AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His approach to said doorstep was boldly made, as that of a man with nothing to hide. The opposite was true in every way. So many secrets, so much to conceal. His whole life was founded on the shifting sands of deceit. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be so for much longer.
Shown into the drawing room, he awaited his hostess.
“Uncle Percy!” lisped a soft little voice from the door. The elfin features of his daughter peeked around the frame.
“Who’s this?” he said in mock surprise. “I expected little Lilly to come and see me, but I know not this young lady.”
Her bright eyes lit with innocent joy. “But I am Lilly.”
“No! Surely you cannot have grown so much since I last saw you?”
“I have grown tall. And look, I have lost another tooth.” She came closer and opened wide to point to the gap in her teeth.
“I see. It only makes your smile that much more charming, poppet.” Reaching into his valise, he withdrew a package wrapped in linen and tied with a fat pink ribbon.
“Is that for me?” she said at once.
He clutched the gift to his breast in mock affront. “No, indeed. I brought this for Sir Brushbotham.” Sir Brushbotham, her cat, was a favorite guest at her tea parties—as his portly figure attested.
She didn’t buy it for a moment. “No, it’s not.” Giggling, she reached for it.
With a quiet laugh, he let her have it and watched with a pain in his heart as she disassembled it. Would that he could accept her publicly, but it would only be to her detriment if he did. That Georgina would attempt to use her as leverage to get him to the altar was a given, but though he cared for his daughter he’d never willingly tie himself to her mother. Georgina might desire him, but she didn’t love him.
As for Lillien, he’d taken the steps necessary to see her provided for through her dotage. She’d never have to marry if she didn’t desire it. Upon reaching her majority at eighteen, she would have access to the trust under the supervision of Sotheby’s solicitor. If she did wed, her husband would have none of that money upon their marriage, nor would he be able to wheedle or whip it out of her. If, God forbid, she should die before coming of age, the funds would be given in her name to a local orphanage. If she died later in life, any funds remaining would go to her daughters or granddaughters under the same conditions.
He very much doubted Lord Sotheby had made any sort of provision for his many cuckoos other than the minimal portion required by decency.
It was his hope Georgina would approve of his gift to their child and agree to forever keep the name of Lillien’s benefactor anonymous, for her own sake as well as theirs.
There could be little doubt the woman knew of his interest in Eden. Despite being cloistered by widowhood, she would’ve heard all the gossip. If all went well, she’d accept his decision and take his parting gift to Lillien as an end to what little remained of their relationship. None of them could afford for anyone to draw a firm familial line between them, as would in time surely happen if they didn’t sever their association.
The fact Georgina was sending the child to a boarding school next month would help. Once there, the girl would likely forget all about him.
A soft coo of delight sounded from beside him, and Lillien lifted up a doll gowned in frilly layers of silk and lace. “Ooooh! A friend for Louise! She’s lovely—thank you, Uncle Percy!”
He let her wrap her plump little arms around his neck, knowing it was likely the last time.
“I see you are continuing to spoil my daughter, Lord Tavistoke.”
Turning, he spied Georgina at the door. “Is it not the prerogative of an honorary uncle?”
Her wide smile belied the somber black she wore. “But of course. Honorary uncles are always permitted to spoil their honorary nieces. I’m pleased you were able to come today.”
“As am I.” Pulling out the sheaf of papers, he held them out to her. “The matters on which you sought my counsel have all been resolved, as you will see upon reviewing these. In addition, there is another document—the sealed envelope—which requires your attention.”
Georgina’s brows pinched as she lifted it from the stack.
“Lilly,” he whispered to the child sitting at his knee playing with her new dolly.
Looking up, she smiled like a tiny angel. “I have decided to call her Wendy,” she whispered back.
“That’s a lovely name,” he said with a solemn nod. “I think you should go introduce her to Louise.”
“Lillien,” said her mother absently, her eyes already scanning the document in question. “You are to go to the nursery. I must speak with Lord Tavistoke in private.”
The little girl’s eyes grew round, and her bottom lip began to tremble.
Percy reached out and patted her soft curls. “I’ll come up to say hello to everyone in a little while, I promise, but I need to speak to your mother first. Just a bit of business.”
