CHAPTER 14
Brendan managed not to run down the staircase, but it was a near thing. Matthew spotted him first, then Kora. Shannah was knelt over baby Royce, struggling with something. He’d almost reached them when she straightened, folding a small brown coat in her hands. Brendan wanted to smile at her, to welcome her to his home, but he stole a glance and the baby and understood why she’d fought so hard to keep him hidden.
Royce had Wyndham eyes—identical to his, Christopher’s, and their late father’s. Deep set, rich chocolate brown, and framed by thick, dark eyelashes. No one would doubt his parentage—no one could.
He tore his gaze away to find Shannah watching him intently. “Hello, again,” he said, his heart pounding unexpectedly. “I’m glad you made it back so quickly.”
“We had a time finding Royce’s coat,” she said. “I didn’t want you to worry that we’d drag our feet.”
“Mister!” Kora tugged at his pant leg. “Up.”
“Kora!” Shannah reprimanded her. “That’s no way to talk to Lord Brendan.”
Kora tugged again. “Up, please.”
Brendan laughed, joy filling him. He bent and lifted the girl into his arms. “Of course, my lady. Will there be anything else?”
“I hungry,” the little one said.
“Kora!” Shannah looked scandalized.
“We had to leave our stew half done,” Matthew explained.
“Matthew!”
“It’s a terrible business,” Brendan agreed with a short bow. “If you will follow me, I’ll show you to the nursery. I believe there are still some of my brother’s old toys in there. Then we can send for some sandwiches.”
Shannah looked like she wanted to protest, so he shook his head at her. With a sigh she picked up Royce and followed him and Kora and Matthew to the nursery which was upstairs and—thankfully—in the opposite direction as his mother’s room. Brendan opened the door to the nursery and was gratified to find that it was still regularly cleaned. He ushered them inside and then called one of the upstairs maids over to request sandwiches from the kitchen.
Shannah sidled over to him as he watched the children pull toys off the shelves. “You seem awfully happy,” she said, or rather accused.
“I am,” he replied. He reached over and tweaked Royce’s nose. The baby laughed. “It’s turning out to be a good day, indeed. I had my doubts this morning.”
Her blush stated that she knew he referred to her kidnapping. Royce had begun to struggle in earnest to be let down, and she finally gave in. “I’m a bundle of nerves, waiting to see what’s going to happen next, and you’re as happy as a priest with a full church. Is there something you aren’t telling me?”
“Hello, what’s this?” Christopher poked his head in the open door. “Are we having company, Bren?”
Brendan noted Shannah had gone still as a statue. He turned to his brother and gestured him in. “Shannah’s family is visiting us, Chris. Come in and meet them.”
He didn’t know why he’d said it that way, so casually, when the next few moments would likely redefine his brother’s life forever. But instead of holding up the baby and telling Chris all about Garnette’s secret, it suddenly became important that Chris figure it out on his own—as he had. So he took hold of Shannah’s shoulders and anchored her to his side. They would watch and see whether Chris was as astute as he claimed.
Chris, for his part, seemed a bit confused. He introduced himself to Matt and Kora easily enough, but Royce ignored him utterly, completely fascinated by a wooden horse. Chris glanced at Brendan, who shrugged, and then back at the baby.
He squatted down to eye level. “Hello,” he said softly. “And who are you?”
Royce turned his unmistakable eyes to his father, grinned, and held up two fingers.
Brendan heard Shannah stifle a sob. He glanced down to see tears streaming down her cheeks.
“My, what a handsome boy you are!” Chris said. “And you’re two years old? Such a sweet lad.” He glanced at Shannah and frowned. “You know, he looks a lot like Garnette, more than what I’d suspect from a sib . . . .”
Brendan was gratified by his brother’s shocked expression as Chris turned back to look at the babe.
Chris reached a trembling hand to touch Royce’s curly head. “His eyes. But how?”
