by Wendy Vella
“Actually, James and I have an idea about that,” Dev said.
“Do you? Now there’s a surprise,” Cam said.
“Yes.” James got to his feet. “But before we go and see it, Samantha has been practicing a piece with her new teacher that she wishes to play for us. So come along.”
“Her teacher is working out well?” Cam asked as they rose.
“She’s brilliant, and Samantha loves her. She will be taking Dorrie and Somer soon for lessons also, plus Warwick for violin.”
“She also plays the violin?” Wolf thought about Rose Abernethy and her skill with both.
“She does, and very well,” Eden confirmed.
Plenty of people, Wolf was sure, played both instruments proficiently.
“You need something more than purchasing property to occupy your time, Wolf, and I have just the project for you,” his eldest cousin said, walking at his side as they left the room.
“Cam said you had something in mind, Dev, but at the moment this suits me. I am steadily increasing my fortunes, but—”
“I want a few hours of your time and no more. After we have been tortured by Samantha and likely the twins, as they will have no wish to miss out, we shall go for a ride.”
He could refuse but his interest was tweaked, so he nodded. Looking down, he found Mr. Whiskers at his feet.
“Hello, Whiskers.” Wolf bent to pat the little dog and scratched behind an ear. He was rewarded with a small woof, which was this particular dog’s thank-you.
“It’s a shame women don’t respond to you the way animals do.”
“How do you know women do not respond to me?” Wolf said, straightening. “Just because I do not boast as Cam did does not mean I am not sought after.”
“I had no need of boasting, cousin!” Cam’s words came from over his right shoulder.
“Oh come now, brother,” Dev drawled. “You constantly boasted.”
Wolf snorted. Did he feel lighter inside? He thought the answer to that question may be yes, but until that moment he had not realized it.
“Here, you can carry this lump, she is getting bigger daily.”
Wolf took Hannah, Dev’s daughter, and settled her into his arms. From the day he’d been well enough to interact with a child, they had continually forced them on him. As there were now five infants in the family, there were plenty to hold. Mathew and Hannah for Dev and Lilly. Eden and James had Isabella and Simon. Essie and Max had a son Luke.
Wolf had read to them, settled them in his arms to sleep, and fed them, and he had not minded. Children wanted nothing from him but attention, and that he could give. They asked no probing questions that he could not answer, but gave him the contact and warmth he needed.
Kissing the top of Hannah’s head, he enjoyed the special scent only babies had.
He felt Dev’s eyes on him, but did not speak, and they walked in companionable silence with the rest of the family through the duke’s house.
Steeped in history from the generations of dukes who had come before him, James’s house had touches of old and new, but what it had, as did the other houses in his family, was a feeling of home.
The haunting sound of a ballad reached them as they approached the music room.
“There is no way Samantha has improved that much,” James said. “It must be her tutor.”
“My daughter always falls asleep in your arms,” Dev said.
Wolf looked down at the sleeping infant. Her eyes were closed, and her little mouth open in a perfect circle. One chubby fist was clenched.
“It’s your stillness. No one in my family can sit for more than a minute without the need to speak or move.”
The music grew louder as they reached the room, and Wolf felt suddenly tense. Looking around, he checked his family. All were there, and all were well.
“Did you feel that?” he asked Dev.
“What?”
“I felt like we do when something is about to happen.” Wolf’s gut clenched tight.
“I didn’t feel it,” Cam said, coming closer. “Are you sure?”
“I must have imagined it.” Wolf looked at the door to the music room. “Maybe the music will be too loud for Hannah. I’ll take her back to the sitting room and wait for you all there.”
“No need. She has slept through Warwick, Dorrie, and Somer stampeding around the room; she will not wake with the music.”
“I really don’t think—”
“In you go.”
A hand on his back pressed him forward. Entering the room, he immediately saw the reason for his tension seated at the piano.
Chapter 7
Rose still could not believe she was here, in the Duke of Raven’s townhouse, taking his sister, Lady Samantha, for piano lessons.
