The boy swallowed and looked at the floor as he nodded quickly. Poor lad, he’d have done the best he could for his sister. But he couldn’t manage alone.
Finnegan slapped him on the shoulder. “Are you going to keep them, sir?”
The children stared, both sets of eyes brimming with hope. He nodded. “I believe I will. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Finding what the children needed from the unfamiliar businesses on
Bond Street
proved a bigger hurdle than Terrance had first anticipated. He was very late returning to
Mill Street
and hoped the servants hadn’t resigned on the spot from dealing with lice and whatever muck coated the poor children. He’d never purchased for children before and had used another customer’s children to guess at the sizes he needed. Hopefully, they would fit well enough until he could have proper garments made or altered. Given what they’d suffered through, the children should be pleased. He let himself in with his key and hurried for the kitchen.
A male throat cleared to his right. “Would you mind telling me why there are children asleep in your sitting room, Mr. Bridgewater?”
Terrance spun, jostling his burdens to see Aiden leaning against a doorway. “You’re early?”
“I’m all but ready to depart on our adventure.” His lips turned down. “However, it seems there has been a change in your situation. You have offspring, I’m told.”
“Of course they are not mine.”
Aiden’s brow rose.
“They followed me home.”
Aiden’s lips quirked. “We have something in common it seems.”
Terrance hadn’t thought how Aiden would take the news of his plan to assume responsibility for the children until this moment. But it was far too late to change his course now. He rushed ahead.
“Goodness,” Finnegan chuckled, “did you get enough for the wee things?”
Terrance wiped the sweat from his brow with one finger. “Possibly. I’m not sure of the fit, however.”
Finnegan’s wife laid out his purchases. “They’ll fit with a few nips and tucks on Miss Maggie’s garments. They got tired of waiting for your return and fell asleep where they sat. Dinner will be served in an hour. I take it your gentleman caller will be dining with you this evening?”
“He will,” Aiden said from the door.
“Very good, my lord.” Cook bobbed. “I’ll dress the children in time for their supper. Their bedchamber will be closer to ours, if you don’t mind, sir. I don’t want to be traipsing the house and disturbing your rest this evening.” A mischievous sparkle lit her eyes. Had she guessed that he and Aiden were lovers?
“You’re very kind.”
As he turned, Finnegan muttered under her breath. “Can’t have the little ones getting too early an education of the ways of the world, now can we?”
Curses. They did know.
But at least Terrance didn’t have to hide his inclinations too well while in this house. He snagged Aiden’s arms and drew him toward the small library. When the door closed behind his back, he leaned upon it. “Slight change of plan.”
“Such as.”
“The children are coming with us.”
Aiden’s eyes widened in surprise. “I thought you’d say you were staying here with them. Not dragging them off into the unknown. Are you sure?”
“As sure as I am about you,” he blurted. Terrance cupped his hands around his lover’s jaw. “No chance of changing my mind. I want to go.” He brushed his lips across Aiden’s lightly.
Aiden pulled away. “Did you read in the paper today that there was a theft at Lord Henderson’s ball last night?”
Terrance shrugged. “What is
Henderson
to me? I’m hardly the sort to be invited to his ball. I’m sure he will get over his disappointment in due time.”
“My sister-in-law had a note from Amelia Dunwoody. Seems the
Henderson
’s are in an uproar over the disappearance. Lord Henderson wants that painting back. It must be dear to him.”
Terrance folded his arms across his chest. “I’m sure it’s not.”
Aiden approached, set his hands to Terrance’s hips and kneaded. “Do you want to regain your proper position? My sister-in-law thinks you should.”
Terrance frowned. “You told Mrs. Banks about me?”
Aiden scoffed. “The only secret that can be kept from that woman is one she’d rather forget. By the way, your eyes are remarkably like Miss Amelia’s. I was reminded of you the whole time we danced. Mrs. Banks noticed too.”
“Amelia is a sweet girl.”
Aiden shook him. “Who does not know she has a half-brother looking out for her interests.”
Terrance shrugged but his stomach roiled with thoughts of his half-sister. She might like him as a fake footman, but a brother? That would be anyone’s guess. “My reappearance would cause her distress.”
“What if her errant brother returned home from a trip abroad with much fanfare and anticipation? Josephine has a touch of the dramatic at times. She thinks I should discover you on my trip and announce it to Henderson and all of society. I’m afraid Josephine is looking forward to her part in it all. But, of course, it is entirely up to you. I will be happy where ever you are, you know?”
Terrance curled his hand about Aiden’s skull and drew him forward for a kiss. “We’re still leaving. Mrs. Banks will have to live with disappointment.”
