“Does your mother know you’re here? Did she tell you to come here?”
David shook his head. “Mama doesn’t know. I was with Lord Roxbury.”
Lord Roxbury, not Papa. That was confusing.
“Do you mean your father?” Was there something Ethan didn’t know?
The brightness vanished from David’s face. “Lord Roxbury doesn’t want me to call him father.”
“Why?” he couldn’t help but ask.
“Lord Roxbury says I’m too worthless to be his son.”
Instant anger flared in Ethan’s chest and shot up to his brain. A ringing noise buzzed in his ears. How dared that pathetic excuse of a man to say that to his own son?
“Lord Roxbury can go to—” He had to refrain himself. “What happened? Why did you climb the wall to my house?” He hoped he didn’t sound too menacing.
David hugged his knees harder and hunched his shoulders. “You’ll be angry with me.”
“No. I promise you on my honour I won’t be angry.” Not with David anyway. His father was another matter. Ethan sat on the ground, legs crossed, and waited for David to speak.
David swallowed hard. “I was in the carriage with Lord Roxbury when he made us stop right in front of your house.”
Each word came out slowly. David didn’t stammer but was hesitant when speaking. Ethan had seen the same behaviour in many shocked soldiers who found it difficult to talk about their experiences on the battlefield. Patience was the key. He didn’t prompt David to talk but waited.
“I’m hiding.” David rested his chin on his knees.
“From your father?”
David nodded. “He wanted me to throw a stone through your window. I refused. He became angry.” He shivered again. “I ran away.”
Hell. Ethan raked a hand through his hair, not sure what the best strategy would be. Take the boy home? Keep him hidden? “Why did he want to break my window?”
David shrugged. “I don’t know, sir.”
Ethan had a hunch actually.
“He…” David took a few deep breaths. “He said I had to prove to him I was a man. That I had to do what he said and break your window, but it was wrong. Mama wouldn’t approve.”
Ethan suppressed the urge to take David’s hand in case the boy recoiled. “You did the right thing, and I thank you for being brave enough to refuse to obey your father.”
David released his grip on his legs, his face suddenly happy. “Was I brave? Really?”
“Incredibly brave. Not many men would have the courage to refuse a stupid order.” Ethan stretched out his hand towards the boy. “I’m in your debt, Mr. Wiley.”
“Just David, please.” He shook Ethan’s hand with surprising strength.
“David it is then. Would you care for a cup of tea?” He rose slowly not to frighten the boy.
David curved his back over his knees. “I should leave. Lord Roxbury is looking for me, and he must be furious.”
Ethan longed to measure his own fury against Roxbury. “You’re safe here. You can come and stay here whenever you need a place to hide. My door is always open for you, and you don’t have to leave unless you want to.”
“Do you mean it, sir?” David narrowed his eyes in the same fashion as Cora would.
“Every word. I won’t let your father hurt you when you are here with me. You’re under my protection.”
The boy sprang up to his feet, showing his teeth with a wide smile. “Then I’d much appreciate a nice cup.”
