Jonathan flinched, though he tried not to let it show. “No,” he agreed. “I’m not your father. But thosearemy books, and you can’t mistreat other people’s property. Don’t you remember what we talked about concerning your pranks?”
“I don’t care,” Noah said. “You told me I couldn’t do those things, so I stopped doing them, and then Violet left us. She leftme. It didn’t matter what I did. I couldn’t make her stay. I can’t makeanybodystay. So why shouldn’t I just do whatever I want from now on?”
The question tore at Jonathan’s heart.
It had been three days since Violet’s departure, and the whole household had felt the impact of it. Jonathan had spent the majority of the intervening time sequestered in his study, unwilling and unable to speak to anyone. Even the thought of carrying on a conversation had made him feel ill, especially when he thought back to the last time he had talked to Violet. He should have fought harder for her, tried to get her to stay…but what could he have done? The solicitor had come at the worst possible time, when the two of them were in the middle of an argument. If the truth about the house’s proper ownership had emerged at any other time, they might have been able to sort things out. But in that moment, it had been impossible.
And that is my fault. I can see that now.He had told himself she was being ridiculous, unreasonable…but she hadn’t been, of course. When he had thought back over their conversation at breakfast that day, it had been easy to see what had made her upset. His comment about letting her stay in the house once hehad presumed all kinds of things. He could have handled that so much better. Even saying,"If it becomes mine,"would have mitigated things. He could have asked her, too, whether she would be open to him staying if the house were to become hers…
He could see now that he had never taken that possibility very seriously. She was completely right. He had always assumed, in the back of his mind, that once things were sorted out legally, the house would come to him. An unmarried woman couldn’t inherit, and besides, he had paid for this place. Of course, it was his by rights.
And of course, saying that aloud had hurt her.
He lowered himself to sit beside Noah on the floor. “You know, Noah,” he said quietly, “what happened with Violet is not your fault.”
“I know that,” Noah spat at him. “It’syourfault.”
Jonathan raised his eyebrows. He had just been thinking the very same thing, of course, but… “What did you say?”
“You heard what I said.”
“And do you think you ought to be speaking to me that way?”
“I don’tcare.”
“You had better care. I am a duke.”
Noah stared at him.
Jonathan immediately felt foolish. What did the boy care for titles? It was quite possibly the worst thing he could have said.
But he didn’t know what else to do. What he had told Violet was true. As a disciplinarian, he was very good. He could correct bad behavior. But he couldn’t be tender. It wasn’t something he knew how to do with a child.
How could you have left, Violet, knowing that he needed you?
But how could she have stayed? He had made it impossible for her to do that without swallowing so much pride that she would have surely choked on it.
He rose to his feet. He wasn’t doing Noah any good sitting here and trying to connect with him. The boy was too angry. “I’m going to have your governess start spending extra time with you,” he said. “Now that you don’t have Violet in your life, you have more time to devote to your studies.”
Noah picked up a book and threw it. Not hard. Not in a way that would cause damage. But it was an aggressive move, and Jonathan was shocked by it and deeply shaken.
He walked over, grabbed Noah by both arms, and lifted him to his feet.
“Hey!” Noah yelled.
Jonathan loosened his grip at once—he didn’t want to hurt Noah—but he didn’t let him go. “You need to get yourself under control,” he said sharply. “I will not allow you to throw my possessions.”
“These things aren’t even yours. They belong to Madam Margaret. You shouldn’t evenbehere!” Noah cried. “I don’t want you here. Leave.”
“Noah, the house belongs to me whether you like it or not,” Jonathan said firmly. “Youmustfind a way to accept it and to move forward.”
“I don’t have to do anything. Let mego.” Noah aimed a kick at Jonathan’s shins, which Jonathan just barely managed to step out of the way of.
He held Noah at arm’s length. “This house will always be your home,” he told Noah firmly. “But you must learn how to behave yourself if you are to get along in society. If you can’t do that here, with the help of the governess I’ve hired for you, then I may have to consider boarding school as the best option.”
The words sickened him even as he spoke them. He couldn’t believe what he was saying. How could boarding school be a choice? How could he really be thinking of sending Noah away? He knew for certain that Violet would be appalled if she were to find out about this. And Noah himself was staring up at Jonathan with a look of undisguised horror.
Then his face hardened into disgust.
