“Yes, your social standing, I know.”
She spoke ill of his title whenever she could, for though most people would have admired him for it, his sister was not as willing to see it that way. To her, his role was what kept them apart and what had led to her being shunned all those years before.
“You know that I must consider what people think of me.”
“I do. That is why I must be hidden away here, yes? That is why you hide me, hide yourfamilyin this tiny household, not wanting to offer us anything more.”
“I told you that if you want to return to London, I will take you there. You are the one that–”
It was not an argument he wanted to have, not so soon after his arrival. It was usual for them to argue while he was there, but he liked to put it off for as long as he could; once they started, they hardly ever managed to stop.
She tucked an auburn curl behind her ear, looking at the fire. Spencer knew what she was thinking; she was considering her options, even though he knew what she would decide. She felt that she belonged there, and it was convenient for him to have them kept away from him.
That was, until he had to see them.
“Why is it so cold in here?” he asked. “I ensured you had everything you needed to keep your home warm. It is important at this time of year, especially in this part of the country.”
“I know that. I also know that you have a tendency to be away for a long time when you leave, and I know better than to use everything that I have when it is unnecessary.”
“It is completely necessary, Sophia. What if the boy catches a chill?”
Her breath caught, and Spencer felt his heart stop. That was the emergency, the reason why he had to return to her then and there.
“Sophia, what have you done?” he asked.
“It is not my fault!” she snapped. “I am running a household and caring for a child alone. What do you expect me to do?”
Spencer turned and made his way to the boy’s room, unable to look at her. Anna had been running a household alone in his absence, and he had been unable to fault her for how she had done so. Sophia, on the other hand, always seemed to treat it like a protest or to punish him for leaving her.
But with a child so small, it was a dangerous game to play.
He entered the bedroom and quickly made his way to the small bed in the corner. The moment he arrived at the bedside, the child tumbled to his feet, reaching up for him enthusiastically.
“Papa!” he squealed. “Papa!”
His skin prickled, but he took the boy in his arms regardless. With the child so happy to see him, there would be no settling him again, and so he carried him through to the sitting room by the fire. He sat with the child in his arms, looking at his large eyes.
They matched his, much to his bemusement.
“He is calling me his papa again,” he said coldly. “I told you to discourage that.”
“He is too small to know otherwise. All that he knows is that I am his mama, and you are the only man he knows. What would you have me do?”
“The truth would not hurt him.”
But he knew he was being unfair. The boy was far too small to understand the predicament, and Sophia had made a mistake when speaking in his presence. He had to let it go.
“How unwell is he?” he asked.
“I do not know. I do not know how bad it will become. I saw it beginning, and I knew that I needed you here to help. Even though you are later than expected, I am pleased that you are here.”
She knelt beside him, placing a hand on his arm that he shrugged off.
“I told you it was important that I return home,” he said firmly. “I also told you that I did not know how long I would be away. That was not a challenge for you to see how quickly you could make me return.”
“I did not view it as such.”
“Do not lie to me, Sophia. Every time I try to leave, you find a reason why I cannot. I have other duties to fulfil, and if I do not succeed in doing that, it risks you and Gilbert. I know that you think you are the most important person to me, but it is more complicated than that.”