“I think you’re old enough that I don’t have to answer that question,” Brendan told him.
Tears formed in Christopher’s eyes. “She never said a word. Why wouldn’t she tell me?”
“I’m sure she tried,” Brendan said. “The letters were intercepted.”
But Chris couldn’t stop staring at his son. He reached out to him again. Royce, sensing something had changed, lowered the toy and watched Chris. He didn’t squirm away, or cry, but just seemed to wait.
“We’ll talk later, Chris,” Brendan said. “For now, just get to know your son.”
Chris sat on the floor next to Royce. “My son.” He breathed the words with reverence.
Brendan took Shannah’s hand and pulled her from the room. She tried to protest but he proved stronger.
“My lord,” she said when he’d closed the door. “I think I should be in there. The children don’t know your brother, and Royce could become frightened.”
“It’s time they get to know each other, don’t you think?” he asked, towing her down the hall.
“I only think I should be there in case they need me.”
Brendan stopped and looked at her. She withdrew her hand from his grasp and stepped back, against the wall. He took a step toward her, closing the gap between them, and lowered his forehead to hers.
“Now that Christopher knows about his son, you and I need to have another talk,” he whispered, trying not to think of how close her lips were to his.
“Do we?”
Shannah jumped when someone cleared their throat, bumping his head. Brendan straightened and looked to find his mother at the top of the stairs, watching them. Or rather, glaring daggers at Shannah. He stepped between them, blocking Shannah’s view with his shoulder.
“Yes, we do.” He put a little more force into his voice. “Come down to my study with me.”
“Brendan, you will be late for dinner,” his mother informed him.
“You have my permission to eat without me, Mother,” he said, drawing Shannah down the stairs. “I doubt Christopher will be there, either. Eat well.”
He didn’t pay any attention to his mother’s harrumph of displeasure, but it bothered him that Shannah might. With some relief he closed them both in his study and latched the door.
“Your mother seems unhappy with me,” she said.
“That would be a drastic understatement, my dear.” Brendan motioned to the chair she favored. “Do sit down.”
“Will this be a lengthy discussion?” she asked as she sat.
“I’m not sure,” he admitted. “I’ve never had this particular discussion with anyone before.”
Her lovely eyebrows came together and she frowned at him. He nearly laughed at how adorable she looked.
“At first, this may seem odd but I do hope you will hear me out to the end.”
“I will try, my lord.”
He took the chair across from her and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “Marry me, Shannah.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “What?”
“What is your goal as guardian of your siblings? To see them well raised and prosperous, correct?”
She nodded. “In a manner of speaking, my lord. I also realize now that Christopher will take over Royce’s care, but I don’t want to be cut off from him completely.”
“Nor should you be,” he agreed. “As his aunt, it’s your right.”
“But I don’t have to marry you to secure that position,” she said. “I already am Royce’s aunt.”
Brendan smiled at her. “I realize that. But I’m looking for a solution that will solve everything, not just that solitary issue.”
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She must have recovered her composure somewhat, because she smirked at him. “How can you believe marrying me would solve everything? I refuse to believe I’d have your mother’s approval.”
“I’m not looking for my mother’s approval,” he told her. “I’m looking for yours.”
Shannah stood so quickly he was forced to sit back. “You’re impossible!” She walked around the back of the chair and faced him. “Why are we even having this discussion? We’re from two different worlds, and there’s no way of bringing those worlds together.”
Brendan chose to remain calm and hear her out rather than continue pressing his case. “What makes you say that?”
She glowered at him. “You know what.”
“No, really,” he insisted. “Please explain.”
“Why can’t I continue on as Royce’s nanny, or his governess? I could train myself to be a governess.”
Brendan’s smile faded and he slowly rose to his feet. “Boys outgrow nannies and governesses. Besides, I’m not sure I’d be able to stand that.”
“What do you mean?” She stepped to the side of the chair.
