Chapter Six

Despite stopping at roadside inns to eat and stretch their legs, Luke was stiff and his rump numb by the time they finally arrived in London. He hadn’t ridden that long in a carriage since he was a youngster. However, other than the stiffness, he had to admit it hadn’t been all that bad. He could now tell Fern and Ivy apart without even looking for the little mole on Ivy’s face, and Aislinn, well... He knew one thing. If he’d had a governess like her, he might have been better behaved. The feeling of being rewarded with one of her smiles was beyond comprehension. Even at his current age.

Night had fallen some time ago. The streets were quiet, the houses dark. He hadn’t sent a messenger ahead for the house to be prepared for them. Hadn’t even thought about it, until Aislinn had questioned if he had done so a short time ago.

He’d been on his own for so long, that simply showing up and leaving whenever he chose had become a habit. One he might have to break.

Strike that.

It’s one he would have to break.

He’d never been responsible for anyone other than himself, but he was now, and that was not something he would fail at, in any way.

There were probably several other habits that he’d need to break. He just wasn’t sure what they were right now. Looking at Aislinn, who was sitting across from him, with a sleeping child on each side using her lap as a pillow, he said, ‘I’m going to need your help.’

She nodded, waited for him to say more. So far, she was turning out to be a good partner. The best looking one he’d ever had, that was for sure, and she sure knew how to take care of children. He’d never seen more well-behaved youngsters than Fern and Ivy. All Aislinn had to do was smile and nod, or shake her head, still always with a smile, and they complied. Maybe that’s how it was with girls, because he knew for certain he hadn’t been that well behaved as a boy.

‘I haven’t been here in eight years,’ he said, ‘have lived a very different life. You’ll need to remind me—tell me—things I need to do at times. Like send a messenger ahead so the servants are prepared for our arrival.’

The moonlight shining in through the open windows gave her face a golden glow as she smiled. ‘I can do that.’

He gave her a grin. ‘Up for the challenge, are you?’

‘Yes, I am.’

There was that smile again, and it sent his heart careening sideways a bit. She was different today, more confident. Then again, being away from Havenbrook was sure to make her feel better. He was glad about that. ‘Good. I will remember—strike that—I will try to remember some things.’

Tilting her head slightly to one side, she asked, ‘I’ve heard you say strike that before. Why?’

‘It comes from a tutor I had years ago. He’d make me read what I’d written aloud, and when there was something wrong, or that he didn’t like, he’d say strike that. Then make me write something in its place. It just stuck with me.’ Mr Westerly had always reminded him of a wise old owl, with his glasses perched low on his nose and his forehead lined with wrinkles. His ‘strike that’ remarks had often referred to things that might have been false. He’d say, if it can’t be proven, don’t write it.

Luke grinned. That had stuck with him, too, and he was glad, because he’d used that advice when writing to Rowland. Everything in his letters had been true.

The coach rolled to a stop, and he leaned over and opened the door. ‘Wait here. I’ll go to the house, announce our arrival. You said the butler’s name is Gabriel Houghton?’

‘Yes. His wife works here, too. Her name is Mary Ann. Besides Claire, and her husband, John, there are also a couple of maids and a cook.’

‘Thanks. I’ll be back shortly. The driver will remain with the coach, so don’t fear.’

‘We’ll be fine,’ she said.

With a nod, he climbed out and, after speaking with Benjamin, his personal attendant, now driver, because Percy had insisted that the staff at Havenbrook were all under his employ, and that was a battle he’d chosen to let his brother think he’d won, Luke made his way to the front door. It was opened on the second knock, by a man wearing a floor-length nightshirt, pointed sleeping hat, and holding a lighted lamp before his face.

‘I apologise for the lateness of the hour,’ Luke said, while avoiding the blaze of the flame blinding him. ‘I presume you are Gabriel Houghton.’

Frowning, the man gave a nod. ‘I am.’

‘I’m the late Duke of Havenbrook’s younger brother, Luke Carlisle.’

