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She waited a moment before speaking again, her words firm. ‘Jacob needs you. He will need you especially now. The governess and a footman have taken him on a walk to keep him from seeing us leave. I told them it might happen.’
Then she left and gave Willa a tight hug, hefting her close. They would manage. They would make a wonderful family on Melos. And Warrington could live in London with his dead wife the rest of his life.
She walked downstairs to the hackney waiting across the street and did not turn back.
* * *
Warrington did not move. He couldn’t. Women were traitorous wretches who did whatever they damn well pleased and could steal a child without blinking a lash. She’d stolen his daughter—the child—Willa. She’d taken her. Just walked right out.
Melina was gone. She was leaving the country, and she could get on that ship—that floating acorn—and sail to the end of the world. He would give Ben his blessing to take her. He would even send more pillows.
He opened his mouth. Broomer. She even took Broomer. He—Broomer—another scheming wretch.
He didn’t care if the man was bigger than a house, he was going to get throttled. And soon. Warrington rushed from the room.
‘Papa...’ Jacob’s voice, hesitant. He stood directly in his father’s path.
Warrington stumbled into Jacob. He reached out, catching the little boy, stopping his own momentum.
He righted them both, still holding his son.
‘Are you leaving again?’ Jacob asked, speaking no louder than a whisper. ‘I heard you shouting when we came back. And Willa’s gone... I saw the carriage.’
Warrington stepped back against the wall and his hands loosened. His whole body slackened. He slid to the floor and looked at his child. ‘No. I’m not. I’m not leaving you. Ever again. You’re my son.’ He gathered Jacob into his arms. ‘My life.’
He waited, calming himself. ‘Now tell me what you’d like to do today and we’ll see how much we can manage.’
‘You’re staying with me?’
‘Yes. I’m staying. I can’t leave my Jacob.’
Jacob relaxed against him. ‘I have a bow and arrow at Whitegate. I could show you how to shoot it.’
‘That sounds like a good plan. I think I might have one somewhere, too. Perhaps we can have a competition after you teach me how.’
Jacob’s head nodded at Warrington’s chest. War let his arms rest loosely around his son and stared forward.
‘Can we go, Papa? I like Whitegate better than here.’
‘I don’t know why I didn’t think of it. I’m ready to return home.’
Chapter Twenty-Five
The town coach rolled to a stop, and Jacob bounced from his father’s knees, but Warrington kept a tight grip on the boy’s coat. There had simply not been enough room in the carriage for Jacob to sit anywhere else.
Keeping Jacob in his grasp, Warrington stepped on to the docks and saw the Ascalon. Someone had already noted his carriage, he could tell. Two men were moving forward, standing, blocking the way on to the ship.
He easily recognised Broomer, and the other, Gidley. They stood side by side, arms crossed.
Striding up to them, he stopped, looked up at Broomer, and said. ‘You’re discharged without references.’ He stared at Gid. ‘You, as well.’
‘Well, yer got a point,’ Gidley said. ‘We, fortunately, work for other folks. I hear Mr Broomer has a lady he answers to.’
Broomer’s eyes dropped when he spoke to Warrington and his lips trembled. ‘I’m asking your forgiveness. But I had no choice.’
‘No choice?’ Warrington’s words flew from his throat. ‘No choice?’
‘You’d have done the same thing. A little girl. That sweet woman needing a baby.’
‘No,’ Warrington snapped. He could not say another word.
‘We’re here to see my sister.’ Jacob’s voice broke the stillness.
Broomer took a deep sniff and looked at the boy. ‘My pardon, Little Lordship, but we’re to say she’s not at home.’
Warrington nodded. He turned to the town coach, put two fingers to his lips and whistled.
Three men tumbled out and one of the coachmen jumped from the front. Each held a club. They scrambled up behind Warrington.
‘We were at a tavern.’ Jacob’s voice rose in excitement. ‘Papa gave the men sticks, and silver, and he told them they could change the silver for gold if they helped us walk on the ship. We can walk on the ship, can’t we, Broomer? I want to see Uncle Ben’s ship.’ His voice lowered. ‘Papa didn’t give me gold, but he said if I did everything he asked, I could have a sea biscuit.’ He rubbed his stomach. ‘I would like that.’
