by Monica Burns
“Practically everything I’m sure.” Her infectious grin lit up her face. It was clear she’d enjoyed her morning. Deep inside, he realized he wanted to make her this happy everyday. The thought surprised him, but it felt right, just as so much else felt right where Victoria was concerned.
“What was your favorite part of the morning?”
“The hedge maze,” she answered with a laugh.
“The maze?” Surprised, he chuckled. “I was a boy the last time I visited the maze.”
“You should try it more often, especially with Edmund. He loves to leave you behind so you have to beg him to come find you.”
“And did you throw yourself on his mercy, and plead with him?” His soft inquiry caused fire to flash in her sapphire gaze.
“Pleading with Edmund is easy compared to others.”
“So if you were forced to plead with me, it would be more difficult?” He laughed as she grimaced. “You don’t like to be teased?”
“I have to admit, where you’re concerned, I’d rather be on the giving end than the receiving one.”
When they reached the stables, they found Edmund waiting restlessly next to a small one-horse cart. When they reached the side of the gig, Nicholas released her arm to help her up into the cart. Grinning at his brother’s eager manner, he told Edmund to get in the cart while he double-checked the harness. Satisfied with the animal’s tack, he climbed into the two-wheeled vehicle.
“Would you like to drive today, Edmund?” he asked as he saw the gleam of excitement in his brother’s eyes.
“Yes, please.” Edmund waited with restrained impatience as Nicholas seated himself next to Victoria.
“Go easy on Maribelle. She knows the way,” he said as he gestured for his brother to take up the reins and buggy whip.
“Yes, Nicholas.” Edmund’s face took on an air of intense concentration as he lightly tapped the hindquarters of the horse to propel the cart into motion.
The dog cart rolled out of the stable yard and onto one of the dirt roads that wound their way across the estate. With his brother at the helm, Nicholas sat back to enjoy the ride. With one arm stretched out behind Victoria, he tried to recall the last time he’d been so relaxed. He looked down at her and smiled as he caught her watching him. She quickly averted her gaze and shivered.
“You’re cold,” he stated as he shifted his position and reached for a jacket lying on the seat opposite them.
“I’m fine,” she said as she rejected his offer of the garment. “It’s not cold at all.”
“This is an unusual day. You should ask Molly to have your winter clothes brought down from storage until you’re able to visit your dressmaker in London.”
“London?” There was a note of fear in Victoria’s voice, and he studied her face intently. She quickly looked away. Narrowing his gaze he tilted his head to look at her profile.
“I would think you’d want new gowns for the season.”
“No, I’m good,” she muttered with a shake of her head. “I don’t want to go to London anyway.”
“I thought we’d spend Christmas at Guildford House as I have to be in town for the opening of Parliament in January.”
“Oh,” she said softly. Concentration darkened her features as if she was trying to solve a difficult puzzle. With a small shake of her head, she met his gaze. “Well, thank you, but I’ll stay here.”
“Would you care to explain that statement?” he drawled, intent on making her reveal why she’d suddenly changed her mind about going to town.
“There’s nothing to explain. I just have no intention of going to London.” She shrugged.
“I see, and yet you’ve talked about going to London since your return.”
“Well, I’ve changed my mind.” Victoria looked at him with a mutinous expression on her face. “I’m not going to London.”
“On the contrary, Victoria. When I leave for London, you will accompany me.”
“I’d like to see you make me,” she muttered beneath her breath as she slid away from him and pushed herself into the corner of the dog cart.
Although her mouth was thinned with rebellious anger, he saw a flash of fear in her eyes. Frustrated, he exhaled a harsh breath of aggravation. The woman was enough to drive him mad in more ways than one. Nicholas sighed with exasperation, remembering the afternoon was supposed to be one of pleasure, and here he was fighting with her. He didn’t want that. He’d looked forward to their picnic all morning, and he wasn’t about to let a small disagreement ruin their time together. With a grunt, he shook his head.
“This entire conversation began with you shivering,” he observed quietly. He lifted the coat on the seat across from them. “Do you still maintain you’re not cold?”