The man’s eyes nearly popped out of his head, and he lowered the lamp. ‘Oh—’ With a slight bow, he said, ‘Welcome, my lord, welcome. I do notice a strong resemblance. Forgive me, sir, my apologies.’

‘Nothing to forgive on your part,’ Luke said. ‘I have Aislinn—Miss Blaydon, and Fern and Ivy in the carriage. We’ll be staying here for a time.’

‘Oh, that is wonderful, my lord,’ Gabriel said, genuinely enthusiastic. ‘Truly wonderful. The entire house will be very happy to have them here, and yourself. I’ll alert the staff immediately, and your rooms will be ready promptly. Will you be requiring a meal be served before retiring?’

‘No, thank you, we ate along the way,’ Luke replied.

‘Did you cook it over a campfire?’ a voice asked.

Luke turned towards a darkened hallway, watching as a somewhat burly man with a mass of blond hair stepped into the foyer.

‘This is—’ the butler started, but the other man cut him off.

‘I know who it is, and I know he’s been cooking over a campfire since he was about five.’ The man, with a face that looked boyish in comparison to his size, walked closer. ‘I know, because I was with him most of the time.’

Recognition hit full force and Luke threw his head back with laughter. ‘Doolittle Dobbs! What are you doing here?’ Doo, as he’d been known back then, had been his first playmate. He’d lived on one of the farms with his grandparents and mother, who had provided extra help at the house when needed. Luke had been sorely disappointed when, upon a break from boarding school one year, he’d learned Doo’s mother had remarried and they’d moved to London.

‘I am—was—your brother, the Duke’s, chef.’ Doo gave his hand a hard shake. ‘So sorry about that. We all miss the Duke and Duchess.’

‘Thank you,’ Luke said, giving Doo a slap of friendship on the shoulder. ‘It was a great loss.’

Doo nodded, then glanced at the door. ‘I’ll go warm up some milk for the little misses. It’ll help them fall back to sleep after being roused.’

‘Thanks,’ Luke said. ‘I’ll go get them, and Doo, it’s great seeing you.’ He wondered why Rowland hadn’t told him about Doo working here. Then again, he might have mentioned it in a letter, and he’d forgotten. His brother had mentioned people he’d known regularly.

Not wanting to leave Aislinn waiting too long, he hurried back outside.

He told Benjamin to see that the luggage was carried inside, and then take the carriage around to the carriage house and see that the horses were taken care of.

The girls were awake and wearing cute little capes over their dresses as they climbed out of the carriage. Both yawned and rubbed at their eyes. He picked Ivy up first, settling her in one arm, then lifted Fern with the other. ‘Mr Dobbs is making you some warm milk.’

They each nodded, but leaned their heads on his shoulders as if too tired to do more. They were. It had been a long day. ‘The rooms are being prepared,’ he told Aislinn. ‘It shouldn’t take long.’

With Aislinn directing, because he’d only been to the house a handful of times, he carried Fern and Ivy into the kitchen, where Doo already had a fire going in the cook stove.

‘Hello, Miss Blaydon,’ Doo greeted cheerily.

‘Hello, Mr Dobbs,’ she replied. ‘I hope all is well here.’

It was no surprise for the two to know each other, but an odd sensation tickled Luke’s spine at the way Doo looked at Aislinn. Should Luke be wondering if there was something between her and the cook? He wasn’t one to jump to conclusions, nor was he one to have a jealous streak. Still, something wasn’t settling well within him. Aislinn was a very pretty woman, and the first nanny had fallen in love with the stableman here. He didn’t want to believe he was jealous of anyone, but that’s how it felt.

‘We’ve all been missing the Duke and Duchess.’ Doo set a pot on the stove. ‘More and more.’

The large wooden worktable stood between Doo and Aislinn, and Luke glanced back and forth between them. The hairs on the back of his neck were popping up into standing positions. He had the distinct impression that something was being left unsaid.

