“But from what?”
“She died before she could say,” Shannah told him. “I can only assume she meant that I had to protect him from your family.”
“Then why didn’t you leave the area?” he asked. “Surely you had to know such a secret would be found out.”
“I was fifteen, my lord, and had just become both orphaned and the sole provider to three small children,” she reminded him. “We had no money to leave, and nowhere to go. I have no other family.”
“I’m sorry, that was callous of me,” he said. “Of course you couldn’t go.”
“I tried,” Shannah admitted. “I only took a position in your household to save money to take the children and settle elsewhere. But it never seemed like I could save enough, and I knew so little of the world. Besides, after a while it seemed like no one would find out. Nobody suspected anything. I’d grown comfortable in my life, until you showed up at my doorstep.”
“I’m not sorry,” he said, leaning forward. “I hope you understand that I only mean to help. Identifying Royce as Christopher’s son will open up a world of possibilities for the child. He’ll have a comfortable home, an inheritance, access to the finest schools, and more.”
“He has a comfortable home now,” she protested, her eyes welling with tears again. “He’s happy where he is.”
Brendan took her hands again. “But how long will that last? I’m not trying to disparage all that you’ve done, Shannah. You’ve worked miracles for those children, all three of them. I just want you to see, to realize, that you don’t have to do it alone any more. Royce is my nephew, too, and that makes you all family.”
Shannah eyed him skeptically. “And your entire family would feel the same? Even your mother?”
“I know my mother can be difficult,” he said. “However, I think a grandchild—her first grandchild—would go a long way toward softening her heart.”
“I won’t have Royce mistreated.” Shannah pulled her hands free from his and sat up straighter. “I mean it, Lord Brendan. He is precious to me and I won’t have him hurt.” She’d never spoken so forcefully to her superior before, but he had to know that she meant every word. “And I don’t expect special treatment for me, or Matt, or Kora. We can work for our living.”
He looked confused, as though he didn’t quite understand. “But I’m offering you a comfortable home, and opportunities for the children that they won’t have otherwise.”
Shannah felt a vague sense of having been insulted. “What are you suggesting, exactly? That you will provide a home, and food, and a future for the children? Where is my place in this?”
Brendan stood and walked around his chair. He didn’t answer right away, but paced for a few minutes. “I haven’t worked out all the details in my head, Shannah. Please don’t be offended. I’m only offering to help.”
“But you aren’t, exactly,” she countered. “You and I both know that the moment you tell your brother about his son, I will lose all legal claim to Royce. The second my nephew becomes a Wyndham, I’ve lost him. And there is no place in your future for Royce’s poor relations. We are not part of your society, my lord, and we never will be.” Shannah got to her feet. “I am your servant. I was born to the working class and I will die there. You can’t change that.”
“Is that what you want?” he asked. “To die a servant? Should I offer you and Matt and Kora positions in my household? Perhaps Kora would like to be a scullery maid. Or Matt could be a footman, or maybe work in the stables with the horses.” He stepped around his chair and took her by the shoulders. “Is that what you want, Shannah? Do you honestly think I could let the woman who saved my nephew from death polish my silver for the rest of her life and never give her anything more?”
“I saved my nephew,” she said, her voice growing heated. “I never asked for anything from you, my lord, save the wages I earned by my work. I can and will raise those children to the best of my ability.”
Brendan shook her slightly. “That’s not enough, not near enough. Royce is a Wyndham and he deserves everything that comes with that. And you’ve spent the last two years sacrificing and doing without so those children wouldn’t suffer. Look at yourself, Shannah! When is the last time you had a full meal? Or slept a full night? You’re working yourself to death, and where would that leave them?”
She twisted away from him. “I’m giving them everything I have!”
His voice softened. “But at what cost?”
Shannah clamped her jaw to stifle the trembling of her lip. She could see the rightness of his words. She was exhausted, and there were moments—many of them—where she wondered how much longer she’d be able to do it. With a heavy sigh she crossed her arms and looked at Lord Brendan. He was a good man, she knew that much. Even if he didn’t understand her way of life, he would do his best by Royce.
But even so, he couldn’t speak for the rest of his family. How would they react to Royce? How would they treat him?
CHAPTER 12
Brendan watched Shannah, acutely aware of her every movement. He saw the emotions play across her face, and wished he could offer her more than words to satisfy her concerns. But the stark truth was that he had no idea how his mother would react to learning of the child, or how she would treat Royce when he took up residence in the house. Her vanity may not be prepared to accept a grandchild.
And Christopher? That morning, Brendan had been certain his brother loved Shannah’s sister. But now he wasn’t so sure. Had Chris reworked history to erase past mistakes? Brendan couldn’t deny that his brother leaving a pregnant servant girl with no resources was unconscionable. He never should have dallied with Garnette unless he was prepared to take responsibility for his actions.
Though he was certain Shannah had told him the truth, finally, Brendan still felt the puzzle was incomplete. The missing letters troubled him. How could what would have amounted to dozens of letters simply disappear?
Had Garnette’s parents gone behind her back and told his parents about the child? Only one person living could know. He’d have to talk to his mother.
