“What about Lord Whitmore?” She tried to keep her voice nonchalant, but nerves broke through. “Is he here?”
Nigel tilted his head, stopping to catch his breath. “He is out riding, I believe. He told me you would arrive soon.” He led her down the west wing and gestured toward one of the doors. “The nursery is here.”
He was about to open it, but Emily stopped him. “A moment, please.” Nigel inclined his head, and she gently eased the door open. Inside, she saw Royce playing with his tin soldiers. The soldiers were lined up around a wooden castle, complete with catapults and wooden carts. He clashed the soldiers together in a mock battle.
Victoria was grasping the edge of a toy chest, holding fast while taking steps around it. She reached out to accept a biscuit from Anna.
As soon as she saw Emily, Victoria’s face lit up. “Mum-mum-mum,” she chortled. Then she crawled toward Emily, determined to reach her aunt with all haste.
Emily scooped the baby up, cuddling her close. She hadn’t known it was possible to miss the children this much. It was evident that they had been well treated.
Then Royce spied her. “Aunt Emily! There you are.” He flew into her arms, squeezing her tight.
“Are you enjoying your visit?” she asked while Victoria clutched her hair and tried to stuff it into her mouth.
Royce shrugged, seemingly uninterested. “There are a lot of toys.”
“I was just telling Royce that he should come with me tomorrow to help choose his own horse. He’ll have to decide what color he wants.” Nigel smiled indulgently.
The blatant bribery incensed her. How dare Nigel try to entice her nephew by offering a horse? But Royce seemed unaware of it, and he returned to his tin soldiers. His lack of excitement made her wary.
“Why don’t we go and have a chat?” Nigel suggested. “I’m certain you must have many questions for me.” He opened the door and gestured for Emily to accompany him.
She handed the baby back to Anna. Victoria let out a screech, but Emily dropped a kiss on the child’s cheek, stroking her hair. To her nephew, she added, “I will see you later, Royce.”
When they were alone, Emily commented, “Do you feel it necessary to buy his affections? My nephew is more intelligent than that.”
Nigel’s smile faded. “Is it wrong to provide the boy with the things he wishes to have? You would do the same, were you in my position.” As before, it took him some length of time to descend the stairs but at last they reached the parlor.
“Why should I believe you want to provide Royce and Victoria with toys and luxuries when you never lifted a finger to help the rest of our family?”
“Now that is not true at all. As I told Whitmore, I sent money to your father and your brother every year. It might not have been a fortune, but certainly it was enough to feed and clothe your family.”
“You sent nothing,” Emily replied, angry at his lies. “You abandoned us and went to India.”
His face paled. “Is that what your brother told you?” He looked visibly shaken. “I knew he gambled some of it away, but all of it? You truly thought I never cared?” An expression of pity moved over his face. “No wonder you must hate me so.”
He led her inside the parlor and sank down upon a pale blue wingback chair, signaling toward a parlor maid, who brought a tray of tea and refreshments. “Emily, would you pour, please? I’m afraid my hands aren’t as strong as they used to be.”
She did, noticing that his face was worn and haggard. Deep lines creased his mouth as he added sugar to the teacup. Nigel took a sip, his hands trembling. He cleared his throat. “I still cannot believe that Daniel withheld everything from you. It doesn’t seem possible.”
He set the cup upon the saucer. “I do not know what happened to the money, but I must explain matters to you. In particular, about the children. First, did your brother ever mention Royce’s inheritance?”
Emily thought of Daniel’s desperate attempts to bring in more money. “I don’t think there was anything left for Royce, except the entailed lands.”
Nigel’s concern doubled. “A few years ago, Daniel contacted me about a shipping investment he wanted to make. He borrowed money from me. The ship turned wonderful profits, enough to support your family in a fine manner. Then, from what I heard, he gambled the fortune away at the tables.”
Emily did not deny it, but she had difficulty believing Daniel would risk their future. “He did gamble, but he often brought home money to us.”
Nigel’s face sobered. “He gambled a great deal more than that, Emily. Which brings me to the children. I saw what was happening to your family, and I made an agreement with Hollingford last year. I would loan him money on another shipping venture, but with one condition.” He sipped the tea, adding even more sugar to the cup.
“You must understand, he was gambling away young Royce’s future. I could not let it happen. And so, I asked him to grant me guardianship of Royce, should anything happen to him. Hollingford changed his will accordingly. We took the profits and set the funds aside for Royce’s inheritance.” Nigel held his cup out and Emily refilled it.
“I am sure you believed I had something to gain by becoming the children’s guardian,” Nigel said. “But in all honesty, I was merely trying to protect Daniel’s son. Royce is my great-nephew, after all, and the new Baron Hollingford.”
Emily set down her own cup, a sudden fear rising up. She eyed Nigel, but he seemed to anticipate her worries.
Nigel smiled. “I can tell what you are thinking, but in all honesty, my dear, I never had any interest in your brother’s title. As you can see, money has never been a problem for me. I make my living buying and selling property.” He leaned forward. “But I am concerned for Royce. And for the family, now that I can see what has happened to you.”
