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“You would what?”
“Be willing to move to Halifax to manage your offices. Me and Tira, of course, when she’s a bit older and can manage a sea voyage.”
Logan gaped at him. “Laddie, you truly have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Royal didn’t, and the thought had more or less popped out of his mouth. But it had immediately made a certain sense. As well as things had worked out with Tira, there was always the risk of discovery here. Taking her so far away would remove that risk.
But there was more to the appeal of Canada than that, and he knew it. There was a special kind of loneliness here in Glasgow. Every time he turned a corner or walked into a shop, he half expected to see Ainsley. The sensation had even dogged him at Kinglas. It was a gentle, sorrowful haunting that Royal suspected might never go away, because he was convinced he’d never love anyone but Ainsley. For Tira’s sake and for his own sake, it might be better to leave all those memories behind and start over abroad.
“In Canada, we could start over,” he said. “For Tira, it would certainly be better. She’d be out of reach of anyone who could threaten her safety.”
Logan scowled. “No one is going to threaten her safety. Not while Nick and I have anything to say about it.”
“Logan, we can tell ourselves that all we want, but if Tira’s true identity is ever discovered, we would have no legal standing to keep her.” He glanced out to the hall and lowered his voice. “Cringlewoodisher father, after all. And if he took her from us . . .”
“He could use her as leverage against Ainsley,” Logan said. “Yes, I know that. What I don’t understand is why the idiot is so obsessed with the bloody woman. Surely he can find another pretty girl to wed. There must be plenty who would be thrilled to become a marchioness.”
If there was one thing Royal understood, it was Cringlewood’s obsession with Ainsley. But unlike the vile marquess, he wanted what was best for her, and what was best for her was up to Ainsley alone to decide.
“The man’s an arrogant bastard who thinks he can buy or claim whatever he wants. I’m sure he sees Ainsley’s refusal as an insult that his pride cannot bear. She’s also a considerable heiress, which is no doubt an added incentive.”
Logan shook his head in disgust. “And her family is obviously no help. What kind of father tries to force his daughter to marry aSassenachbastard like Cringlewood?”
“AnotherSassenachbastard,” Royal said dryly. “Lord Aldridge has promoted this marriage for years, as have other members of both families.”
“I still think she was a fool not to marry you as soon as she birthed the child. She couldn’t have asked for a better husband.”
“Maybe, but Cringlewood and Ainsley’s family would likely have figured out almost immediately that this mysterious baby was hers. They can count backward from nine. Add in her months-long seclusion, and it wouldn’t take a genius to arrive at the correct conclusion.”
“It all sounds positively gothic,” Logan said. “And stupid. You would have protected the lass. Weallwould have protected her.”
Like the rest of the family, Logan couldn’t understand why Ainsley hadn’t been willing to take the risk and marry Royal, especially if it meant being able to keep her daughter. In fact, they thought her a fool for not doing so.
But Ainsley was terrified of Cringlewood, and her need to keep Tira safe from him trumped every other consideration. That was something Royal both understood and accepted.
“She made the decision she felt was best for her and for Tira,” he said. “I have to respect that.”
Logan grimaced with sympathy. “I’m that sorry, lad. I know how you feel about her. I only wish . . .”
“Thank you,” Royal said, cutting him off. There was no point in dwelling on what might have been. “But let’s get back to your problem. It’s worth thinking about having me take on the job in Halifax, Logan. I’m sure I could manage it.”
“I’m sure you could too.” Then Logan hesitated, his expression turning troubled. “It’s not easy raising a child on one’s own, especially without family to support you.”
Something in his brother’s tone seemed off. “I’m sure we’d manage.”
Logan rolled his lips inward, and then shook his head. Royal recognized those signs. His brother wanted to tell him something but wasn’t sure if he should.
“Whatever it is, you should just get it out,” he gently prompted.
His brother expelled a weary sigh. “I’ve got a son, Royal.”
“Um, you do?”
“His mother died a few months after his birth,” Logan quickly added. “It was . . . difficult. Her parents moved in with me to help, thank God. I would have been lost without them.”
Astounded, Royal could do nothing but gape at him.
Logan’s mouth tipped up in a wry smile. “Close your trap, little brother. You’ll be catching a grand big fly if you don’t.”