He closed the distance between them in two steps, and brushed her cheek with his knuckles. “I swore an oath to never compromise a girl in the family’s employ,” he said, taking delight in how she leaned into his touch. “You, my dear, test my resolve.”
Shannah sighed so softly he may have missed it if he’d been any farther away. “You’re confusing me,” she accused, taking a step back. “Stop that. You know we’re far too incompatible to make a good match.”
“What makes us incompatible?”
She sputtered. “Too many things to list.”
“I can wait.” Brendan folded his arms and gave her his most patient look.
“Fine.” Shannah raised a single finger. “I’m a servant.”
He shrugged. “I have servants.”
A second finger joined the first. "I'm stubborn."
"So am I."
Shannah lifted a third. "I snore."
That brought a true grin. "How do you know?"
She opened her mouth, then closed it. Four fingers. "I'm extremely argumentative."
"So am I," he said.
Her frown deepened. "No, you aren't."
Brendan's smile widened. "Yes, I am."
"No, you aren't," she repeated, too distressed to catch on. "You're ever the pacifist."
He snorted. "Hardly."
"Why do you want this, Lord Brendan?" she asked. "Do you think all you have to do is make a request and everyone leaps to do your bidding?"
Brendan looked over at his desk, where an abandoned tea service sat. Millie had probably had it sent in hours ago. The tea would be cold, but that didn’t bother him if it worked to prove his point. He gestured to it. "Pour me a cup of tea, would you, dear?"
Shannah was halfway to the teapot before she stopped. "Oh no, my lord. I know what you're doing."
Brendan affected an innocent look. "Me? I am doing nothing." Then, as an afterthought, "The tea, please, Shannah."
She continued. "You're trying to prove me wrong," she accused. "Cream?"
"No, thank you.” Brendan spread his arms wide. “I'm not trying to prove anything, dear girl. I already have."
"Have what?" She now stood directly in front of him.
His grin was surely devilish. "Proven you wrong. You will marry me."
"How do you know that?" Shannah’s perplexed expression proved almost impossible to resist.
He pointed at her hands. "Because you brought me a cup of tea."
She looked down in shock to see that he was right. She handed him his tea, and sank to a chair. “Perhaps everyone does leap to do your bidding. I know I have.”
Her expression turned contemplative as she studied him. Brendan set down his cup, and breathed deeply. She hesitated long enough to make him nervous. For once he had no idea what she was thinking.
“You hardly know me,” she said at last, though this was half-hearted at best.
“Don’t I?” Brendan went down on one knee in front of her and took her hand. “I know you’re selfless, and brave, and that you don’t consider the cost when helping others. I know you work hard, and that family matters more to you than anything. I know when you love someone, you do it with your whole being. I’ve seen it with the children.”
She smiled. “It’s impossible not to love the children.”
He squeezed her hand. “I know it took you no time at all to stumble into my heart. I had no resistance.”
Shannah gave him a look of such wonder he found hope. “Your heart? Are you saying . . . ?”
“I love you,” he whispered.
“You can’t fall in love in only two days,” she said.
“I didn’t. I’ve loved you from afar, but only realized it today. You have no idea how long you’ve held my interest.”
She lowered her gaze. “How can I know if this is real?”
“Time,” he told her. “Time will prove the truth of my words.”
"We are very much alike, you and I," she began, looking at her hands. "You say you only just realized you love me, when it is I who just realized I love you."
It took a few seconds for her meaning to reach him. When it did, Brendan lifted her chin with his fingers and met her eyes. "Are you certain of this?"
Shannah tried to nod. "Yes, my lord."
“Call me Brendan,” he instructed just before his lips settled on hers. “My Shannah.”
He stood and pulled her into his arms for a proper kiss. Her shy smile encouraged him. The moment their lips touched transported him—he knew his life would never again be the same. They would share their future together. Always.