‘It’s certainly been an adjustment,’ Aislinn said.

‘That it has, miss,’ Doo replied.

A brown-haired woman, with a beaming smile on her face, hurried into the room. ‘For a moment I thought I was dreaming!’ she exclaimed, hurrying towards Aislinn. Stopping suddenly when she saw him holding the girls, she bowed her head. ‘Forgive me, my lord.’

He met Aislinn’s gaze, which silently told him not to worry about the curtsey or the address. She was right, and he knew who the newcomer must be. ‘Hello, Mrs Moore,’ he said. ‘Aislinn’s told me about you.’

Claire’s cheeks pinkened as she nodded, then glanced at Aislinn and quietly said, ‘The nursery is ready.’

Aislinn stepped forward, holding out her arms. ‘We will take the girls upstairs.’

‘I’ll have the milk brought up as soon as it’s warm,’ Doo said.

Luke handed Fern to Aislinn, and Ivy to Claire, then waited until they were gone from the room and the door was closed before he asked Doo, ‘What wasn’t being said between you and Aislinn?’ He’d never been one to beat around the bush, and wasn’t going to start now. If the two of them were in love, he needed to know.

Doo remained silent the entire time he poured milk into the pot and put the jar back in the icebox. Then he took a wooden spoon out of a drawer and walked back to the stove. ‘Do you want me to answer that as a friend, or as an employee?’

Luke was about to say that he wasn’t Doo’s employer, but realised that he was, for now anyway, and would continue to be once the guardianship was settled. His life had changed and he would have to get used to that. In some ways. ‘As a friend,’ he replied.

Doo nodded. ‘As your friend, I’ll first say, I have no intentions towards Aislinn, other than being worried about her and those little girls. As her friend, I’ll say, you better be good to her.’

He wasn’t sure if he should be relieved or worried. ‘I have every intention of being good to her.’

Doo nodded in acceptance and continued to stir the milk. ‘Your brother has left this place in dire straits.’

Luke didn’t believe that. ‘Rowland would never—’

‘Not that brother,’ Doo said. ‘The late Duke was an excellent employer. It’s the other one who has left us paying for everything out of our wages.’

Luke didn’t hold back the curse that struck. ‘Your wages,’ he said, not in question, just in disgust.

‘Yes, which he also cut in half,’ Doo said. ‘In my opinion, he was hoping we’d abandon the place before you showed up.’

Percy had struck again. Luke was really getting tired of being ambushed. He ran a hand through his hair. ‘I need to know everything.’

‘And I don’t mind being the one to tell you.’ Doo pointed towards a chair. ‘You want warm milk or something stronger?’

‘Stronger,’ Luke replied.

‘I truly thought I was dreaming when John said you and the girls were here.’ Claire rubbed Ivy’s back and planted a kiss upon her head. ‘I’m so happy to see all of you. It is like a dream come true. We’ve all been so worried about you and the girls being at Havenbrook with Hazel.’

‘Things have been different,’ Aislinn admitted as they started walking up the stairway to the second floor, ‘but we are all fine. We are happy to be here, too.’

‘Doo was certain that Mr Carlisle would come home,’ Claire said. ‘They were friends as young children.’

‘I wasn’t aware of that,’ Aislinn said.

‘He is just as I imagined,’ Claire whispered. ‘Just as others described in looks. Very handsome.’

Aislinn took a deep breath in an attempt to keep her heart in check. It had been out of control all day, even after she’d switched seats, so she sat across from him instead of beside him. Life was a bit out of control right now, with all the changes and worries about how things would eventually turn out, but that wasn’t the only reason she felt so out of sorts. It was him. You would think she would be getting used to him. Yet, the more she got to know him, the more time she spent in his company, the more the butterflies in her stomach increased and her pulse thudded harder beneath her skin.

Claire was looking at her with more than curiosity. It was not only logical to agree, it was the truth. Aislinn nodded. ‘He is.’