The interview had been conducted by the beautiful Duchess of Raven in this room, and much to her surprise, she had been easy to talk to. Rose had then played two songs, and two days later she’d received a letter stating she had the position.
That night she and Kitty celebrated by eating jam and bread, going to bed with full bellies. Rose had also secretly hoped that the money she was to earn would one day soon have them leaving Putt’s Lodging House.
She was enjoying her time with Lady Samantha, or Samantha as she demanded Rose call her. She was a sweet-natured, happy, young lady, and full of energy. Getting her to sit still and play had been her first task, but now, four lessons later, they had established a routine and her student was improving with each session.
“Oh,” Samantha breathed when Rose finished playing. “I want to play like that.”
“And you will if you practice.”
The room was bathed in light from the windows that ran the length of one side. Rose could see the gardens through them, long stretches of green grass, and large, leafy trees. She often saw the duke and duchess out there with their young children.
There was a shelf filled with music and other instruments that Rose’s fingers had itched to touch. The walls were cream and the curtains emerald-and-cream striped. Everywhere Rose looked she saw wealth, as befitted a duke and duchess.
This, she’d told Kitty, was how the wealthy lived. They’d sat up late into the night discussing every detail, and her friend was ferocious in her thirst for knowledge of a life she and Rose would never be part of.
“My family will arrive soon, Rose, for my concert,” Samantha said, looking pretty in her white dress. Delicate and fair, she appeared as if a strong wind would knock her over, however Rose knew this was far from the truth. Lady Samantha could be extremely strong-willed when she put her mind to it.
“I shall leave you then,” Rose said, getting to her feet.
“Please stay. I would like you to play also. It is a special occasion, you see. My family is celebrating the return of Dorrie and Somer’s cousin from the war. He was injured badly, but is recovering now.”
“It would not be right for me to do so. This is your chance to show your family how much you have learned, Samantha. I shall return on Thursday for your next lesson.”
“Wolf!”
Samantha’s shriek had Rose’s eyes going to the door.
No!
There in the doorway stood Captain Sinclair. His green eyes were locked on her with that intensity she’d felt when performing for the veterans at Ranwich House.
Captain Sinclair. Sinclair. She was a fool for not connecting the names, and yet surely there was more than one Sinclair family in London? Samantha had talked repeatedly about them. The twins, Dorrie and Somer Sinclair, and the elder siblings, but she’d never mentioned a captain!
His name was Wolf.
He carried an infant in his big arms, and it softened the man who until that moment she’d thought of as unemotional. She’d thought about him far more than was comfortable, but not once had she contemplated that he was married.
“Come and meet Miss Abernethy; Rose, as I call her. She plays like a dream, Wolf. I have tried to convince her to play for you also, a
s it is your special day. However, she is refusing.”
Samantha had his free hand in hers and was towing him to where Rose still sat. Of course if he had not wanted to be towed, she doubted he would be. Hastily Rose rallied and regained her feet to sink into a curtsey. Looking over his shoulder, she watched other people enter the room, only two of whom she knew.
“Good morning, Miss Abernethy.”
“Captain Sinclair.”
His jacket was deep green; the left lapel drew her eye as it bore a long white smudge and was so at odds with the rest of his appearance she couldn’t stop staring.
“My cousins like to use me as a serviette, Miss Abernethy. I have yet to cure them of this habit.”
Rose quickly looked up, horrified he’d caught her staring.
“Wolf makes the best wooden animals, Rose,” Lady Samantha interrupted. “I have several, as do Dorrie, Somer, and Warwick.”
As she was talking, it allowed Rose to look down at her and away from the man. Why did carrying a baby and wearing a smear on his lapel make him even more disturbing?
“Allow me to introduce you to the newest member in our family, Miss Abernethy. My youngest cousin, Hannah.”
He did not mention they had met previously, so she said nothing to change that, and instead looked at the lovely pink-cheeked baby in his arms.
