Fury ignited in him at being duped so easily. Again. “They didn’t seem important at the time. And he didn’t mention you by name. It seems your solicitor sought to purposely mislead me.”
“Well, technically, he didn’t lie. I am indeed the child’s aunt. And I am a spinster.”
“Still, omitting this relevant detail seems ill-intentioned.”
“I didn’t ask him to mislead you in any way.”
“No?” his gaze impaled her, his temper bubbling forth. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
He knew he had scored a point when she blanched, crossed her arms over her waist, and took a small step back before she caught herself.
He had been to war, led men into battle and stared death in the face. As a duke, he often braved a room full of his peers when addressing the House of Lords on issues he championed. He wielded significant authority and influence. And yet one small and delicate-looking woman had the power to slay him. He became a blithering idiot in her presence. Worse, she had already made a fool of him once. And he still couldn’t shake her hold on him.
He had to compose his rioting thoughts, bring his galloping heart under control. Michael drew a deep breath, but that only served to bring her evocative scent deeper into his consciousness, having the opposite effect.
“I apologize for my tasteless remark. I am here to do my duty as the child’s guardian, nothing more.”
“Of course, Your Grace. Please have a seat. I’ll order some tea.”
Sitting down and having tea as if nothing had ever happened between them? His emotions were in too much turmoil for that. Rage, hurt, and his traitorous heart’s elation at seeing her after all this time created a dangerous turbulence inside his chest. But if she could act indifferently, so could he.
“That won’t be necessary. This isn’t a social call. I just want to ascertain the child’s well-being.”
“I understand. Would you like me to bring my nephew to meet you?”
“Not yet. First, I wish to know more about the situation. How did you come to be the child’s chosen guardian? When did you return… and why?”
CHAPTER 17
Shehadknownhewas coming. She tried to prepare, to bolster her confidence before seeing him again. But nothing could have prepared her for the reality of Michael standing in front of her after all these years.
Her legs were shaking so badly, she was in danger of collapsing, while her heart hammered inside her chest, robbing her of breath and making her lightheaded. Her palms sweated, and she closed her fists upon the fabric of her skirt, attempting in vain to control their trembling.
Time had been kind to Michael. More than kind. It seemed to have honed him with a loving hand. At twenty-three he had been a handsome, charismatic young man, with an effortless charm and a passion for life. At thirty-five, he was even more so. A man in his prime, confident of his place in the world. Comfortable with the power he wielded not only as one of the most powerful peers of the realm, but also with his own physicaland mental capabilities. His shoulders were wider, his muscles more developed, and he seemed made of stone.
Especially his eyes, which looked at her with undisguised hostility and mistrust. At least it was not indifference. That would have been worse, wouldn’t it? No. She could not allow herself to be distracted. He held her nephew’s fate in his hands. And the anger in his demeanor could prove her downfall.
She had to try to appease him. Earn his trust. At some point, she would have to tell him the truth. But not now. He would not believe anything she said now if she threw herself at him with protestations of innocence.
She could start by answering his questions in an honest and straightforward manner, without giving away anything she was not ready to disclose and he was not willing to hear.
“I arrived about a month ago. When my brother realized he was dying, he sent for me to entrust me with the guardianship of his son because he believed I was a better choice than the alternative. I accepted because there is no one else to care for the child. And I… I’ve become very fond of him,” she couldn’t resist adding. She wanted to plead her case, tell him she loved Edward and ask him to please not let anyone take him away from her, but she refrained.
“And you were willing and able to relinquish your previous life and return to England to raise a child you had never met?”
“Yes.” That was the short, simple answer. Oh, if he only knew how willing she had been!
Not yet.
“Do you have children of your own?”
The question, especially coming from him, caught her by surprise and locked the breath in the back of her throat. “I do not, Your Grace.”Do you?Her traitorous heart wanted to know. And yet shied away from the question.
“Does that mean your attention and loyalties won’t be divided?”
“Divided? What do you mean?”
“Your nephew is a peer of the realm, madam. Being his guardian comes with responsibilities beyond those of child rearing. He needs someone to manage his estates and other assets until he is capable of doing so by himself. He needs to be taught how to do it. He needs to receive a proper English education. In other words, he needs to remain in England. You cannot take the child away with you if you decide to return to your previous life on a whim.”
