Chapter 5 #2
“You are only nine, my darling. And no one would want you to stay somewhere unsafe. And… when we are with the Duke, you will have all sorts of lessons that will give you the skills to be the best earl you can be.”
Rowen tried to inject excitement into her voice, but suspected she was unconvincing when her son and daughter both arched their eyebrows at her in perfect unison.
“I am the man of the house. I’m supposed to take care of you and George,” Alistair insisted, his grey eyes somber.
His words broke Rowen’s heart, and it was all she could do not to pull him close and tell him that he was wrong. Her fingers flexed, and she clasped them in her lap to keep from reaching for him.
“I don’t need looking after. I can look after myself,” Georgia added.
“I am your mother, and it is my job to look after you. Do you understand?” She met her children’s eyes. “You are only nine. Your only task is to learn as much as you can and be nice to each other. And you will have lots to learn while we are at the Duke’s castle. Latin and Greek, and arithmetic.”
“I don’t want to live with the Duke. I don’t know him, and I don’t like him,” Georgia growled. “I don’t need a stepfather. I have you.”
Rowen swallowed past the lump in her throat, but before she could say anything, Alistair chimed in, “I don’t want to live in London. It is loud and dirty, and I hate it there.”
“No, you don’t. You love it. Think of all the things we can do and the adventures we will have. We could go to the Royal Menagerie and see the lions and the tigers.” Rowen gave both of her children an encouraging smile.
Georgia waved a dismissive hand. “Billy told me that they ate the tiger.”
“The cook’s son? He does not know what he’s talking about. The tiger is alive, and he definitely has not been eaten.”
Rowen was fairly certain the beast was still alive, but even if it was not, there was no way it would have been eaten.
I shall have to have a word with Cook about the kind of things her son says to the children.
“I know this is all a big change and that it is happening rather fast, but you know that I am only trying to keep you both safe and happy.”
“I don’t want to go.” Georgia’s lip trembled.
“I’m scared,” Alistair admitted. “In the stories, all stepmothers are nasty and evil. What if stepfathers are the same?”
“Do you think I would marry anyone who I thought would be nasty to you?” Rowen arched an eyebrow. “Besides, the Duke is—was a friend of Uncle James, and your uncle would not be friends with a horrible person, would he?”
“I suppose not,” Alistair conceded. “And he did say I could attend the wedding if I wanted.”
“Exactly.” Rowen felt the tension leave her shoulders.
Georgia looked between her brother and mother. “I do not want to be his groomsman. I want to be a bridesmaid.”
“Then you shall be that.” Rowen stood up and rolled her shoulders back, feeling several kinks pop in her neck.
Perhaps Verity had a point about moving.
Georgia frowned. “But what about Alistair?”
“I want to attend the wedding, but I think people will laugh at me if I am a bridesmaid.” Alistair gave Rowen a questioning look.
“I’ll box their ears.” Georgia held up her tiny fists, scowling at no one in particular. “I’m the only one who gets to make fun of you.”
Alistair smiled at his sister. “I can be a groomsman. Then, I can be with Uncle Warner.”
“See? That is something to look forward to, isn’t it? And we will be staying with your uncle while we get ready for the wedding.”
“We will get to see Davey and Fliss every day!” Georgia grinned.
“Exactly. And then, when we’re living with the Duke, we will be able to get you all sorts of things. New clothes, new books.”
“A pony?” Alistair asked hopefully. “I miss riding.”
“I am sure Tob—the Duke will get each of you a pony. After all, a young earl should know how to ride and hunt.”
The twins exchanged looks and Georgia said, “I still do not like him.”
“You do not know him.” Rowen kept her voice light and airy, not wanting her children to note her own less-than-positive feelings about the man.
“I suppose not,” Alistair relented, before turning to his sister. “I’m sorry for pushing you, Georgie.”
“I’m sorry for kicking you.” Georgia gave him a hug. “I don’t mind if we share the book.”
“Good. Now, go and get one of the maids to clean up the broken china, and then you can finish packing. I am fairly certain that Aunty Adele has had her cook make you a cake.” Rowen put on an exaggerated, thoughtful face.
“Though, you know what your uncle’s appetite is like.
There might not be any left if we wait too long. ”
Georgia and Alistair sprang into action, streaking out of the room while holding hands, each theorizing about what kind of cake was waiting for them.
As she watched her children retreat, Rowen leaned against the doorframe. “What would it be like to have a second set of hands to help with this sort of thing?”
“A husband is not just for warming one’s bed.”
Adele’s words tumbled around her head, followed by her mother’s.
“Once they have lost interest, you will be on your own.”
“I will not make the same mistake again,” Rowen murmured. “Not when I have so much to lose.”
Tobias might claim that he would do what was needed, but she knew how fickle men’s hearts could be.