“She is lovely, Captain.” Rose wanted to touch a soft hand, but refrained. The little mouth was relaxed in sleep, and she looked completely content in his arms, which Rose was sure was a very comfortable place to be.
“My cousin tells me she has a set of lungs to rival a street vendor, and yet I fail to believe she could be anything other than angelic.” The harsh lines of his face relaxed as he looked down at Hannah.
“I believe most babies are well equipped in that department, Captain Sinclair. I can certainly attest to that. The few I helped bring into the world knew exactly how to use their lungs after drawing their first breath.”
His look was curious.
“My aunt was also a midwife. Sometimes I assisted her.”
Be seen and not heard, Rose. Kitty had told her this. Those nobles have no interest in you.
She dragged her eyes from him and the baby to look at the people now milling around the room. By the dark hair and eyes, most were Sinclairs. The duke she had met, and his duchess. He had introduced himself to her after Samantha’s first lesson. She’d thought that odd, such a powerful man taking the time to meet her, a mere piano teacher, and yet he had, and was very polite too.
“Come and meet Dorrie and Somer,” Samantha said, taking Rose’s arm. She allowed it for the few feet that took her away from Captain Sinclair.
“I shall leave now, Lady Samantha.”
“But I want you to meet my family,” the girl said in a clear, loud voice that drew eyes and had Rose wanting to hide under the nearest object.
“It is not done,” she whispered.
“How do you know our cousin, Miss Abernethy?”
Before she could flee, another man had approached.
“I beg your pardon, my-my lord?” Was he a lord? Rose wasn’t sure how to address him.
He smiled, and unlike the captain it reached all corners of his face.
“As you have probably guessed, I am also a Sinclair. Unfortunately there are quite a few of us, so it can be confusing. My brother is a lord, and I assure you wears the title a great deal better than I ever would. I am a simple mister. But I prefer to go by my name of Cam or Cambridge.”
“I don’t think it would be right for me to call you anything but Mr. Sinclair, sir.”
“Very well, and I shall call you Miss Abernethy, but may I add that you have a lovely name, Rose, to complement your equally lovely accent.”
She wanted to grab her basket and run fast out the door. Rose had never been in such elevated company. It was terrifying thinking she may slip up and say something wrong. Kitty would be awed when she told her.
“And this,” he reached behind him and urged a woman forward, “is my wife, Emily, and she has put on a great deal of weight since our marriage. We are most concerned for her health.”
Of a delicate build, the fair woman had soft, pale skin and gray eyes. The elbow she jabbed into her husband’s ribs, however, suggested she was of a robust constitution. Attempting to hide her shock at the gesture, Rose sank into yet another curtsey, surveying the large belly of Mrs. Sinclair as she rose.
“Do not mind my foolish husband, Miss Abernethy.”
“Good morning, Mrs. Sinclair.” Rose curtseyed once more for no other reason than she wasn’t sure what else to do.
“You’ll get vertigo if you keep that up.” The words were spoken by the captain.
“Begging your pardon, I shall leave you now.” Rose managed to stop from ducking into another curtsey.
“My wife is due any day, and insists on leaving the house, Miss Abernethy. I have several gray hairs that were not there at the beginning of her pregnancy.”
“Pay him no mind.” Mrs. Sinclair waved a hand at her husband, who captured it and held it in his. The gesture was so intimate Rose could feel heat filling her cheeks. “You have a lovely accent, Miss Abernethy. Where do you hail from in Scotland?”
“Edinburgh, Mrs. Sinclair.”
“And how is it you know our dear Wolf?”
They both looked at her then in expectation.
“Ah, I don’t know him.”
“But you have met before, I am sure of it,” Mr. Sinclair persisted.
“Leave the woman alone, Cam.” The words came from Captain Sinclair, who moved to her side, still carrying the child.
