Page 94 of The Gentlewoman Companion

They ascended the stairs, with Tom muttering about fine furnishing and cleanliness. “Don’ fre’, chief. I’ll ’ake Susan. I shouldn’ ’ave leff ’er wif you. Poor fing, shu’ in ’ere like a trapped princess.”

“I assure you she is comfortable enough.” But James wondered if the boy would stay. He pushed the nursery door open.

Tom peeked his head in cautiously, as if he expected to be jumped. Susan sat on a wheeled wooden horse while Samuel pushed her. Tom watched the scene, unmoving. The newly hired nursemaid, Miss Ellsworth, tidied a pile of books, and Margaret sat in a corner with a basket of sewing.

Samuel looked up, saw the newcomers, and stopped. “Susan, is that…”

Her gaze fell to Tom. She gasped, fell off the horse but sprang to her feet, rushing to her brother. Tom stepped forward and opened his arms to his sister, whose tiny fingers clutched his ragged coat. James pressed the bridge of his nose to stem the burning in his eyes.

“There, li’le Sue, un’and me.” Tom pried her fingers from his clothes, but she took the hem of his jacket as he entered the room.

Samuel stepped forward, introducing himself and shaking hands.

“’ow are things in this fancy prison?” Tom asked.

“Alrigh’.” Samuel fell into the local accent. “No’ like the Warden. We ’as bread and mea’, fresh milk, even biscuits.”

“I know ’ow ’o escape.” Tom tried to square his shoulders.

“Bu’ you may no’ escape from the Warden a second ’ime. I guess if ’e sees you again, ’e’ll ’ake you back.”

Tom’s face grew serious. “Well, wha’s ado?”

“Come, I’ll show you the ’in soldiers.” Samuel led Tom to a box, dumped out the contents, and began dividing toys. Susan remained connected to her brother, who occasionally reached to pat her head.

Though not the moment to discuss it, James hoped the reunion proved powerful enough to convince Tom to stay with his sister.

James stepped over a doll in the middle of the floor and made his way to sit beside Meg.

“That was a sweet sight. Well done, brother.”

“Gratifying indeed. I hope we can persuade him to remain.”

“Samuel is doing his best.” She lifted her chin toward the two boys deep in their game. “Now that the boy is found, will you take us to Lundbrooke? I feel trapped and useless in this house, and it’s driving me mad.”

He watched her fingers push and pull a needle through white linen with the ease of a practiced hand. Her cheeks were rounder but pale. Though Samuel did not complain, James knew the boy required fresh air and wide spaces. James had torn them from the life they knew and replaced it with an extreme shift in comfort and restrictions.

And though he hated to admit it, he and Louisa might benefit from some time apart.

“Almost everything is arranged,” he told Margaret. “Mr. Hunsaker has found someone to take in the two little ones. If you and Samuel will introduce Tom to the idea of coming with us, we may be able to leave as soon as tomorrow or the next day.” Margaret agreed, and he left for his study.

He sent a note to Hugh asking to meet at White’s for dinner, a club where James could bid farewell to his friend in person. Then he reluctantly summoned Graham. Their interactions had become stiff and impersonal over the weeks, though James tried not to associate their every interaction with doubts about his father.

“My lord.” Graham’s nod was rigid.

“Now we’ve found Tom, we must finalize our preparations to return to Lundbrooke. Will you see that Miss Ellsworth and the children have all they need? Tom requires new clothes. How soon can this all be accomplished?”

“Two days.”

“Excellent.”

“Will your mother be joining you? Miss Thorpe?” A question hung on Miss Thorpe.

“My mother has informed me she will stay in London.”

“Very good.”

James considered his valet and found himself softening. Graham was a loyal friend who had seen him through so much. While he may never be ready to hear what Graham knew of the late Lord Halverton’s infidelities, the anger he felt at his valet was diminishing. He decided to offer an olive branch. In a low voice he said, “I need a little time to think about Miss Thorpe without her distracting presence.”