“Mama,” Felicity said when the chatter had faded a bit. “Rosalinde said you were tired on the way in. Why don’t you go up to your room and have a lay in? I’ll make sure you’re woken before supper.”
Lady Stenfax arched a brow at her daughter. “Trying to get rid of me, are you?”
Felicity laughed. “Indeed not!”
Lady Stenfax didn’t look completely certain, but she shrugged. “Iamtired—I do hate to travel. You all have fun chatting about whatever you all talk about when your old mother isn’t around.”
They moved into the house where Lady Stenfax and her maid left them for the family quarters. Once she was gone, Stenfax’s smile fell and he faced the rest. “We’ll have some privacy in my offices. Gray, will you take everyone there?”
Gray did so as Stenfax stayed to speak to his servants. Elise followed the others slowly, allowing herself to look around as she went past familiar portraits and furniture.
Suddenly Stenfax was at her side. “Are you well, Elise?” he asked, startling her with his presence and his question.
“I am. Why?”
“You are not with the group,” he said, motioning to the others, who were now entering a room at the end of the hall.
She glanced at him. She had promised herself days ago that if she wished to earn his trust, to show him hers, she would be honest with him in every way she could. Now she shook her head.
“I feel silly saying it, but when I was a girl, I thought of this house as a friend. When I knew my parents were bringing me here, I was always excited. And yes, it was because I was thrilled at the idea of seeing Felicity and Gray and Asher…and you. But it was also because I felt so at home here. When I believed I’d never return, it was heartbreaking.”
He tilted his head. “You are reacquainting yourself with Caraway Court?” he asked.
She nodded. “I suppose I am.”
He took her arm, and the touch of him against her was enough to make her knees weak. He smiled at her. “Well, you’ll have plenty of time to get to know the place again. After all, you will be mistress over it soon enough.”
She caught her breath at the idea. Every time she was reminded of it, it took her off guard. It seemed she’d never get quite accustomed to this new reality.
They entered the office, and Stenfax released her and pushed the door partly shut. “My servants are bringing refreshments momentarily,” he explained, all the softness gone from his voice. “So we won’t be able to truly talk about this matter until they’ve left us alone. I trust your travels were not too hard, Dane, Celia?”
Dane shook his head. “Not too difficult, no. And Gray, the matter with the canal port was resolved.”
Felicity stepped up to Elise to whisper, “Once Celia married him, Gray made Dane as a partner in his businesses.”
Elise nodded. She’d heard plenty about Gray’s success over the years. Kirkford had complained mightily about it when he was deep in his cups. She, on the other hand, had been pleased for him. He was a hard worker and deserved success.
“I’m surprised he didn’t partner with Stenfax,” she said softly.
“He tried,” Felicity said with a sigh. “Especially since our brother has fought so hard to rebuild the family coffers after the excesses of past generations. But when Gray first took his small inheritance and began to build his empire, Stenfax saw it as too great a risk.”
“Gaming was never his style.”
“He feared it, in a way. Later, when Gray was making money, he asked Stenfax again, but Lucien was stubborn. He felt it was charity from our brother.”
Elise’s lips parted. “So he refused?”
Felicity sighed. “He was determined to do things his own way, almost as penance for what our father and grandfathers gambled away. As I said, stubborn.”
The servants came into the room with food and drinks and Felicity moved forward to greet the housekeeper warmly. Elise watched as Stenfax did the same. His stubbornness was what she feared, after all. That he would deny them both a chance at happiness because he refused to trust her.
She could only hope she’d find some way to climb those walls. If not, her future would be dashed.
Stenfax closed the door behind his servants and faced the room with a great sigh. Everyone looked as pensive and on edge as he felt, but his gaze didn’t seek comfort from any of them except one.
Elise.
Shewas who he looked for in the group. She was who he took some level of strength in. Perhaps that made him a fool. He didn’t know. Right now wasn’t the time to analyze it.
