A Little Bit Scandalous Page 0,64

father and not himself?

Then Millie sighed and continued. “When the news came that your brother had died, I thought we’d lose Roe as well. Then he found out he was assigned your legal guardian. Somehow that gave him the strength to fight the disease.”

Caroline realized tears rolled down her cheeks. Not just for the loss of her brother, whom she’d simply adored, but for the fact that Roe had punished himself for so long for such a thing. He couldn’t control his father and what the man did; Roe had been too weak himself to fight. Christopher had always been on the sickly side and there was no guarantee that the intensive care that Roe had received would have cured Christopher. Before she could respond to Millie or ask any further questions, Roe stepped into the room.

“Caroline,” he said with a nod. “Mother.”

“Monroe,” Millie said, not missing a beat. She picked up her embroidery again. “How are you this fine day?”

He frowned at her, but then ultimately gave her a smile. “All is well, Mother. Caroline, a word, if you will.”

Caroline set down the cards.

“Don’t leave on my account,” Millie said.

“This is not a secret,” Roe said. “I have given Mr. Lamb a large sum of money. Much to my chagrin, I believe you will need to return to Rodale’s this evening.”

Caroline’s heart thundered. “Yes, of course. Did you discover anything else in your inquiries?”

“I did. My solicitor got back to me on that other orphanage and it would seem that there is one in Liverpool closing, but it is only because they are moving to a larger facility there. None of the children are being displaced.”

Caroline frowned. “How did he not think you would look into such matters when he asked for such a huge amount of money?”

“Evidently no one has ever followed up on his claims before. They take him at his word and hand over the bank notes.”

“Luckily the two of you are so suspicious,” Millie said never looking up from her embroidery. “You make quite the team.”

“Yes, well, suspicion will get us only so far, especially if we want to convince the rest of the board members. We need proof he is gambling with the orphanage’s money, proof that neither of us can get if we approach him as ourselves. Caroline, I wanted to make certain you were interested in donning Grey’s disguise once more to play cards with Mr. Lamb,” Roe said, ignoring his mother. Then he paused. “I will make certain you have a new shirt to wear.”

Caroline knew she blushed, since she felt the heat pooling in her cheeks, but she ignored it. “Yes, I will play him. Are you so certain he’ll go to Rodale’s and not a different hell?”

“I am. I had Justin send out invitations to a tournament tonight. He’s been personally requested. He won’t be able to resist that,” Roe said. “And the money I gave him, I had it marked so we’d know if he was using those funds for the game or not. It isn’t a perfect plan as we know he also visited Lady Winguard, so he could be using her monies. But it could provide some additional evidence.”

“Perfect,” Caroline said.

“Very well. I shall be ready to leave around quarter of ten.”

“I shall meet you in the entryway,” Caroline said.

Once Roe had left the room Caroline still stood where she was. She’d intended on speaking with him about Christopher, but they obviously needed to resolve the issue with Mr. Lamb first. Besides, she wasn’t quite so certain what she’d say.

“There is no shame in wanting something more than life has afforded you,” Millie said. Again she did not look up from her embroidery. “It seems to me that when two people are so well suited, well, it’s a shame when they’re too proud to admit it.”

Caroline opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Millie looked up at her.

“But how did you—”

Millie smiled. “I’m old, dear, not blind. I know desire when I see it.”

“Yes, well, it is one-sided, I can assure you,” she said. There was no use in denying her feelings for Roe. His mother, of course, would understand Caroline’s draw to him. She loved him, too.

Unfortunately, it was not pride keeping them apart. There were times—many times—when Caroline had wished she had been too proud to declare her love for Roe. But instead she’d blurted it out time and again. She had thrown herself at his feet not once but several times. And each