Aiden smiled as if everything would really be all right and, when they kissed again contentment trickled through him. He could not wait till their days kept them together. In fact, the idea of joining with Aiden right now seemed a very good idea. He dropped his hand around Aiden’s arse and kneaded the firm globe until his lover groaned. Perhaps a quick release before dinner was in order. He sank to his knees, opened the placket of Aiden’s trousers and freed his stiff prick as a loud knock echoed through the house.
Aiden met his gaze. “Are you expecting company?”
Terrance tucked Aiden’s prick away. “Not at all.” He listened as Finnegan attended the door, speaking to a gruff voice to refuse the visitor entry.
Whoever it was exclaimed, “I’ll see him right now, my good man. Bring me my son before I call the bloody watch.”
Chapter Thirteen
Christ, not Lord Henderson. How had he found Terry? Aiden grasped his lover’s hand. “What are you going to do?”
His lover shifted uncertainly on his feet, his glance alternating between the hall door and possible escape via the terrace door. He raised his finger to his lips to silence Aiden from asking further questions and pressed his ear to the door.
Although Aiden had proposed that Terry reveal his existence to his father just moments ago, he was not sure now was such a good time. Terry’s face tightened with fury, the same expression that had terrified Aiden for a moment when they had met in the dark of
Covent Garden
.
He squeezed Terry’s hand again to reassure himself that that frightening stranger was a fleeting aberration. Terry could not physically attack his own father for abandoning him and get away with it. If he harmed Lord Henderson, he would have to flee
London
immediately.
Terry turned his head, eyes hard and flat of emotion. Yet he brushed his lips across Aiden’s briefly, then turned the door handle and stepped out into the hall. “What’s going on here?” he barked.
Surprised, Aiden followed.
Poor Finnegan was outmatched in size and determination against
Henderson
. The earl bristled with outrage, his skin a mottled red as he tried to reach Terry.
Terry stood with his arms folded across his chest.
“Sorry, sir. This gentleman wants to see his son, but refuses to leave when I tell him there’s no one here but you and His Grace.”
“It is because of the duke that I am here, you fool. That man with him is my son.”
Finnegan blinked comically. “Are you sure? He ain’t no posh gentleman like you or His Grace.”
Aiden stepped between Terry and his father. “Lord Henderson, what a pleasant surprise.”
“I bet you are.”
Henderson
shook his fist. “Get out of my way or I will knock your block off. Your Grace,” he added as an afterthought.
Aiden sized him up.
Henderson
had a few extra pounds on him but was all fury. Aiden couldn’t hope to stand against him without risk of injury. Perhaps he could talk their way out of this. As he opened his mouth to speak, though, Terry curled his hand over his shoulder and squeezed.
“What is it you want, Lord Henderson?”
“My son and heir.”
Terry snorted. “Finnegan, the children have woken from this racket. Take them outside to play for a time.”
Lord Henderson started at the mention of children, his gaze flittering around the house in search of them. Finnegan shuffled away toward the servants’ quarters and the house fell silent.
Terry shrugged. “You have no son or heir in this house, my lord. I apologize for whoever misinformed you.”
“Your face does not lie.”
Henderson
approached. “Those are my eyes and my Emily’s nose on your face.”
“As I said before, your son is not here.”
Henderson
stared, his jaw working. “Damn it, Terry. Where the devil have you been?”
His lover’s nostrils flared. “Nowhere fit for a child. I am sorry for your loss, my lord, but the boy you are searching for is long gone. I think you should leave.”
Henderson
turned on Aiden. “You. What did you do to find him?”
Terry growled, “More than you damn well did.”
Henderson
’s brows rose. “I thought you dead.”
“You thought? At least I take after my mother in terms of intellect. Did it not occur to you that you had the wrong child’s body to bury?”
Henderson
’s face fell. “I had neither you nor your mother to mourn over. The crypts at Edenmore are empty.”
Terry shook his head. “And that did not stop you from marrying that harpy before a mere six months had passed after the accident. You allowed that woman to destroy mother’s pride and joy by letting her redecorate Henderson House,” Terry hissed. “I’m surprised she didn’t paper over the portrait or destroy it.”
Aiden settled his hand over Terry’s arm as his voice rose in anger. His lover covered it with his.
“So you do have the painting? Thank God.”
Terry shook off Aiden’s grip and towered over his father. “Why do you care? Return to your family, Lord Henderson. You have none here that want you.”
Henderson
’s skin changed from mottled red to deathly pale.
“Terry, that is enough,” Aiden warned. He caught
Henderson
’s elbow and steered him into the library.
Henderson
gasped for air as he sat. His eyes closed and Aiden worried that he might never open them again.