“I was being polite, Wolf, it’s what we do in the general course of the day,” Mr. Sinclair said, seemingly undeterred by his cousin’s caution. He then leaned around his wife and stroked Hannah’s head. “Hello, darling. Is Uncle Wolf boring you to sleep again?”
“They love him,” Mrs. Sinclair sighed. “It really is something to see. Small children and all animals, he holds them in the palm of his hands. It’s because he’s steady and controlled, unlike the rest of this rabble.” She waved a hand behind her.
“Excuse me.” She was just about to dip again when a hand shot out and held her still.
“We have established you know how to curtsey, Miss Abernethy. There is no need to impress us further.”
His fingers were warm, and the imprint remained when he’d released her.
“I must go.” Rose was desperate now. She didn’t want to know anything more about him, because he already intrigued her.
“So you and my cousin. How did you meet?” Mr. Sinclair asked again.
“Just tell him, he will simply detain you until you do, Miss Abernethy,” the captain said calmly. Far more calmly than Rose believed the situation warranted, especially as her insides were churning. She needed this position, and yet a wrong step could take it from her.
“I... I was mugged, and Captain Sinclair rescued me.” Rose shot him a look, and his green eyes carried no expression.
“I see, yes, I heard about that incident, and the cat rescue.”
“Yes, Amadeus was very grateful,” Rose babbled.
“Everyone sit!” Samantha shrieked, losing patience over the delay.
This gave Rose the opportunity she needed to back away and collect her things.
“Will you not stay for the recital, Miss Abernethy?”
Gripping the handle, she straightened to look into the gray eyes of the duke.
“N-no, thank you, your Grace, it is not right that I do so.”
His smile was kind. “We rarely do things right in this family, Miss Abernethy.”
“You have a nice family, your Grace,” she rushed to add.
“Yes, they have their moments, but I would not be without a single one of them. However, I shall thank you for not telling them that.”
“Of course.” Rose bobbed a curtsey, then walked around the duke quickly. She bobbed again at the door just in case it was required,
and fled, hoping her aching knees would carry her home as fast as they could.
“Rose Abernethy.” Dev said the name slowly from his seat beside Wolf.
He ignored him.
Only after she’d left the room did the tightness in his chest ease. She was the tutor James and Eden had engaged for Samantha. Why? What fates had aligned to throw her into his path yet again?
“Samantha seems to like her.”
Wolf grunted.
“She is lovely,” Eden added. “Her musical talents come from her aunt, she told Samantha. She applied for the position just a few days after arriving in London.”
“I wonder she didn’t look for a position in Scotland?” Wolf said before he could stop himself.
“There is no longer anything for her there, or so she said. But it seems odd to me to live one’s life somewhere, then leave for an uncertain future in London.”
“Perhaps she has friends or family here?”
“No, Samantha said she has only one friend, a Miss Dodds. She also works in a teashop.”
“Miss Dodds?” Wolf looked at Eden.
“Miss Abernethy. Supposedly she has worked there since arriving in London.”
“She was raised in Scotland,” James added, joining the conversation. “Her parents passed away when she was a babe, and she was raised by her aunt.”
“I hope you did not interrogate her.” Wolf made himself relax the grip he had on Hannah as she started fussing.
“We?” Eden placed a hand on her chest while attempting to look innocent. “Surely you know us better than that, cousin.”
“I do, and that is why I asked.”
“We were nervous after the last tutor, who was horrible,” Eden whispered as Samantha launched into a song. “I did not want another uppity teacher who lectured her, so it was a relief when Rose arrived. We liked her instantly. It was an unusual thing, actually. Both James and I felt completely comfortable with Rose from the beginning.”
He did not want to think of her as Rose because it felt familiar, as if she would play a part in his life. Miss Abernethy could easily just be Samantha’s piano teacher.
“What an extraordinary coincidence that she is the same woman you rescued, Wolf,” Eden added, her eyes innocent. He was not fooled. “As she was born in Scotland we can rule out her being a Raven, and yet there could be a link there somewhere in the distant past.”