“Then I see no reason for him to know too much about this,” Leonie told her.
“And Rolfe?”
“I am not so impartial where he is concerned. I will not tell him. You will.”
“But he will kill me if he knows how I have lied to you both!”
“I think not, Amelia. I think he will be relieved to learn the truth. But if you do not promise to tell him, I will leave you here to…”
“You are cruel, Lady Leonie.”
“Not so. I simply love my husband and will not have him grieving over a child he thought was his.”
Chapter 48
THE little boy was beautiful. Leonie saw him the moment she came downstairs after leaving Amelia’s bedchamber. Rolfe was standing near the boy. The child had thick black curls, and the darkest brown eyes, which regarded her shyly as she approached him. He was an eight-year-old replica of Rolfe.
She turned a questioning gaze on Rolfe, and he said, “Before you reach the wrong conclusion, he looks like me because he is my nephew.”
Leonie smiled. “How could I have thought otherwise?”
Frowning, Rolfe introduced her to Simon d’Ambert, then pulled Leonie aside. “I sent him to Lady Roese these last few days because I was in no mood to have him with me. But now you are here, so—”
“But you didn’t tell me he was coming to visit.”
“My brother is dead,” Rolfe said simply, “and the child is not here only to visit. My brother and I had no great love for each other, but that is neither here nor there,” Rolfe went on gruffly. “His widow was concerned for her children’s welfare, and she sought me out. She left Gascony when my brother died and took refuge with a friend in Normandy. That is where I have been this last month, Leonie.”
Her eyes widened. “Then that is why…I did wonder why it took you so long to come to Pershwick. So all that time you did not even know I was there?”
“Not until I returned to England. Sir Evarard sent messengers, but they didn’t find me. My brother’s widow was near undone with worry. She trusted no one. She feared that powerful lords around Gascony would attempt to take control of her children or her in an effort to rape my brother’s holdings.”
“Was that likely?” she asked softly, glancing over at the child.
“No. The family lands in Gascony were held directly through the queen, and therefore through Henry. She need only have applied to Henry for a guardian.”
“Or contact you.”
“Yes, well, I have in fact agreed to take on the responsibility. I sent my three nieces back to Gascony with their mother, but I decided to keep the boy with me for a time. My brother had little time for him and he has been around women too long.”
“There are women here, my lord,” she teased.
“I want to get to know him, Leonie,” Rolfe said brusquely. “Do you object?”
Leonie looked down at the floor, hiding her smile. “Of course not, my lord.”
Rolfe shook his head. What had brought about this change in her? Where was the hot-tempered woman of only that very morning? She was so subdued, so agreeable.
He continued warily, “I must find a man I can trust to send to Gascony to oversee the estates and keep a watchful eye on the widow and my nieces until they are ready for marriage.”
“Might I suggest Sir Piers?” Leonie offered. “He is the perfect one to supervise a household full of women.He might even take a liking to the widow and think of marriage.”
“Piers?Think of marriage? Never!”
“You never know, my lord. But now, please, leave Simon here in my care while you visit Lady Amelia.”
Rolfe frowned. “I will tell her soon enough that she must leave here. You need not think I have forgotten, Leonie.”
“I did not think it, my lord. But she is—ill. I have warned her to stay abed for some days, perhaps a week.”
