CHAPTER 26

Grace awoke to find her room in shadows. She blinked, trying to chase the cobwebs from her brain. What time was it? Memories of Christian’s illness flashed through her. She bolted upright in the bed, smoothing down her wrinkled skirt. More images rose in her mind. Andrew picking her off the floor, carrying her to the rocker, comforting her while she bared her soul to him.

What must he think of her? She’d been an emotional mess, a state she rarely, if ever, found herself in. When she saw him again, she would apologize for her display and assure him it wouldn’t happen again.

Squaring her shoulders, she entered the nursery, relieved to find Virginia instead of Andrew.

Virginia rose from the rocker. “You’re awake at last. I hope you’re feeling better. Andrew said you weren’t quite yourself.”

“I’m much better, thank you.”

A smile bloomed on Virginia’s face. “You’ll be pleased to know Christian’s fever broke this morning, and Dr. Ballard has pronounced him on the road to recovery.”

Grace joined Virginia at the crib and laid a hand on the sleeping boy’s forehead. Cool to the touch. She closed her eyes and breathed a prayer of thanks. “Has he taken his bottle?”

“He drank about half of it. And it wore him out. The doctor said it would take a few days before he’s back to normal and that he’d likely be fussy, off his usual schedule.”

“As long as he’s going to be fine, I don’t care how fussy he gets.”

Virginia put her arm around her. “I know what you mean. I’ve never been more scared in my life. I don’t know what we would do if we ever lost him.”

The words curled around Grace’s heart, tugging with the weight of guilt. What would Virginia do if she knew Grace had been considering taking Christian to England? She still hadn’t completely ruled out the idea if Andrew asked Cecilia to marry him.

“You must be hungry yourself,” Virginia said. “You slept almost round the clock. I’ll stay here if you want to get something to eat.”

“Thank you. I believe I am hungry.” She laughed, her taut muscles loosening at long last, now that she knew Christian would be all right.

Before she reached the door, Andrew entered the room. Grace’s pulse kicked up at the sight of his handsome face. Yet her smile froze when his eyes didn’t warm in greeting as they normally did.

Instead, his gaze bounced off her and settled on Virginia. “How is he doing now?”

“You heard what the doctor said. He won’t have his usual energy for a few days yet.” Virginia picked up a knitted blanket from the rocker and folded it. “Grace is feeling much better after her sleep, so between the two of us, we can look after him. You don’t need to feel guilty about going in to work.”

Andrew straightened, his expression darkening. “Actually I need to speak to Grace before I leave. In the library, please.” Without waiting for her reply, he walked out of the room.

Grace’s stomach swooped at his flat tone. Had he decided Christian’s illness was her fault after all, that she’d been negligent in her duties? And if so, would he dismiss her?

She shot a desperate glance at Virginia, who only shrugged.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” With trepidation beating in her chest, she headed down the stairs.

Andrew stared out the window in the library, his thoughts consumed with the conversation he was about to have, one he dreaded more than his father’s lectures. If Grace admitted what Andrew knew to be true, he didn’t see how he could possibly keep her on staff. Part of him held out a slim hope that she might offer a plausible explanation for what he’d discovered, yet what possible reason could there be?

His emotions wavered between anger and despair, further proof he’d lost all perspective when it came to Grace. Without intending to, he’d let down his guard and allowed her into his heart. But it was all a lie, a huge deception.

She’d used Virginia to obtain an interview for the job and manipulated his emotions—as well as his family’s—to ingratiate her way into their lives. Was it her plan all along to make him fall in love with her in the hope that he’d marry her and thereby gain access to Christian? His temple throbbed with the agony of thoughts plaguing him. He didn’t even hear the door open.

“Andrew? Is everything all right?” Grace’s quiet voice filled the room.

He squared his shoulders and turned to face her, keeping his expression stony. “Sit down.”

He waited until she was seated before taking his father’s chair, which creaked as he leaned forward. Despite his erratic heartbeat, he did his best to maintain a calm outward demeanor. It wouldn’t do to let his anger get the best of him.

Grace’s hand fluttered to the neck of her blouse as she waited for him to speak, her face pale.

“I want to know,” he said slowly, “why you’ve been lying to us—to me—all this time.”

Her mouth fell open, her eyes widening with a hint of fear. “I . . . I don’t understand.”

Without a word, he pulled her Bible from the top drawer and slid it toward her, then waited for her reaction.

“My Bible,” she said. “Where did you . . . ?” A frown creased her brow, and then as realization dawned, horror flooded her features.

“Why didn’t you tell us who you really are?” He slipped the photo from the book and tossed it down in front of her. “That you’re Rose’s sister. Christian’s aunt.” With effort, he held his anger in check. “What kind of game are you playing, Miss Abernathy?”

