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“You’re welcome.” Nick cocked his head. “Now tell me what else is bothering you.”
He hesitated a moment. “I’m worried how this will affect Donella.”
“Tempest in a teapot, I think. After all, she’s Riddick’s niece, and she’s under my protection, as well. Mrs. Ferguson is not a popular woman, so I’m sure any fuss will die down soon enough.”
“I’m not so sure. She made a comment about Donella’s mother that seemed to upset the lass.”
“What sort of comment?”
“Something about how Donella was just like her mother and should be sent away.”
“Ah.” Nick rubbed his chin. “That’s unfortunate.”
“Is her mother still alive? I got the impression she’d died a few years back.”
“She’s alive, but not well. Mrs. Haddon currently resides very quietly in the outskirts of Edinburgh, under the care of a private physician.”
Logan frowned. “What the hell does that mean?”
Nick tapped his skull.
“Damn, you mean she’s dicked in the nob?”
“Unfortunately. Mrs. Haddon’s condition was such that the family believed it best to put her in the care of a well-respected and suitable physician.”
“That’s a bloody awful thing to have to deal with.” No wonder poor Donella had been so rattled by the biddy’s mean-spirited comments. “Must have been a dire situation to take that sort of action instead of keeping the poor lady at home.”
“I’m not privy to the details, so you’ll have to ask Miss Haddon for more.”
“Right,” Logan scoffed. “By the way, lass, I heard your mamma is queer in the attic. Anything you want to tell me?”
Nick grimaced. “If today’s incident blows up to the level of a scandal, you might have to talk to the poor girl about it. You’re the one who got her into this mess, after all.”
“I bloody well did not. I was just trying to take care of my boy.”
“Not very effectively, if Miss Haddon was forced to intervene.”
Logan gave his brother the look that usually caused grown men to flee. Nick, as usual, was unimpressed.
“Oh, very well,” Logan finally admitted. “You’re right, of course.”
“I usually am.”
“That doesn’t make it any less annoying.” He sighed. “Nick, what the hell am I going to do with Joseph? He’s my life, but I can’t seem to get it right.”
“You’re trying too hard. Just relax and be his father.”
“I’m not sure I know what that means anymore.”
“For one thing, you should stop being so cautious with him. He’s a little boy, not a piece of china. He won’t break.”
The room seemed to shift sideways, and suddenly all Logan could see was the lifeless body of his nephew as he carried him from the raging, unforgiving river. Hehadbroken a child that day. He’d stolen Cam’s life from the entire family, because he’d been too stupid to pay attention to what really mattered.
His brother’s hand landed on his forearm, jerking him out of the soul-destroying memory. “Stop that right now, Logan.”
“I’m sorry, Nick,” he whispered. “So sorry for everything.”
“Look at me, lad.”
