Belmont made a pained face—or perhaps he, too, was trying to mask his inner emotions. “He set off a stink bomb during the College Headmaster’s Sabbath Day address to the students.”
“Ah.” Her lips quivered in mirth. “I’m sorry,” she added. “I realize it’s not amusing, but . . .”
Belmont cracked a smile. “I know. As his guardian, I should be shocked and furious. And out of a sense of duty, I did appeal to the provost of Eton for a second chance, as it was clearly a youthful prank. But Lord Fenway is very strict in his notions of right and wrong. He absolutely refused to consider it.”
He shrugged. “But the poor lad was so deucedly unhappy there that a part of me is glad that the ordeal is over. However . . . I’m not quite sure what to do.”
“Well, let us discuss the options,” said Charlotte, trying not to let her hopes rise.
“Peregrine insists that he would be welcome to return to your household and be tutored privately along with your two wards. However, it rubs my conscience wrong to slough off my familial responsibilities on you and your husband . . . assuming that you would even consider the arrangement.”
“Mr. Belmont—”
“Wait—please hear me out.”
She gestured for him to continue.
“That said, I face a dilemma. My diplomatic duties demand that I travel to the Peace Conference in Vienna, and it is expected that I will be gone until next spring. My wife just had our first child, and as her health is still rather frail, it has been deemed unwise for her and our newborn to accompany me, so they will be staying with my mother.”
Who detests Peregrine, thought Charlotte.
The boy’s father—the elder brother of Belmont’s father—had inherited the family earldom, and then had married late in life. The birth of a son had snatched away the fortune and title that Belmont’s parents had taken for granted would be passed to them. Their resentment was exacerbated by the fact that Peregrine’s mother was of African descent. They thought . . .
Be damned with what they thought.
“There is no dilemma,” interjected Charlotte. “On no account can Peregrine be made to stay with your mother. It would be cruel—to both of them.”
“I know that,” he mumbled.
“Then it’s settled. Peregrine will have a home here.”
“Lord Wrexford will, of course, need to be consulted—” began Belmont.
“There is no need for that,” she said. “Be assured that I know my husband’s feelings on the matter.”
He blew out a sigh of relief. “I don’t know how to repay your kindness, milady.”
“As to that . . .” Charlotte’s expression turned grave. “There is an important issue that needs to be addressed in order to do the right thing for Peregrine, not just for now but for the future. It’s unfair to treat him like a shuttlecock, batting him back and forth between families whenever the situation changes.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“That you pass legal guardianship of Peregrine to Wrexford and me. It will ensure that he has a stable home, both materially and emotionally. For us to serve merely as custodians is not ideal, as it would force us to walk on eggshells when making decisions about his well-being. You must trust us to have his best interests at heart.”
Belmont didn’t rush to reply. She appreciated that he appeared to be giving the decision careful thought.
“There is another consideration as well, one that is awkward to raise but must be taken into consideration,” continued Charlotte. “That you have been a good guardian to your cousin despite the tug of conflicting loyalties is a testament to your integrity, sir. But life is uncertain. If anything were to happen to you, your mother would likely become Peregrine’s guardian. Surely that should be avoided at all costs.”
“You truly are willing to accept those responsibilities for someone who is not your own flesh and blood?”
“Ours is an unconventional family, sir. What binds us together is love.”
“Perhaps that’s an even more reliable bond than blood,” murmured Belmont. He smiled. “Then if you are truly sure, I am happy to agree to your suggestion, Lady Wrexford.”
“Excellent. Given your travel plans, we will make sure to return to London in several days so that you and my husband can arrange all the legalities before you leave for Vienna.”
Belmont rose and inclined a bow. “I will bid Peregrine adieu for now and then take my leave—”
“But it’s growing dark, sir. You are most welcome to stay with us for the night.”
