My Dear Lord Forrester by Eliza Lloyd

Author:Eliza Lloyd
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: 0
Published: 2017-03-20T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

“Then we are in agreement?” Char sat on the rough couch, ignoring the tight, uncomfortable space. Char was certain Miss Jane Toddy had not expected such a change in her circumstances after Arthur died. There was no one to keep up the rents on the house he’d let for her. He’d made no arrangements for her, and the new heir had also refused to care for the disgraced woman and her little family. The new viscount refused to believe the children were Arthur’s. Her family had rejected her, which was a shame, and Char did have sympathy for her.

Arthur had kept her in a private, modest home before. Now? Well, the home was clean but very small. One of the children cried, a sad little wail, one she recognized as a cry for attention rather than a child who might be hungry or dirty.

The other one, about a year and half old, had been born after Arthur died, and his mother held him close.

Today was the day she was supposed to get the children.

Looking at either of them could bring tears to her eyes, so she kept her gaze firmly on the expression of their mother. Jane. The other woman.

“I don’t know. It’s a hard decision.”

“But the decision has been made,” Char said. And it had been agonizing to come to terms with it when Char had no children to show for her time with Arthur.

“I don’t know. Don’t make me feel worse than I already do.”

Char pressed her hand against her stomach where her stays dug in and made it difficult to breathe. “You don’t know? Miss Toddy, for a year and half you’ve told me you don’t have the ability to care for Arthur’s children. I’ve supported you, believing it when you said you wanted me to have them.”

“I know what I said.”

“Is it about the money? You want more?”

“They’re my babies. I’m sorry.”

“When you came to me, you listed all of the reasons it was a good idea for me to raise them. All those reasons are still valid. And as they grow, there will be even more reasons. Their continued good health, their education, a place in society.”

“Bastards don’t have a place.”

“They could. Only you can decide.”

They were two beautiful little boys. Children who would never inherit their father’s title. She’d found out about them after Arthur’s death. The ledgers clearly showed the support payments to his mistress and her child, whom he’d obviously not disavowed. Char didn’t know if he was aware he’d fathered another child before he died.

When Miss Toddy, heavy with child, arrived at her door one afternoon while Char still lived at Dunlevee House, she hadn’t been surprised.

The real surprise was what she had asked of Char.

And in all the deliberation afterward, it had been Papa who’d offered the best advice. “You’ll remarry someday, Char, but you’ll always have a heart for Arthur’s children. Can you live knowing they could have had a better life with you? Can you live knowing what is likely to happen if you don’t take them in?” Papa was very matter-of-fact.

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