I am no longer in possession of it?”
“Because we cannot risk anyone knowing you are no longer the Earl of Atherton. A four-month-old babe can hardly object to you borrowing his title for a few years.”
Hunter couldn’t stop a smile from appearing on his face.
“She will go with you, you know.”
“I would hope so, but I cannot be sure. She seems determined to send me on my way and try to handle this on her own.”
“Janice would never put the babe in danger. If that means going with you, she’ll do it.”
“Will you accompany us?”
The dowager viscountess hesitated a few moments, then said, “If Janice wants me to, I will. It will be her decision.”
“She mentioned something about asking one of her brothers to go with her.”
“That would be Miles. He served in the war and has experience with weapons.”
Hunter nodded. If his father sent men after them, Hunter would appreciate having someone at his side with military experience. He was surprised, though, at the dowager’s ease at mentioning the possible need for weapons.
“How soon do you think she can be ready?” Hunter asked.
“A week from today,” Lady Collinson answered. “That should give Miles enough time to get here.”
“Very well. We’ll leave in a week. Would you speak to your niece for me? Have her write to her brother at once?”
“Of course. Is there anything else?”
“I know Lady Atherton might not feel that she can impose on you more than she already has, but I would ask that you seriously consider accompanying us. Your niece needs a sympathetic friend right now. She has just lost her husband, and from what my brother told me, he and your niece were quite in love.”
“Yes, they were.”
“I would also ask that you and your niece take only one maid each. The fewer people who know where we’re going, the safer we’ll be.”
“You’re quite right. We should be content with my lady’s maid and the wet nurse, of course, and Janice’s maid.”
Hunter nodded once, then watched Lady Collinson rise to walk to the house. She paused before she entered through the French doors.
“Thank you, Lord Atherton. I am acquainted with your father only enough to know I must be wary of him. He has a cruel streak running through him. I’ve heard rumors of the little regard in which he holds you. Neither do I doubt that he would do anything in his power to rid the Trentridge line of an heir born to a commoner. Although, I wager that you are more aware than anyone of the anger that courses through him.”
“Did you know my father before I was born?”
“Yes, my lord. He was a different man in those days. But that man died with your mother.”
Hunter watched Lady Collinson leave, then refilled his glass. This was the reason he could never love someone. If he ever fell in love it would be forever. It would be completely. And if he lost the woman he loved, what guarantee did he have that he wouldn’t turn into a man as bitter and demented as his father. Or treat the child who caused her death as cruelly.
He wouldn’t want to wish such evil on any child.
He had his nephew to think of now. He would focus his love and attention on him. And teach the child to take after his father instead of his grandfather.
That would be his goal in life. He would not fail.
. . . .
Lia sat in the nursery while Marjorie Rodgers fed little Georgie. Lia couldn’t get over how he’d grown in the last month.
“There’s a possibility that my aunt and I will be leaving within the week, Marjorie.”
Marjorie Rodgers’ head shot up to look at her. “Will you be taking the lad with you?”
“Yes,” Lia answered. “I could never leave him behind. Not for any reason. He’s mine and I intend to raise him.”
“Does his lordship know you’re not the boy’s mother?”
“No, Marjorie. And you must never tell him that I’m not.”
“Of course, miss. You can trust me to never say a word. I know how important it is that his lordship never realize that