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Graham snuck into the nursery to play with Mina, hoping to avoid the other members of his family. He found his niece sitting around a small table, hosting a tea party with her dolls. Her governess saw him, and he winked at her, holding a finger to his lips to stay silent, and pointed that she could leave and take a break. She nodded and slipped away without her charge seeing her.
“Today is a splendid day, is it not, Mrs. Potts?” Mina asked her toy.
Graham chuckled as Mina poured Mrs. Potts an imaginary cup of tea. She placed one biscuit on Mrs. Potts’s plate and three on hers.
“That is unfair of you to choose three biscuits for yourself and only offer Mrs. Potts one. I am sure she would like two biscuits to eat,” Graham reprimanded Mina, tickling her sides.
Mina squirmed to get away, giggling at his silliness. “Gam Gam, you came to play. Will you stay and have tea with us?”
Graham stretched out on the floor. “Only if my friend can join us, too.”
Mina pinched her lips, looking around. “What friend?”
Graham reached behind him and drew out the rag doll from underneath his coat. “I thought you might need a new friend to enjoy tea with.”
Mina took the doll and hugged her close. “Thank you, Gam.”
Graham accepted Mina’s hug and tapped her on the nose. “You are welcome, love.”
Mina sat the doll on a chair next to Mrs. Potts and placed one of her biscuits on a plate for her new guest. Then she handed the other biscuit to Graham. She bit into the biscuit before asking, “Uncle Gam, did you really meet a mermaid?”
Graham coughed after almost choking on a biscuit. “Yes, I suppose I did.” He saw no harm in feeding the child’s imagination.
Mina picked up Mrs. Potts and pretended the doll spoke in her ear before setting it back on the chair. “Mrs. Potts has inquired if she is pretty and if you plan to marry her?”
Graham twisted his lips, pondering the questions. “Well, Mrs. Potts, she is more than pretty. She is beyond lovely.” Graham looked around the playroom. “Can you and your friends keep a secret?”
Mina nodded with enthusiasm. “Yes. Yes.”
Graham leaned close to Mina and her dolls and whispered, “Yes, I plan to ask her to marry me soon.”
Mina jumped up and clapped her hands. “Yes! A mermaid in the family. Will she join us for tea soon?”
Graham smiled. “I believe she would love to.”
Graham spent the afternoon playing with his niece. Mina’s company helped to keep him calm, and she gave him hope for the future. He hoped he would enjoy playing with his own children within a few years. He only needed for tomorrow to come. Then everything standing in the way of his and Sabrina’s happiness would vanish, leaving them to create a life together.
He had settled in a rocking chair to read Mina a book. However, soon after he finished two pages, she fell fast asleep in his arms. He closed the book, rested it on the shelf by him, and continued rocking Mina. Soon, Evelyn came to check on her daughter.
Evelyn held out her arms to carry Mina over to her bed, but Graham shook his head no. He wasn’t ready to release his precious hold. “I do not mind holding her. I have neglected my uncle duties of late.”
Evelyn settled into a chair next to him, gazing at her daughter with motherly devotion. “She has missed you. We all have.”
Graham nodded but didn’t offer any other reply. His family’s deception still stung. It crushed his ego to think his family not only didn’t trust him, but they also held no faith in his ability to set his personal feelings aside to bring Lady Langdale to justice.
Evelyn attempted to defend her husband’s actions. “The blame lies with Uncle Theo. He is the one who wanted you kept out of the discussion. Reese argued his case for you to be involved from the start. You can even ask Falcone and everyone present about your brother’s argument.”
Graham stared at Evelyn. He always listened to her sound logic and never resisted her pleading words to forgive Reese. Hell! He had fallen in love with his sister-in-law the first day he met her. She had defied Reese and had gotten under his brother’s skin like no one ever had before. He enjoyed watching his brother fall victim to Evelyn’s charms. Graham loved Evelyn like a sister and valued her opinion of all things, even though she constantly defended his brother at every turn.
“You make it difficult for me to stay angry with Reese,” Graham mumbled.
“It is unfair of me to play on your kindness like I do. However, on this subject, you must understand how your brother defended your loyalty and how proud of you he is. How we all are.” Evelyn folded her hands on top of her stomach. “How is Sabrina?”
Graham stopped rocking. “What gives you the belief that I found her?”
Evelyn smiled wistfully. “Because the sadness in your eyes has changed. At first, your expression appears defeated, yet the longer I stare at you, the more I notice a fresh determination stronger than ever. That and you gaze upon Mina with a longing for one of your own. You wouldn’t hold that look if you didn’t believe there stood a chance for you and Sabrina.”
Graham knew exactly where Mina gained her mindfulness. Her mama held the capability to know a person’s insight. Perhaps it was why they always got along so well. Evelyn always understood when he wanted to be taken seriously or when he only teased.
“She is recovering but stands firm on remaining with Lady Langdale,” Graham admitted.
Evelyn stood and brushed the hair away from her daughter’s cheek before pressing a soft kiss on it. Then she kissed Graham’s cheek. “Then you must trust in her. Your heart holds faith she has no intention to cause me any harm. All will be well after tomorrow. After you lay Mina down, please visit with Reese.”
Evelyn left the nursery after doling out her advice. He wished it was as simple as Evelyn stated, but at this point, he wasn’t sure of anything more except for how much he loved Sabrina. Which left him taking Evelyn’s advice and placing his trust at Sabrina’s mercy. He hoped everything fell into place.
