Page 54 of The Not So Perfect Duke

“Do you remember your mother, know of your father?” Damon asked.

The taller of the two, no doubt the oldest, Byron, shook his head. “No, sir. Nothing. All we remember is here.”

“We believe we know who your father is. I will tell you about it later. Do you wish to stay here with the other children for now? Things are going to be better; I will see to it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good lads. Go and find MacClery.”

Once the door closed, Damon sat forward, his head in his hands. “This was harder than I thought it would be,” he said, his voice muffled.

Althea stood and laid her hand on his shoulder. He took her hand and kissed it, holding it tight. “I know, Damon. There is nothing to investigate concerning those boys unless we find Browning and ask where he collected them. As for Chloe, we know of her situation. Of the five, Adina wants to be reunited with her mother. That leaves four children for you to—consider.”

Damon looked up at her. “Consider what?”

“If you want them to be your siblings. You can maintain a polite distance, pay for any education, and see them placed in good jobs. Or even taken into suitable homes. Or you can bring them into your home and become a family.”

“Four children, aged five to thirteen? What do I know about the care and feeding of demanding tots?” he cried incredulously.

Another knock sounded at the door. MacClery stepped in. “Mrs. Seddon wishes to know if you are staying for lunch, Your Grace, Miss Galway. The doctor, too.”

It was all too much to take in. Damon could not handle any more revelations today, let alone sit with the children and share a meal. “No, but thank her. MacClery, if you believe the building is sound, we shall start with repairs. Put together a detailed list of what needs to be done.

Meanwhile,” Damon reached in his pocket and hauled out Christian’s folded bills. “Thirty pounds. Buy clothes, shoes, books, food, whatever is needed. I want an accounting of every last penny. I will return in a few days.”

“Yes, Your Grace, I will see it done. I will start by buying a horse and a small wagon. The few animals that were on the farm were sold long ago.”

“Fine. We will discuss the homestead at another time.”

Damon and Althea moved outside. His head was swimming and starting to ache as it often did when overwhelmed. The children milled about, looking at him curiously as if trying to ascertain his intentions. He could not blame them.

One small child accepted him wholeheartedly. Chloe waved and gave him a sunny smile. “Mr. Duke!”

As she ran toward him, Chloe tripped, fell to the ground, and started wailing. Althea immediately sprang into action, picking up her skirt and dashing toward the injured child, but then, she tumbled. Damon’s heart literally stopped at seeing Althea sprawled on the ground.

She had fallen. Again.

What in hell is going on?

Chapter 17

“That’s it,” Damon exclaimed. “Buchanan, you must examine Althea immediately. She has stumbled and fallen more than once in my presence.”

Damon rushed to Althea’s side as Mrs. Seddon attended to Chloe.

“I’m perfectly fine,” Althea sputtered as he scooped her up.

“I agree about the perfect, but not the fine part. Follow me, Doctor.” Damon marched into Mrs. Seddon’s office, then placed Althea on the chair. “The left leg. When she slipped about ten days ago, I checked for a sprain and felt a lump on the lower leg.”

“It’s nothing,” Althea murmured.

“We’ll see,” Buchanan replied. He swiftly lifted Althea’s skirt above her knee and explored the lower part of her leg. “Allow me to remove your boot.” He tossed it aside. “There. Does it pain you when I press on it?”

“No. There was never any pain,” Althea responded.

“When did it first appear?” Buchanan was using his medical-professional voice, or one Damon imagined all doctors used when examining a patient, and it was hard to read him.

“Several months ago. It has not grown any larger, and it doesn’t hurt. I thought it would go away on its own.”