The major glanced at Thea. “Thank you. My lord, I’ll be happy to repay you for the expenses you’ve incurred.”
“Don’t think of it. I’ve liked having the boy around.” Dom waited for his uncle’s voice to invade his thoughts, but it didn’t happen. Relief filled him. Perhaps he would finally be able to live his own life.
The door to Stanwood House opened as they climbed the stairs.
“My lord, miss,” Grace’s butler, Royston, bowed regally. “Lord and Lady Worthington are in her ladyship’s study. If you will follow me.”
Dom bent to whisper in Thea’s ear, “It’s deuced aggravating when an earl’s butler is more stately than a marquis’s.”
The corner of her lips canted up. “You were high enough in the instep without Paken being so as well.”
“Well, you might have a point there.”
The door to the study opened and Royston announced them. Matt and Grace came forward to greet them. “Please have a seat.” She motioned to the sofas next to the fireplace. We wanted to speak to you before calling Tom down.”
The ladies gracefully sank onto the larger sofa. Dom sat in the leather chair closest to Thea, and Matt took the place on the other side of Grace. The major sat opposite them. Tea arrived almost immediately.
Before long, Grace said, “I have been informed that you have recently arrived back in the country. What are your plans, Major?”
Major Cavanaugh took a sip of tea. “My kit and batman are at the Horse Guards. It is not possible for me to have Tom there, and I must post to Lincolnshire as soon as possible.”
Grace nodded. “We heard of your brother’s death. You have my sympathies.”
Thea leaned forward slightly. “Would you consider staying at Merton House until you depart and allowing Tom to remain with us until your business is finished?”
Cavanaugh blinked as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “I suppose that would be better then dragging Tom around until I’m settled,” he said slowly. “However, I don’t like to impose.”
“No imposition at all.” Dom grinned. The day after tomorrow, he and Thea would begin their wedding trip. “My in-laws are remaining in Town for another week or more so that my brothers- and sisters-in-law can see the sights. The two youngest are close to Tom’s age.”
“Our brothers and sisters,” Grace said, “will take a short holiday from classes to go around with them.”
Dom was sure he’d paled at the thought of all those children loose in London together.
Matt’s lips twisted into a wry smile as he glanced at Dom. “My thoughts exactly. I’ll have every footman in my service out with them.”
After glancing from one to the other, Major Cavanaugh asked, “If there is a problem, perhaps I should take Tom with me.”
“Oh, there is no problem,” Grace assured him. “Worthington is simply not yet used to the logistics involved. Between us we have eleven children. Although two are making their come out and one is at Eton.”
The color seeped from the major’s tanned face.
“Don’t worry,” Thea said. “They’ll be fine. Lady Worthington is used to it all. It will be much more fun for Tom than being dragged around the countryside without even a nursemaid.”
Grace rose, walked to the bell pull, and tugged. A footman stuck his head around the door. “My lady?”
“Please have the children as well as Miss Tallerton and Mr. Winters attend me. We have a visitor to see Master Tom.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Not long afterward, the sound of stampeding horses could be heard throughout the house.
“What the dev . . . I mean,” Cavanaugh said, “what is that noise?”
Worthington chuckled as the door burst open, and eight children all under the age of fifteen piled into the study.
“Papa!”Tom launched himself at his father.
“Tom, Tom, my boy.” Cavanaugh caught the child to him. “By God, I’ve missed you.”