“What now, my lord?” she asked.
Brendan saw the steel return to her eyes, her tears now dried. Bravo, he thought. She had strength. “We need to bring Royce here, today. It’s well past time Christopher met his son.” He took a step toward her. “I’ll call for a carriage and have Dukes and Joshua retrieve them.”
Shannah rose and put her hand on his arm. “Please, my lord, I should go. The men would only frighten the children, as they don’t know them.”
He hadn’t considered that, though he should have. Shannah had spent two years drilling caution into those children. Perhaps he hadn’t thought of it because he had no desire to let Shannah leave the manor again.
Ever again?
Brendan quieted the stray thoughts and nodded to her. “Yes, of course. But you will take the carriage, if you please. I have no desire to have a repeat of this morning.”
Perhaps it was too soon to tease, as she didn’t respond to his attempt. Instead Shannah curtsied prettily to him and left the room. He watched her leave with the distinct feeling that she’d taken a part of him with her.
At least Shannah’s absence gave him a chance to speak to his mother, a conversation he’d begun to believe had waited too long.
Brendan took the stairs two at a time. His mother would be awake from her nap and he wanted to talk to her before dinner. He wanted the conversation to be as private as possible.
Taking a deep breath, he knocked on his mother’s bedroom door.
***
Shannah tried to calm herself before the carriage reached her home, but it was proving impossible. Her heart hadn’t stopped pounding since she’d left Lord Brendan’s study, and tears pricked at her eyes. She felt awful—disloyal, a liar, a fraud—and just about everything else.
She knew the moment she returned to the manor with the children nothing in her life would ever be the same again. Her thoughts were in
turmoil. Why was she doing this? Why didn’t she just take the children and run?
Because she trusted Lord Brendan. It started there, and grew the more Shannah thought about it. She more than trusted him—she loved him.
How could she ever do something as foolish as fall in love with her employer? He was handsome, yes, but he was so much more than that. He was brave, particularly when facing pirates while rescuing her. He was compassionate, like how he treated Jayne when she turned her ankle. He was strong, but he was also tender. She would never forget how he held her in the forest after her kidnapping ordeal.
Viscount Brendan Wyndham was, in short, the ideal man.
If Shannah were prone to cursing, this would be the time for it. She didn’t know what would make a bad situation worse than to fall in love with him. Now she would not only lose Royce, but also her heart.
The carriage slowed and rocked to a stop. She didn’t wait for the footman but let herself out. Matthew peered at her through the partially open door. She pushed back her fears and gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile.
“It’s all right,” she said.
“What’s going on?” he asked, opening the door more. “Why are you home in the middle of the day? And why did you come in the viscount’s carriage?”
“I’ll explain everything to you, I promise.” Shannah knelt in front of him and put her hands on his shoulders. “But first we need to get Kora and Royce ready for a little trip. We’re all going back to the manor. Lord Brendan is expecting us.”
Matthew’s eyes narrowed. “What would he want with us?”
Shannah’s composure cracked a little. “Please, Matt. It’s something we have to do. Will you trust me?”
He hesitated before nodding. “I’ll get Royce.”
“Thank you.”
CHAPTER 13
“Come in,” his mother said, and Brendan pushed open the door. His mother sat before her vanity in a gold satin dressing gown while her maid, Lucy, tended her hair.
“This is a surprise,” Elspeth said, peering at his reflection in the mirror. “You haven’t visited me in my bedroom since you were a little boy and prone to nightmares.”
“I haven’t had occasion,” he replied. “Mother, can we speak privately? Something rather urgent has come up?”
“Is it about my headdress?” She waved her hand at Lucy, and the girl curtsied and left the room.
“No, I’m afraid it’s more serious than fashion.”
Elspeth chuckled. “Impossible.” She started to fiddle with the curls Lucy had piled on her head. “My, aren’t you the image of sobriety. Has someone died?”
Brendan wasn’t sure where to start, so he plowed ahead. “Do you recall the Marshall family? One of the daughters currently works for us.”
“I vaguely recall the name,” she responded. “The man, I believe, worked for your father at one point.”
That had been in Brendan’s childhood. He nodded. “Yes, and his oldest daughter worked as a housemaid until she died of the fever, around the same time Father did.”
Her hands hesitated for a brief second. “If you say so. We have so many servants in and out of this house, it’s impossible for me to keep track of them all.”
“Christopher was fond of this girl,” he explained. “I think you would remember her.”
The Viscountess lowered her hands. “Now that you mention it, I do recall Christopher developing an attraction to one of the maids. This would have been about three years ago, I think. His behavior is what prompted your father to declare the servants off-limits to you boys. It hadn’t been an issue before then.”
“Yes, that’s right. Her name was Garnette.”
“If you say so, dear.” She leaned closer to the mirror to inspect her hair. “Why bring all this up now? Is it because of that girl who caused such a fuss this morning? Is she the sister?”
“Yes,” he said. “Her name is Shannah.”
Elspeth waved a hand dismissively. “Did you need to fire her? I’m sure we can’t have such a disruptive servant in the household, particularly right before my birthday banquet.”
