you can stay hidden? It didn’t take me but a few weeks to discover your whereabouts.”
“That was only because your brother told you about me.”
“And how long do you think it will be before my father discovers your existence? I knew my brother better than anyone. I can almost guarantee you that in his letter he explained that he would take care of you. Did he promise that he’d left money so you and the babe would be looked after?”
The swiftness with which the lady’s eyelids lowered answered his question.
“Yes,” Lia said, recalling the words in Lord Atherton’s letter. “He said he opened an account in a certain bank in London. He instructed me to withdraw the money and deposit it in any bank I chose.”
“How long do you imagine it will take my father to discover Evan’s money has been placed in an account bearing your name?”
Evan’s wife staggered forward and sank into her chair. The little color she’d previously had in her cheeks faded until she was as pale as the white plaster of the marble statues in the hallway.
She turned her gaze to her aunt. “What are we to do, Aunt?”
“I’m not sure, Janice. I was certain I could hide you here and keep you safe, but now I’m not sure.”
Hunter reached for his sister-in-law’s glass of wine and filled it, then handed it back to her.
“There is only one choice I can think of, Lady Atherton.”
She took a sip of her wine, then looked at him. Her eyes were wide with fright and her hands trembled so violently the wine in her glass sloshed back and forth.
“What is that?”
Hunter made sure her aunt was included in the conversation. He didn’t want her to feel left out. This had as much to do with her as it did with her niece.
“My father and I have never been able to tolerate one another. Evan was his favorite and I was…well, I was a failure in his eyes.” Hunter took a sip of his brandy and kept his gaze focused on the ladies. “I knew the day would come when I would be forced to escape his wrath, so I took my inheritance and purchased an estate of my own. Father has no idea I own it. He thinks a town house in London is my only place of residence. I intend to take you to my estate, Rainwood Place. You’ll be quite safe there.”
She bounded to her feet. “No. I cannot share a home with you. That’s impossible. I will stay here with my aunt.”
“I’m afraid I can’t let you live on your own. There’s no telling what might happen to you.”
“Then I will write to my brothers and ask one of them to come stay with me.”
“What good will that do, my lady? Are they acquainted with my father?”
“Of course not.”
“Do they know any of the men my father might send to find you?”
“No, but—”
“But nothing, my lady. You may have one of your brothers accompany us, but you will stay at my residence and I will look out for you and my nephew.”
The look on Lady Atherton’s face as she stared at her aunt tore at his heart. Staying with him wasn’t an option she wished to consider but she knew how limited her choices were.
“How long will it take for one of your brothers to join us?” he asked.
“If it’s Miles, he can no doubt be here in a matter of a day or two.”
“Then write to him and ask him to make all haste.”
Hunter watched as George’s mother clenched her hands tightly in her lap and worried her bottom lip.
“Is there another way, Aunt?” she asked looking at the dowager viscountess with desperation in her eyes.
“If there is, my dear, I do not see it.”
The lady’s beautiful brown eyes filled with tears.
“There isn’t,” Hunter said, the finality of his words ringing harshly even to his own ears.
“There has to be,” she implored. There was a frantic quality in her voice.
“There isn’t,” he repeated. “And I cannot understand why you are so desperate to avoid doing the one thing that will keep your baby safe.”
Her head shot upward. Her gaze when she looked at him nearly took him to his knees. Because her eyes were filled with terror.
. . . .
Of course he couldn’t understand why she was so hesitant to do the one thing that would keep the baby safe. He had no idea the babe was not hers, and if he ever discovered