Shannah ended the kiss long before he’d finished, but as she pressed her head against his pounding chest he conceded it wiser to stop.
“We should tell the children,” she said. “So much has changed.”
He laughed. “That’s a beautiful understatement, my dear.”
CHAPTER 15
In the nursery, they found Christopher pinned under a sleeping Royce. Matthew had taken Kora to the window sill and was reading to her. Shannah’s heart melted a bit seeing Royce so comfortable with his father. Matt’s face, however, worried her. He looked filled with confusion and conflict.
She wanted to explain everything to him right away but didn’t want to wake the baby, who had recently begun a promising drool spot on Christopher’s shirt.
Chris noticed them then. “Hello,” he said in a carrying whisper. “Sorted out your differences, then?”
Brendan squeezed her hand. “We have.”
“Splendid.” Chris turned his eyes to Shannah. “Would you mind giving me a hand?”
“He’s had a difficult couple of days,” she said as she hurried to lift Royce off of him. He hardly stirred but tucked his head under her chin. “He’s simply worn out.”
“He wore me out.” Chris groaned as he got to his feet. “Here, I can take him now.”
Shannah hesitated, though she knew she shouldn’t. Sharing Royce would take getting used to, though once the babe was settled again in his father’s arms she had to admit he looked better there.
“I have to thank you,” Chris said. “For taking such good care of him all this time.”
“It was my pleasure.” She tucked away the seed of fear she still felt for Royce’s future. Even with a father, it would not be easy growing up as an illegitimate child. Society tended to be especially harsh there. “I think, though, he will prefer a quiet life away from a lot of activity and socialization.”
Christopher’s eyes showed confusion. “What do you mean?”
She froze, uncertain how to explain.
Brendan seemed to understand, however. He squeezed her shoulders. “Illegitimate children can still legally inherit title and wealth,” he explained gently. “If the father claims them and puts them in his will.”
Chris looked affronted. “Royce is
not illegitimate.”
This time Brendan looked confused. “But you said that you left before marrying Garnette.”
Christopher shook his head. “I’m surprised at you, Bren. I would never abandon the girl I loved with no protection. The night before I was sent away, I snuck out to see her. We woke a magistrate in Gilcrest and paid him to marry us.”
“Why would you go two towns over to get married?” Shannah asked.
“Because Garnette insisted it be our secret,” he explained. “Any local magistrate would have reported the news directly to my father. Garnette was still bent on getting their approval before announcing our marriage. She even wanted to stage a second wedding for them, but that first wedding was ours alone.”
“You have documentation, I presume,” Brendan said.
“Naturally,” Chris replied. “Our marriage certificate is tucked away in my favorite book on the shelf in my room. I couldn’t risk anyone finding it, and Garnette didn’t have much privacy at home.”
“I don’t believe this.” Shannah felt as though a great weight had been taken from her. “You truly married her? She never said a word.”
“Like I said, she wanted my parents to approve of her.” Christopher’s eyes had grown sorrowful. “And I couldn’t leave her alone with nothing. I regret I could only leave her with my name.”
Brendan grinned then. “You left her with more than that.”
Christopher’s abrupt laugh startled Royce, who stirred. Chris patted his back soothingly and rocked him until he settled again.
It melted Shannah’s heart that much more. “I’m so relieved.”
“To be honest, so am I,” Brendan said. “Tomorrow we can update the official record of his birth, naming you as his father.”
Chris nodded. “Now, don’t you two have something you’d like to announce?”
“Yes, we do,” Shannah said, crossing the room to sit with Matt and Kora. She put an arm around each of them. “Matt, I have good news for you. You’re never going to have to milk a goat again.”
THE END
About the Author
Cheri Chesley believes in miracles and the magic of books in everyday life. When not writing, she can be found reading the dictionary for fun or devouring any of the many books in her library. She lives with her husband and numerous children in Waurika, OK. Look for updates on her latest works at www.cheri-chesley.com.