Page 7 of An Affair at Stonecliffe

“You know my father?” Curiosity crept into Gil’s voice.

“I did, yes. And your grandfather and grandmother. Your grandmother would like very much to see you.”

“My grandmother?” Gil asked wonderingly.

“Stop it,” Noelle snapped. “Stop trying to manipulate him. Gil, get back. Stay behind me.”

Thorne let out an exaggerated sigh and stood up. “I am only trying to show the boy that there is more in the world than this.” He glanced around him with the sneer Noelle remembered so well, taking in the discolored and chipped plaster, the peeling paint, the cramped walkway. “Is this really how you intend Adam’s son to be raised? In this...squalor and filth?” His gaze went back to Gil, and he told him gravely, “I have no intention of hurting your mother. Or you. You needn’t be afraid. I was a good friend of your father’s. My name is Carlisle Thorne.” He held out his hand to the boy, man-to-man.

Gil stretched out his hand to the man. Noelle sucked in a harsh breath and dropped her shears to grab the back of Gil’s shirt. But Thorne did not jerk Gil away as she feared, merely shook the boy’s hand and stepped back.

Gil turned his face up to Noelle, smiling as he repeated, “Carlisle Thorne, Maman.”

“Yes, I see.”

Thorne’s eyes dropped to the ground, where the scissors lay. “I fear you’ve lost your weapon, ma’am.”

Noelle gazed back at him stonily. “No doubt it amuses you greatly to rip a child from his mother.” She bent down and picked up the shears. “We both know you can overpower me. And stabbing you would only land me in jail, where I cannot do anything to get him back.” She dropped the scissors into her pocket, her voice hard as she went on, “But I won’t stop fighting, I promise you that. I will take you to court. Yes, yes, I know.” She waved away his words as he started to speak. “You are rich and powerful and a man. The courts will side with you, obviously. But how will you like all your peers learning how you have hounded us, trapped us? How you tore him from my hand? Because I will tell them. I will make sure everyone knows what sort of man—”

“For pity’s sake, cease this drivel.” Thorne’s voice was crisp and as filled with contempt as his eyes. “You’re frightening the boy.”

“I am frightening him?” Noelle repeated in astonishment. “You chase us through the streets and accuse me of scaring Gil?”

“I chased you because you ran,” he retorted. “If you had simply stayed there instead of haring off—”

“Stayed there so you could grab Gil?”

“Madam... I can assure you, whatever fevered tales you have concocted in your head, I am not intent on ‘grabbing’ your son. I merely want to discuss the situation and come to an agreement on his future.”

Noelle let out a dismissive sound. “You still believe I would bargain with you over him?”

“I hoped you had acquired more sense.” Thorne broke off, visibly reining in his anger. “I would like to talk to you. That is all. Will you agree to sit down and discuss it with me like rational people? Just you and I. Diggs could look after Gi—”

“You think I would put Gil in the care of your man? I am not so gullible. He stays with me.”

“Perhaps we could go inside and sit down.” He turned toward the house.

“No.” She wasn’t about to let this man sneer at her humble little room. Nor did she intend to let herself be enclosed in a small room with these two men, where no one could witness what they did.

“My carriage...” Thorne offered, gesturing toward the entrance of the lane. “It’s only a few streets away.”

She scowled. Even less would she agree to getting into a vehicle with him to be driven off to God knows where. “Don’t be absurd.”

“For pity’s sake...then where? What place would satisfy your particular requirements?”

“It would have to be in public, in full view of others.”

“Must we stand on the streets of Seven Dials?” he asked sarcastically. “Or would a more salubrious place do? A park, perhaps. We could at least sit down.”

Noelle considered it. It was a good suggestion, a place where Gil could play far enough away to not hear them—he was right, it was better that Gil not hear the sort of thing this man was sure to say to her—yet she could keep a careful eye on him. She gave a nod, adding, “Alone, without your henchman.”

She expected a biting remark or an argument, but he said only, “Very well.” He motioned to the other man. “Diggs, bring the carriage closer. We’re going to St. James Park.” Thorne turned to Gil, saying, “You can feed the ducks.”

“No.” Noelle disliked his dictatorial manner, but there were several reasons, as well, that it wasn’t a good choice. “St. James is too far; Gil is tired.”

“That’s why we’ll take the carriage.”

“I told you, I am not getting into a carriage with you.”