He couldn’t wait to see Bridget again.
Chapter Seven
When morning came, Stephen was up, dressed, and ready to leave well before eight o’clock. If he kept up a good pace, he could make it most of the way back to London today. An early start the following day, and he wouldn’t have wasted the best part of a week in travelling to the far-flung outreaches of Witley, Surrey.
He didn’t bother with breakfast. The sooner he was on the road, the quicker Moore Manor would be behind him. His day was well planned, and it was his to do with as he saw fit. He was the master of his own destiny.
After a cursory glance around the downstairs area, which failed to produce either Mister or Mrs. Granville, he found a piece of paper and left them a short note. With his satchel tucked under his arm, Stephen stepped out into the yard, his destination, the stables.
The stable boy was holding the reins of Stephen’s saddled horse, which pleased him greatly. The rest of the scene, however, had a frown set quickly to his face.
In the yard, Mister and Mrs. Granville were standing either side of Toby. His brother. Mrs. Granville had a small travel bag in her hand. Stephen took one look at the bag and figured it wouldn’t take a genius to guess its contents.
As he approached, Mister Granville came forward. “Before you go anywhere, Sir Stephen, may I have a word?”
There was a definiteI’m not taking no for an answeredge to the steward’s voice. At the same time, Mrs. Granville straightened her back and glared at Stephen. These people meant business.
“Something tells me I don’t have a lot of choice,” grumbled Stephen.
He and Mister Granville moved to a distant corner of the yard, well out of earshot of anyone else. The moment they stopped and faced one another; the old man started in on him. “I know what you are going to say. That the boy is not your responsibility. That your father was a terrible parent, and if you take Toby on, there is every chance that you will transpire to be the same. You had no idea Toby even existed until yesterday, and you can hardly be expected to take on the role of his guardian.”
The list seemed endless.
Stephen desperately wracked his brains, seeking another good reason as to why he should leave the boy at Moore Manor and forget about him. Attempting to deny any familiar link with Toby seemed at best petulant. He wasn’t that cruel. The boy was obviously Sir Robert’s by-blow.
“I don’t have time for a child. I am a busy man,” replied Stephen.
It’s the truth. What am I to do with him while I am out on a job? I can’t possibly take him to France or Spain with me.
Mister Granville growled. The glint of a man well-prepared for battle shone in his eyes. Stephen didn’t want to know how long the steward had been practicing his speech. It was far too eloquent and well-thought-out for his liking.
“There are such things as nannies and housekeepers. You could engage one, Sir Stephen. Toby needs you, and dare I say . . . you need him,” said Granville.
Stephen gave a derisive snort.
That’s preposterous. I don’t need anyone. Let alone a child. That’s why I don’t ever intend to marry or have a family.
He was in a tight bind, but he was prepared to negotiate. Everyone had a price.
“I will pay for the boy’s upkeep and education. You and Mrs. Granville both seem perfectly capable of taking care of him. I can even look to increase your annual wage if that sweetens the deal.”
Granville stepped forward and smacked his hand against the front of Stephen’s jacket. “Sweetens the deal? This is your brother we are talking about, Sir Stephen, not a bloody horse you are seeking to trade,” he snapped.
He swore at me! Who the devil does he think he is?
Stephen raked his fingers through his hair and sighed. Clearly there was no point in trying to argue with the man. He had to quickly find a resolution that saw them meeting somewhere in the middle. He couldn’t afford to cave.
Then he had an idea.
“How is this for a compromise? I go back to London today and seek to make preparations for Toby’s eventual relocation. Over the next few months, I shall make inquiries as to a child’s nurse for him, along with a suitable school.”
Mister Granville slowly shook his head. “I know the lad’s existence has come as somewhat of a shock.”
“That’s an understatement if I ever heard one,” replied Stephen.
All five feet four of the steward stared him down, which considering the height difference between them was quite a feat. “But you are Toby’s only living relative. His mother and father are both dead. If you abandon him, he will be all alone in the world.”
Granville may not have meant to, but those words instantly shamed Stephen. And for a man who had spent many years living on the edge of the law, he was not accustomed to feeling anything like that emotion. Life was hard, and a man involved in his line of work couldn’t afford to be weak. Or to have much in the way of scruples.