Graham rose, settled Mina on her bed, and pulled the quilt over her small frame. Mina turned on her side, clutching her new doll. After one more longing glance at his niece, he went down the stairs to Reese’s study. The door stood open, and when Graham stepped inside, he found Evelyn in Reese’s embrace, sharing a kiss.
Graham cleared his throat. “I am sorry to interrupt. Evelyn led me to believe you wished to talk. If I had known you two needed your privacy, I would have respected a closed door. However, since the door remained open, I assumed it was all right to walk in.”
Reese shook his head at Graham’s sarcasm, and Evelyn blushed bright red at what she considered his teasing. She stepped out of Reese’s embrace and started toward the door.
When she reached Graham, she swatted him on the arm and mumbled, “You are incorrigible, mister.”
Graham pecked Evelyn on the cheek. “And you would not have me any other way.”
Evelyn chuckled. “No, we would not.”
Evelyn closed the door, leaving Graham to face Reese in silence. He expected his brother to frown and settle behind his desk. However, Reese surprised Graham by walking up to him and grabbing him by his shoulders.
“I apologize for not standing up to Colebourne and demanding your presence at the start of the meeting. I want you to know how proud I am of what you have accomplished these past years. You hold my utmost trust, and you will succeed in the capture of Lady Langdale.” Reese squeezed Graham’s shoulders, emphasizing his point before dropping his arms.
Graham patted Reese on the arm before settling in an armchair by the fireplace. “Thank you for your support.”
Reese sat in the chair opposite him. “I never should have allowed Colebourne the authority in my own home.”
Graham shrugged. “I understand. With Colebourne, you are stuck in the middle with Evelyn. You and every other person in London and beyond.”
Reese winced at Graham’s sarcasm. “Yes. He has a tight hold on many people.”
Graham sat forward in his chair, clasping his hands between his knees. “I only ever wanted to gain your respect. It stung my pride when I walked in to find everyone involved left me out of something I had worked so hard to achieve.”
“We never intended to exclude you. We worried your involvement with Sabrina left you vulnerable to Lady Langdale and your feelings would jeopardize the investigation,” Reese explained.
“I understand.”
Reese blew out his breath. “But it showed our lack of faith in you, and for that, I am deeply ashamed. Because you’ve done everything to show us you would never betray the investigation. No matter how strongly you feel about Sabrina.”
Graham scoffed. “And yet today I’ve done that very thing.”
“How so?”
“I found Sabrina, and I told her of our plan for tomorrow,” Graham confessed.
“Excellent.”
Graham’s eyebrows crinkled. “Excellent?”
Reese leapt to his feet and moved behind the chair, gripping the back of it. “Yes. Honesty must exist between you two if you are to survive through this ordeal. Do you trust Sabrina?”
“Yes.” There was not an ounce of doubt in Graham’s reply.
“Then when tomorrow is upon us, you have prepared Sabrina. There will be no element of surprise for her when we destroy Barbara Langdale and end this nightmare once and for all,” Reese rationalized.
Graham peered at his brother skeptically. “You seem confident in tomorrow’s success.”
“As should you.”
Graham sat, pondering his brother’s comment. While he walked around with a bruised ego at his family’s betrayal, he also allowed his own doubt to settle in. He let every insecurity he held overtake his faith in himself. Reese was correct. Tomorrow would be a success. He had made sure of every probable outcome and had planned accordingly. He might have sold a part of his soul to the devil to accomplish success tomorrow, but once he held Sabrina in his arms and they destroyed Barbara Langdale, it would make it all worth it.
Graham stood tall. “I do.”
He reached his hand out to his brother in an act to show he forgave him, but Reese wanted no part of the simple act. He wrapped Graham in a brief hug before stepping back.
“I appreciate your guidance all these years and your belief in me.”
Reese smiled. “You’ve never had to gain my respect, Graham. Because you’ve always had it.” Reese walked over to pour them each a glass of whiskey. “Now my patience, that is another story.”
Graham took a sip. “No need to thank me. It has been a pleasure to annoy you throughout the years.”
Reese scowled. “I do not believe I offered my gratitude.”
Graham laughed. “I know.”
Reese chuckled. “My wife is correct. You are incorrigible.” Reese took a drink. “I must express my gratitude toward you, though.”
Graham appeared confused. “For what exactly?”
Reese smirked. “Of the immense pleasure I found in watching you fall. Also, I shall enjoy watching you chase the lovely Sabrina.”
Graham scoffed. “I will not have to chase Sabrina.”
Reese chuckled. “Oh, you have much to learn. I cannot wait to share this with the family at dinner.”
Graham frowned at being the subject of his brother’s amusement. He threw the whiskey back and set the glass on Reese’s desk. He growled in annoyance at Reese’s continuous laughter and stalked to the door. Graham refused to sit through dinner with his family laughing at his expense.
“I will see you tomorrow,” Graham muttered, opening the door.
He almost ran into his mother, Evelyn, and his sisters, who were eavesdropping at the door. Graham shook his head at their antics and continued on his way, especially after Reese urged them inside.
“You will not believe what Graham said,” Reese bellowed.
Graham should have stayed with Mina. At least his niece thought he hung the moon and did no wrong.
Why wouldn’t Sabrina too?