‘Did he return because of the letter Doo wrote to him?’ Claire asked, as she opened the door to the nursery.

Lamps had been lit and Aislinn was grateful that the room looked just as it had the last time they’d been here. Carrying Fern to one of the two beds, she said, ‘Luke didn’t mention a letter from Doo. Rowland’s solicitor wrote to him. His family had not informed him of what had happened.’

‘By family, you mean Percy. That’s exactly what Doo assumed, and why he sent a letter off last month. He said Luke would come home as soon as he heard about his brother.’ Claire set Ivy on the bed and began to undress her. ‘When did he arrive?’

‘Yesterday morning.’ Setting aside Fern’s dress, Aislinn reached for the nightdress that had been laid out on the bed. The girls were both so drowsy, they wouldn’t need any warm milk to aid them in falling back to sleep.

‘I can imagine that Percy wasn’t happy to see him,’ Clair said while putting on Ivy’s night dress.

‘No, he was not. He and Hazel are fighting Luke for guardianship.’

‘I’m not surprised.’ Claire said. ‘Considering everything else they’ve done. It appears as if their only goal is to make everyone’s life miserable.’

‘They are certainly doing that.’ Aislinn pulled back the covers, laid Fern down on the bed and pulled the blankets over her, before giving her cheek a soft kiss.

Claire did the same with Ivy, then they switched places to repeat the process, much like they had done when the girls were infants.

They each collected the discarded clothing, and as they stepped away from the beds, Claire shook her head. ‘Poor little poppets. It still just breaks my heart that they lost both their mama and papa.’

‘I know.’ Aislinn stared at the girls, who had each turned onto their sides and were already slumbering. ‘I’ve tried to explain, but it’s so difficult. They just don’t understand, and talk as if their parents will return someday.’

‘It’s hard for all of us to understand,’ Claire said, walking towards the wardrobe. ‘And it’s inconceivable that their very own uncle is making everything so much worse.’

Aislinn inspected Fern’s dress as she crossed the room, checking for smears or marks that would become stains if she didn’t see to them immediately. ‘I’m glad to see that things here are normal.’

‘They might look normal, but they aren’t.’ Claire hung up Ivy’s dress and cape and then walked back towards the beds to collect the socks and shoes. ‘Staff from Percy’s other home were here, trying to take things, furniture and such, but Doo and Gabe wouldn’t let them. Doo insisted that everything here stayed until Luke arrived. He knew that Rowland had willed everything outside of the duchy to Luke.’

‘He could have been fired,’ Aislinn said, worried for Doo. The cook had been here before she arrived four years ago, and though his size could be intimidating, he’d always been very kind. She’d sensed something different about him when he’d greeted her downstairs, and now understood why. Things here were as bad as they’d been at Havenbrook.

‘Doo said that Percy couldn’t fire any of us,’ Claire said. ‘That only Luke could do that, and he told the man who was here this morning that Luke was also the only person who could close this house down. That none of us would leave until we heard directly from him.’

Aislinn frowned, taking in what Claire had said. ‘This morning? What man?’

‘He said he was from the courts, and would return tomorrow with an official order from a judge for us to shut the house down and vacate the property.’

Aislinn had several questions, but was prevented from asking any of them by a knock on the door. Being closer to the door, she crossed the room and pulled it open.

‘I thought I’d bring this up myself, tell the girls good night,’ Luke said, carrying a tray that held two small glasses of milk as he stepped into the room.

Rather than going crazy, this time Aislinn’s heart melted a bit. He was so caring towards the girls. Throughout the day, he’d read to them, told them stories, and even played a game of tag when they’d stopped to stretch their legs. Had they been awake, they would have loved the opportunity to say good night to him. ‘They are already asleep,’ she said, feeling his disappointment. ‘I don’t believe they fully awakened upon arrival.’

‘I’m sure they didn’t,’ he answered. ‘It was a long day for them. A long ride.’ He glanced towards Claire and gave her a nod, before turning back to her. ‘In that case, could we talk for a moment?’

