Page 29 of A Stranger’s Promise

The boy bowed.

The door to the library opened and Alistair’s raven-haired friend, Nicholas, entered. A broad grin lit his face. “Ah, Alistair, care to intro—”

“You may leave, Miss Atchenson,” Alistair cut the man off. He strode to the door, held it wide and jerked his head at the hallway beyond.

The curt gesture made her wonder at his sudden change of mood. But grateful to escape without further recrimination, she caught Oliver’s hand and hurried with him out the door. Lord Cassilis clicked the door firmly shut behind her. She glanced back, then shook off her confusion and faced forward.

Oliver’s fingers tightened around hers and she was startled to realize he hadn’t pulled free. “You’re a fortunate boy, Oliver. Let’s see you stay out of mischief, shall we?”

To her surprise, he cracked a grin and nodded. Charlotte smiled back. Maybe the boy was starting to settle in.

“Why don’t you run on ahead to the nursery?” she coaxed. She needed a few minutes alone.

“Should I start on my Latin?” he asked.

“Exactly,” she said.

Without another word, he scampered off toward the back stairs.

Charlotte followed at a slower pace. She knew she shouldn’t dwell on Alistair, but how could she not? The more she grew to know him, the more she thought him an honorable man. The thought gave her pause. How strange that such a man would abandoned his children to begin with.

“Charlotte?”

Lord Cassilis was kind and he cared how the children were raised. Why—

“Charlotte?” a male voice said again.

She stopped.

“Charlotte?” the voice repeated in wonder.

Her heart began to pound. She knew that voice. Charlotte whirled. He stood at the end of the hallway. He looked the same, the reddish-brown beard, the chilling blue eyes. She even recognized the blue waistcoat with silver buttons.

“Charlotte?” Captain Edwards started toward her. “Whatever are you doing here?”