“I’m fine.” Victoria defiantly rejected the garment as she leaned forward to look over Edmund’s shoulder.
“Where are we going?”
“I thought we’d have our picnic near the lake at Goodman Cottage. It happens to be one of Edmund’s favorite spots.”
“I see,” she murmured. Her sapphire eyes darkened with disillusionment, and he frowned.
“You disapprove?”
“No.” She avoided his gaze. “I just thought the picnic was more of a social outing as opposed to a fact-finding mission.”
The rueful note in Victoria’s voice said his choice in destination had conveyed an entirely different meaning to her than he’d intended. She clearly thought he was interested in probing her thoughts about her return. A visceral sensation gnawed at him. He needed to make her understand he had no ulterior motive for returning to the cottage. Grasping her chin, he forced her to meet his gaze.
“This is not a fact-finding mission, as you call it, Victoria.”
The uneasy look clouding her eyes emphasized that he wasn’t the only one who was afraid to trust. Nicholas steadily held her gaze to give her time to consider his words. Slowly, her uncertainty disappeared as she nodded her acceptance of his explanation.
“Nicholas, do we go left or right at the fork?” Edmund asked.
“Go to the right. We’ll come out in front of the old oak tree just down from the cottage.”
“Can we eat as soon as we get there?” Edmund asked. “I can smell the potpies Mrs. Babcocke fixed, and my tummy is growling like those tigers you told me about.”
“As soon as we set up, we can eat,” Nicholas said with a laugh.
Moments later, Edmund guided the small cart into a glen near the cottage. He took great care pulling Maribelle to a halt, and with great attentiveness, he wrapped the reins around a small metal latch on the rim of the gig.
“How’s that?” Turning toward his brother, Edmund grinned. “I get better every time, don’t I, Nicholas.”
The strength of his love for Edmund made Nicholas’ throat close. For all his challenges, his brother had the heart of a lion and worked hard to succeed at whatever task placed before him. Bringing him back to England had been not only the right thing to do, but the best thing he’d ever done.
“Well done, Edmund,” he said, before moving to the back of the cart and unlatching the door.
He stepped out of the gig then turned to help Victoria out of the cart. As she climbed down and stood close to him, he lifted her hand to his lips. His action sent a fiery color into her cheeks and behind her, Edmund giggled with unrestrained glee from his seat in the cart. Nicholas released Victoria’s hand, and assuming a look of mock severity, he shook his finger at Edmund.
“For someone who was complaining about stomach pains a few minutes ago, you seem to be moving quite slowly.”
Edmund laughed at Nicholas’ teasing and leaped down to the ground. Accustomed to their picnic outings, Edmund opened a compartment over the wheel mount of the gig and removed several large blankets without instruction. Unlatching the large picnic basket from the opposite side of the cart, Nicholas offered his free hand to Victoria.
Charging ahead of them, Edmund spread the blankets out on the ground
in a sunny spot near a huge oak tree. A short distance away, the pond glistened and danced in the sunlight. With Edmund’s help, Nicholas spread the picnic out on the blanket. There was a sense of camaraderie in their actions that comforted him. His only wish was that they could have done this as children.
Mrs. Babcocke had prepared several meat pies and added fresh vegetables and fruit to the basket. Pulling the items out of the wicker container, he watched Victoria help Edmund prepare his plate. The sight was just as amazing as it was pleasing. In companionable silence, the three of them relaxed in the sunshine enjoying their meal. Edmund finished first, and with an inquisitive look at Nicholas, he sat up on his knees in expectation.
“Can I go now, Nicholas?”
“Are you sure you’re done eating?”
“Yes,” Edmund shook his head. “I want to go look for turtles.”
“Very well.” Nicholas smiled before he eyed his brother sternly. “And don’t go wading into the water. It’s already icy cold.”
“All right,” Edmund said before dashing off at a full run, his long legs carrying him away at a rapid rate. Watching him bolt away, Nicholas reclined back on one elbow.