She flinched, then picked up the picture and ran a trembling finger over the glossy surface. When she lifted her head, tears shimmered in her eyes. “I’m sorry. It was the only way I could think of to get close to Christian.”

“Other than what? Telling the truth?”

She tilted her chin, brown eyes flashing. “What do you think your father would have done if I’d shown up at your door and said, ‘Good day. I’m the sister of the woman you despised. I’m here to establish a connection with my nephew’? Do you really think he would have welcomed me with open arms?”

A flush heated Andrew’s cheeks, for he couldn’t dispute her point. “Maybe not right away. But I’m sure once he got used to the idea—”

Grace scoffed. “You know very well he would never have let me in the house, much less allow me to be part of Christian’s life. Even now, after months of living here, he barely tolerates me.”

She had a valid point. Andrew let a few beats of silence pass. Long enough to let both of their tempers settle.

“How did you know what my father’s reaction would be?” he asked at last.

“Rose wrote me every week. She told me how badly your family treated her.” Defiance glowed in her eyes. “How they disowned Frank for marrying her. How your father fired her from her job at the hotel, and how when Frank left to go overseas, she couldn’t afford to keep their flat and had to go back to the boardinghouse.”

Despite his anger, Andrew’s heart sank. He’d never considered what life had been like for Rose with Frank away for so long.

“When she found out she was expecting, she hid her pregnancy as long as possible, but once her employer learned of her condition, he let her go. Rose had the baby, and they lived on the charity of a stranger.” Tears squeezed from beneath Grace’s closed lids. She drew a handkerchief from her apron and dabbed her face.

Andrew stifled another surge of guilt, hardening himself to her pain. “For the sake of the baby, Rose should have swallowed her pride and come to us.”

“And what do you imagine your father would have done?” Grace’s eyes snapped with anger. “Rose was terrified he’d take the baby from her, and what recourse would she have had against such a rich, powerful man?”

Andrew went still for he again couldn’t deny the truth of her statement. Yet it didn’t excuse what Grace had done. “So you came to seek revenge for your sister’s mistreatment? Is that it?”

Grace jerked up from the chair, her mouth pinched. “I won’t dignify that with a reply.” She grabbed her Bible and headed for the door.

“Just a minute.” Andrew hated the desperation in his voice.

She half turned and stood waiting while he rose slowly from his chair.

“I need to know. What was your real intention when you followed Virginia to the park?” He was bluffing, assuming she’d done just that.

Her cheeks reddened, and she let out a breath. “At first, I only wanted to catch a glimpse of Christian. To make sure he was all right. But when the opportunity of the nanny position presented itself, I couldn’t pass it up. I promised Rose . . .” Her voice cracked. “I promised I would take care of her baby if anything happened to her. I had to be sure your family wasn’t as terrible as she’d made out in her letters.”

“And if we were?”

Her gaze faltered and she shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Somehow he didn’t quite believe her. Had she planned to challenge him for custody of the boy?

“You’ve lived with us for two months now. You saw how much we love Christian, how well he’s cared for. Why didn’t you tell me the truth then?”

The distinct tick of the desk clock matched the cadence of his heartbeat.

“I was too afraid,” she whispered.

“Afraid of what?” He held his breath, praying for her to say something that would make him understand.

“That you’d hate me. Like you do now.” She pressed her handkerchief to her mouth.

Andrew exhaled loudly and ran a hand over his beard, conflicting emotions battling within him.

“What are you going to do?” she asked softly. “Will you tell your parents?”

Every instinct told him he should order her to leave immediately. But staring at her profile, the delicate curve of her cheek, the sweep of her lashes, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Silently he cursed his weakness. “I haven’t decided.”

She took a step toward him, a glimmer of hope brimming in her eyes. “Nothing has to change. I still want to be Christian’s nanny.”

The muscles in his neck seized. How could she expect him to pretend nothing had changed when everything had?

“I love him, Andrew. He’s my nephew too. The only thing I have left of my sister. Don’t I have a right to be part of his life?”

Her pleading expression was more than he could endure. He turned to stare out the window before he caved in and granted her request. “The problem,” he said without looking at her, “is that I no longer trust you. And if I can’t trust you, how can I let you be responsible for Christian?”

“I would never do anything to harm him.” Her voice quivered. “Even if you can’t forgive me for lying, surely you must believe that.”

He wanted to believe her. To be able to say he forgave her. But he couldn’t force the words from his mouth. “I need time to think. I’ll have an answer by tomorrow. In the meantime, Virginia will look after Christian.”

Andrew heard a sharp intake of breath and what sounded like a quiet sob. He clenched his hands into fists, not daring to look at her for fear that witnessing her tears would weaken what little resolve he had left.

Still facing the window, he didn’t move a muscle until the door had clicked shut behind her.