Brendan pinched the bridge of his nose. This conversation was escaping him. “No, I’m not firing Shannah. Being abducted wasn’t her fault. I wanted to talk to you about her sister and Christopher. Did her parents come to you while Chris was away at school?”
“Why would they have done that?” she asked.
She kept her voice even, but Brendan saw her hand tremble, and her eyes dart back and forth. She was lying. The worry he’d carried into the room with him doubled.
“I think you know.” He deliberately kept his voice low.
Elspeth turned to face him. “What are you getting at, exactly? What has that girl been telling you?”
“Nothing, at least not without great difficulty.” Brendan took a step forward. “But Chris did say something that confused me. He said he wrote to Garnette often while at school, but Shannah insisted her sister never received any of the letters.”
“She’s lying, obviously,” she said with a shrug. “If Christopher says he sent letter, then I’m sure he did.”
“But why would Shannah lie about that?” he asked her. “What would she have to gain from it?”
“Now you’re thinking clearly.” Elspeth rose and approached him. “What has she asked of you? Does she want money?”
“She hasn’t asked for anything,” he replied. “In fact, she’s tried her best to keep her secrets hidden.”
“What secrets?”
“Her sister’s child, for one.”
Elspeth’s eyes widened. “The babe lived?”
Brendan gripped her shoulders. “What do you know?”
She moved away. “Your father and I wanted to spare you and Christopher the embarrassment. The dead one, Garnette, was a grasping creature. She flirted with your brother so shamefully it’s little wonder he became infatuated. Your father suggested we send Christopher away to school for his own protection, but the moment he was gone the girl and her family claimed that she was pregnant with his child. It was beyond absurd.”
Brendan let her move around him as he worked her words through his mind. It didn’t track with what he’d seen of Shannah, what he remembered of her family, or what Chris had said.
“They wanted money, of course, but your father wouldn’t pay,” she went on. “We weren’t sure there even was a baby. When she died, I assumed it was all over. I only let the other girl come work here because she hadn’t had anything to do with her parents’ deceptions.” Elspeth sighed heavily. “But it seems she’s gone after you. Apparently there’s not a good apple in the bunch with that family.”
Denial hit him swift and hard. “I don’t believe you.”
His mother laughed harshly. “Come now, Brendan. Don’t tell me she has her hooks into you so quickly? You’re too mature to fall for batting eyes and sauntering hips! It’s ridiculous.”
But Brendan saw things clearer now, and he knew that whatever his parents had thought then, Garnette did not trick Chris into loving her, nor had she lied about the baby. And there was nothing conniving about Shannah.
“You’re wrong about her,” he said. “She did all she could to hide from me, and hide the child. I’m the one who pieced it together.” He glared across the room at her and she froze, like a deer in a hunter’s sights. “What did you do with the letters?”
He watched her façade crumble, and then she balled her hands into fists and stomped her foot. “Fine! You want to know so badly, then I’ll tell you. I burned them. Every last one. I didn’t raise my sons among the best in society just to have one of them fall for an insignificant commoner. Your father paid mightily to have the post redirected here, and we intercepted not only her letters, but his as well.”
Brendan recoiled from her anger. “Why? Because prestige matters more to you than your own child’s happiness? That’s demented.”
“It’s practical.”
“So you’ve
known,” he accused. “All this time, you’ve known about your grandchild but never said anything to Chris, or to me.”
“I thought the babe died with her, and don’t you dare refer to that wench’s offspring as my grandchild! I won’t have it.”
“I don’t feel as I know you at all,” Brendan said. “I knew you and Father were proud, but I never thought you’d stoop to this. Why did you let Millie hire Shannah at all, then? I would think you’d want any reminders as far away as possible.”
“I had to keep an eye on her, make certain she didn’t fill your head with a lot of nonsense,” she stated. “The girl seemed content to keep her mouth shut, and I was content to let her. How would I know that you would start poking into the past?”
Brendan drew himself up. “I’m glad I did. You had no right to keep any of this from Chris! If it were up to me, you wouldn’t be having a birthday banquet this year.”
She laughed at him again. “Now you’re going to punish me, like I’m some sort of wayward child. I am your mother, and you would do well to remember that.”
“Yes, to my shame, you are my mother. But you would do well to remember I hold the purse strings on your allowance.” Brendan came dangerously close to shouting.
“You wouldn’t dare!”
He shook his head. “No, I know how much you value money. But rest assured any further birthday celebrations will not be paid for by me. I would also recommend you decide which of our other properties you like best, and remove yourself there with all possible haste.”
She gasped. “You’re throwing me out? After all I’ve done for this family? All I’ve done for you?”
Brendan raised an accusing finger. “You’d better just be grateful I don’t tell all of your friends about all the things you’ve done for this family! If you are still here two days after your banquet ends, I will throw you out myself.”
He spun on one heel and stormed from the room, ignoring her protests and shouts. The slamming door effectively cut her off. He hurried down the hall and to the top of the stairs. Sounds drifted up from the foyer, children’s voices. Brendan took a deep, cleansing breath as he felt his anger subside. Shannah was down there, and at last he knew exactly how he felt about that.