“Don’t be bothering the gentleman, Francis,” a woman chided.
The boy flushed then showed off his prize. “He gave me a half-penny, mum.”
“How kindly that was of him,” she said and curtsied before Joshua, keeping her eyes downcast. “I thank you, sir, for your generosity to my son.” She was blond, her hair so curly that it had worked free of her braids in wisps that surrounded her face. There were freckles scattered across her nose and cheeks, and he imagined she had once been a pretty maid. She was still pretty, but now she looked to be tired and a little strained. That was no surprise given the size of the basket of laundry she carried.
He imagined that once she might have been as pretty as Charlotte. Certainly, her coloring was the same.
To his relief, the boy assumed the burden of the woman’s basket and she smiled at him fondly, then looked fully at Joshua.
It was her turn to stare in surprise. “Sir!” she whispered, her eyes lighting with a joy Joshua could not explain. “You are back!”
Joshua was indeed back, but he could not fathom how she recognized him. He retreated a step, even as he studied her anew. No, he did not know her. “Have we met, madame?”
The innkeeper emerged in that moment, wiping his hands upon his apron as he looked between the two of them. Darney was stout and balding, a man with a merry laugh who had no tolerance for any trouble in his inn.
“Met?” The woman gave a surprisingly bitter laugh, as if angered by Joshua’s response. “I should say as much, sir, afterall those nights.Met!” Her gaze was decidedly less friendly than it had been and her son looked between them with curiosity.
The innkeeper cleared his throat. “I believe you are mistaken, Mrs. Lewis.”
Joshua frowned. “Indeed, madame.”
“But…” she began with heat, as if to argue the point.
“This,” said the innkeeper grandly. “Is Lord Addersley, seventh viscount of Addersley.”
“Oh!” the woman said and crimson flooded her cheeks. She dropped her gaze again and retreated, flushing furiously, as she stammered apologies. When she and her son had backed a dozen steps away, they turned as one and hastened away, only the boy sparing a glance over his shoulder at Joshua.
It seemed likely to Joshua that he had been mistaken for his brother, and given the boy’s resemblance to Gerald, he could guess how this Mrs. Lewis had known him. Their liaison must have occurred before his father bought Gerald’s commission, given the age of the boy.
“I do apologize, my lord, for this incident,” Darney said, urging Joshua toward the common room. “I wish I had noticed your arrival sooner and I might have prevented it. How may we be of service on this day?”
“I would ask you to see my horse tended.”
“As you wish, my lord. It is always our pleasure to serve you.” The innkeeper bowed, as fulsome as ever, but Joshua looked after the woman, who had now vanished from view. “Again, I apologize, sir.”
“You cannot take responsibility for the entire village, Mr. Darney,” Joshua said. “What do you know of this lady?”
The innkeeper frowned. “Mrs. Lewis is kinder than others in her family. The boy can work hard. You need not trouble yourself about either of them, sir.”
Joshua understood that the subject was closed. “I thank you. Would you direct me to Mrs. Jameson’s establishment?”
Darney’s eyes lit, as no doubt he speculated upon Joshua’s need to find a ladies’ dressmaker. He pointed Joshua in the opposite direction from Mrs. Lewis’ departure. Joshua patted Specter’s rump and took his leave of the innkeeper.
He was considering the implications of his suspicions. He would have to check with Mr. Newson as to whether the child was known and if any arrangements had been made for him. Joshua had no doubt that his father would not have confided such a tale in him, or that his father would have insisted upon such a gesture if he had known of the boy’s existence.
The question was whether Gerald had confessed his deed to their father.
Or indeed whether he had even known of the boy’s conception. Could the boy’s resemblance to Gerald be coincidence? Joshua thought not.
Mother and son had been cleanly garbed but not richly so, which made Joshua conclude there might be no arrangement.
That was just wrong.
He was before Mrs. Jameson’s shop before he wondered how many other such children there might be, sired by Gerald and as yet unacknowledged.
He and Mr. Newson might have to contrive a plan.
To Helena’s dismay,Aunt Fanny insisted upon waiting with her in the garden for the viscount’s return. Helena did not doubt that her aunt meant to interfere and she was embarrassed at even the prospect.