‘Of course.’ She wanted to tell him what Claire had just told her.

‘Excuse me, my lord,’ Claire said, approaching with her hands held out. ‘I will return that to the kitchen.’

Luke handed her the tray. ‘Thank you, Claire.’

Claire left and Luke closed the door behind her. ‘I’m sorry. I know it’s late, but this won’t take long.’

‘It’s perfectly fine.’ Aislinn wasn’t sure where to start with all she’d learned.

‘Did Percy cut your wage in half?’

Unprepared for this question, because her mind had been so full of things to tell him, she nodded.

‘By God!’ he hissed quietly. ‘He’s going to ruin our family’s name with his greed and manipulations.’ Pacing the floor in front of her, he asked, ‘Have you been paid any wages in the past three months?’

A fleeting thought of justifying herself for not objecting to the lack of pay formed, but she chose to simply answer, ‘No.’

‘Did everyone at Havenbrook have their wages cut?’ he asked. ‘Have they not been paid?’

‘I don’t know. I was told if I discussed it with anyone, told anyone, I would be fired. I can only assume it was the same for others. But I need to tell you that a man came here this morning, to this house, ordering that the place be closed down and that everyone vacate the property. He’s to return tomorrow morning.’

‘I know. Doo told me. Told me a whole lot more than that. No one will need to vacate.’ He shook his head. ‘No one has been paid their wages since Rowland died. The staff here are paying for everything, food, lamp oil, feed for the horses, with their own money. Percy wanted them all to quit, to be gone by the time I arrived, including you, so I would have to start from scratch in taking care of the girls.’

She covered her mouth to hold in a gasp, because it made perfect sense. Percy and Hazel knew she would never leave the girls willingly. Not for lack of payment or anything else. The girls were the only family she’d truly known, and she wouldn’t give that up. Not again.

This was all so wrong. The old Duke and Duchess would have been appalled to know what was happening.

‘We have a lot to do tomorrow,’ Luke said. ‘We’ll need to get started early. Can you be ready by eight?’

Forcing herself not to tremble was practically impossible, because she was sure she couldn’t be of any help to him. She was simply the governess, and he needed far more than she could give. Fear of failing him and the girls made her eyes burn. Holding her breath, she nodded. ‘Of course.’

His smile was tender, as was the way he took a hold of her hand, squeezing it. ‘I know I’m asking a lot of you.’

She squeezed her eyes closed to hold the stinging from turning into tears. If only there was something, something real and tangible, that she could do to really help him.

Before she realised what was happening, Luke wrapped his arm around her, holding her in a tight hug. On their own, her arms wrapped around his waist, as if hugging him was completely natural. It felt that way, too. His strong hold, his firm, solid body pressed up against hers, felt right and eased the fear that had been threatening to consume her.

‘We can do this,’ he whispered.

She nodded, not because she was convinced, but because he gave her hope.

It wasn’t until he released her that it dawned on her just how inappropriate it was for her to hug him. Or him her. That was also when she realised the chaos happening inside her. Not only was her heart thudding erratically, other parts of her were tingling and swirling with warmth. Private parts.

She stepped backwards and did her best not to meet his gaze, without it looking like she was avoiding his eyes.

He touched her arm, gave it a slight pat. ‘Get some rest, Aislinn. I’ll see you in the morning.’

‘Good night.’

He closed the door and her knees gave out. She sank down on the closest chair. What was happening to her? She was woefully unsophisticated and had no experience with men, especially not one so strong and formidable. Yet, she knew her body’s reaction right now had nothing to do with the girls. If he was someone different, would she be so willing to help? So committed to helping him, even though she had no idea what the final outcome would be? She could do all of this and never see the girls again if he chose to take them to America.

All in all, she could be working towards the one thing she didn’t want to happen—to have the girls taken away from her.

Was she merely fooling herself? She was from a very different class of life than him, and the girls, and nothing would ever change that. Nothing would ever make them a true family.