The Wolfe's Return by Avril Borthiry

Author:Avril Borthiry [Borthiry, Avril]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kindle Worlds
Published: 2018-01-23T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Nathaniel couldn’t get the blasted woman off his mind. Not only was she in his head, but he also felt the burden of remorse on his conscience. Christ, she looked like she’d been struck when he’d accused her of self-flattery. The brief flare of pain in her eyes had gone straight to his heart. He’d been too harsh. But, damn it, she’d riled him, insinuating he had seduction in mind, when all he’d intended was to talk about her son.

Nathaniel frowned and shifted in his chair. The idea of seducing Hannah Sedgewick was not at all unpleasant, as it happened. Quite out of the question, however.

“Am I boring you, Nephew?”

His aunt’s voice jolted him back to the present. Preoccupied, he’d sat through dinner listening to her tales with only half-an-ear. He straightened his spine. “Not at all, Aunt. I allowed my thoughts to drift for a moment, that’s all. I beg your pardon.”

She lifted her quizzing glass and studied him. “Anything you wish to share, my boy? Do you have concerns about the estate? If you have questions, ask them. There’s much to learn, not that I doubt your capability, of course.”

“Not about the estate, exactly, no,” he replied. “But I do have questions about someone who lives here.”

“Who?”

“Miss Hannah.”

“Caught your eye, has she? Don’t trifle with her, Nathaniel. I’d be very disappointed if you did.”

“I have no intention of trifling with her, Aunt. I’m merely curious, that’s all.” He pushed his plate away, picked up his wine glass, and sat back. “I met her son today. Quite by accident, I might add. What’s the story?”

Beatrice clucked. “It’s an epic, my dear boy, and not one I share with too many people. But to summarise, we have a young, naïve girl who surrendered her innocence to a Dutch noble, who then left her with child, fled to Ireland, and proceeded to drown in a shipwreck. We also have a widowed father who disowned his only daughter as soon as her pregnancy was discovered, and a bastard child born with an unfortunate deformity. Indeed, one could not make this entire debacle up.”

“An epic, as you say,” Nathaniel said, mulling over the tale. “But what’s the connection to you? There must be one. No offence intended, but you don’t strike me as someone who would open both door and heart to disgraced daughters of the ton without good reason.”

“Indeed not!”

“So, why is she here?”

“Because Hannah’s grandmother, God rest her soul, was a very dear friend of mine. Hannah’s father wanted to ship the girl to some place in Switzerland to give birth, place the baby in an orphanage, and then return home. But the silly chit refused to give up the child and threatened all kinds of foolishness. The scandal leaked out, of course, and provoked the expected response. Fortunately, I was in London at the time and got wind of it all. I’d be surprised if it didn’t reach your ears. Anyway, right or wrong, I decided to take Hannah under my wing, otherwise she’d have been out on the street.

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