When her husband passed away the previous year, she hadn’t been shocked to learn he’d left her only a small yearly allowance. It would have been enough for her to continue living in a modest cottage somewhere in the country but little else.
Abigail had only been able to move into this house in London because her husband’s heir was a good man. Shocked at his great-uncle’s shabby treatment of her, the new Viscount Holbrook had settled a generous yearly sum on her.
“Mama, you’re not paying attention.”
Abigail smiled at her daughter. “I’m sorry. I was thinking about something I have to do later today. What were you saying?”
Gemma’s brows scrunched together. “Are we still getting a kitten?”
One of their neighbors had a cat who’d just given birth to a litter and Gemma’s heart was set on having one as soon as they were old enough to be weaned.
“Of course. The arrangements have already been made.”
Gemma’s face lit up with a smile that did much to lighten Abigail’s heart. Whatever else happened—or didn’t happen—they would always have each other. And now, with the new viscount’s assistance, she wouldn’t have to worry about ensuring her meager allowance stretched enough to cover all their expenses.
The governess came down to collect Gemma for her lessons when breakfast was over. Abigail hugged Gemma and watched her follow behind the middle-aged woman who’d been with them for the past four years.
The rest of the morning dragged. Abigail tried to work on some embroidery, but after pricking her finger for the third time, she gave up on the attempt and chose a book to read. When she found herself reading the same page over several times without comprehending what she’d read, she set the novel aside. She spent the next hour wandering through the small town house, looking for something, anything, that would hold her attention.
It was now early afternoon and Cranston still hadn’t called. She’d just said goodbye to Miss Phillips and Gemma, who normally went for a walk after they had their luncheon.
She was beginning to despair, convinced that Cranston wouldn’t be calling, when a knock sounded at the front door. Her fingers came to a stop on the keys of the pianoforte, where she’d been trying to soothe the despondency growing within her.
One minute passed before her butler, a kindly older man, stepped into the music room and held out a silver tray upon which rested a small card. Her hand shook when she reached for it.
With a deep breath, she glanced down to look at the name. Air rushed out of her lungs when she saw that it belonged to the new Viscount Holbrook.
With a smile of thanks, she asked the butler to arrange for tea and refreshments. She took a few moments to steady herself when he departed and then made her way to the drawing room.
The viscount rose to his feet when she entered. The man was only a few years older than her own twenty-seven years and quite handsome. At over six feet in height, he was taller than her husband had been. He had the same deep blue eyes as his great-uncle, but his hair was dark brown in color. Her husband’s hair was already gray when they’d wed, but a painting that had been commissioned in his youth showed that his hair had been fair.
She dipped into a curtsy. “I didn’t expect to see you today, my lord.”
“I wanted to check on you before I left town. I will be departing for the estate in a week’s time, and I hate the idea of leaving the two of you here without any family nearby.”
She couldn’t hold back her smile of amusement given how her husband had all but abandoned her after her first year of marriage.
It wasn’t a surprise that, like most of the ton, the viscount was leaving London now that the social season had drawn to a close.
“We are both well. You needn’t delay your departure on our behalf.”
A footman entered with the refreshments. She thanked the young man and lowered herself onto the settee, then waited for the viscount to take his seat in the plush armchair before pouring him a cup of tea. He’d made it a habit to visit on occasion over the past few months, and she knew he drank it without milk or sugar. She handed the cup to him and then went about adding both to her own tea.
“Are you sure you and Gemma don’t want to return with me? I know my uncle was less than generous, but the dowager house is yours to use whenever you’d like.”
She was starting to shake her head when he continued. “Or the two of you can come down on your own later, once you’ve tired of London.”
She smiled at him. “You are too kind. Your uncle would be rolling over in his grave right now.”
It was no secret that Holbrook hadn’t wanted his heir to take the two of them under his wing. She wouldn’t be surprised if he’d gone as far as to leave instructions to that effect. But when she’d met her husband’s heir, he’d vowed to would make up for the former viscount’s neglect.
“My great-uncle was a miserly man who didn’t deserve you or Gemma. It is unconscionable that he thought to punish you just because you didn’t bear him an heir.”
She’d allowed everyone to think that was the reason Holbrook had sent her away. She would hardly admit that her daughter wasn’t Holbrook’s.
“We have done well, the two of us. And to be honest, I’ve spent far too much time away from everyone and everything. I’ve quite enjoyed being back in London.”
He took one of the small sandwiches from the refreshment tray and popped it into his mouth. They made polite conversation for several more minutes before he finished the rest of his tea.