“I almost envy him,” he mused aloud.
“He does have an appreciation for life that the rest of us often overlook.” At her observation, Nicholas shook his head as he met Victoria’s dark blue gaze.
“What I meant was, I envy his freedom.”
“His freedom?” Puzzlement creased her brow. He smiled at the puckish look.
“Yes. His freedom and innocence.” He looked out over the body of water, remembering the first time he had met Edmund. “Edmund will always be a child, no matter how long he lives.”
“How old is he?” Victoria asked in a curious tone.
“He just turned thirty-one.”
“You’re a good brother,” she said quietly. “It’s obvious you love him very much.”
“I always wonder if it’s enough to make up for the past.” Nicholas stared out at the pond, but only saw the small, seedy office of a solicitor who’d explained why he billed Nicholas a large monthly sum for services rendered.
“The past?” Victoria’s soft voice made him turn his head toward her before he looked away again.
“It’s a long story.” He picked up a piece of apple and studied it for a moment then popped it into his mouth. As she leaned toward him, the lemon and honey scent of her drifted beneath his nose.
“I’m a good listener,” she entreated. “And we’re not going anywhere.”
Seated with her legs curled up beneath her, she leveled a patient look in his direction. He held her vivid gaze for a long moment then turned his head back to study the pond. When he spoke, it amazed him how easy it was to tell her the story.
“In the beginning, my parents failed to realize there was something different about Edmund. I remember my mother saying once he had been a very easy baby to care for. When he turned three, my father called in an expert from Vienna.”
He paused for a moment, checking to ensure that his brother was still close by. Catching sight of Edmund’s tall form some distance away, Nicholas allowed himself to breathe a little easier as he continued his story.
At that point, the doctor told my parents Edmund would be dead before the age of twenty, and that it was doubtful he would mature mentally beyond the age of four or five.”
Lowering his head, he studied the blanket’s weave for a moment then raised his head to look at Edmund throwing stones into the pond. His brother was the reason the Guildford line would die with him. He darted a quick look in Victoria’s direction. She was studying him with a pensive shimmer in her eyes.
“The diagnosis devastated my parents,” he said as he looked away from her to stare up at the clear sky.
“I can’t imagine how heartbroken they must’ve been.”
“Actually, I think my father was more ashamed than anything else,” Nicholas bit out. “Or he wouldn’t have done what he did next.”
The old bitterness rose up inside him as he watched Edmund bending over to study something on the edge of the pond. How could his father not have loved Edmund? Nicholas drew in a deep breath then released it. He was no better than his father. Otherwise, he wouldn’t hesitate to try for an heir. Abigail had reminded him time and time again that she had three children who showed no signs of Edmund’s handicap. His sister’s reassurances had not changed his mind. Nicholas looked at Victoria who was patiently waiting for him to continue his story.
“The bastard hid Edmund away then told everyone he was dead.”
“Oh, my God.” Victoria gasped. The appalled expression on her face resembled his reaction the moment he discovered the truth.
“I have vague memories of Edmund, but I was only five when my parents took him to the continent. They made arrangements for Edmund’s care in a small villa in Italy then returned and announced Edmund was dead.”
“Does he know any of this?” Victoria asked in horror.
“No.” Nicholas shook his head. “My mother left a letter for me with the solicitor who arranged for Edmund’s needs and kept the family secret safe.”
“But he remembers your mother,” Victoria said softly. “He talked about her last night.”
“That’s because my mother went to Italy for three months every year to stay with him,” Nicholas said quietly. He’d always wondered where his mouther had gone on her trips. She’d always been so happy before she left and sad when she returned. “While returning to England, her ship went down in a storm. Edmund was sixteen. I’m just grateful she spent the last three months of her life with him.”
“I’m so sorry, Nicholas.” Sympathy echoed in Victoria’s voice as she laid her hand over his. The sincerity of her compassion sent a powerful emotion pounding through his body.
“My father died seven years later, and it was then I learned Edmund was still alive and living in Italy where my father had hidden him away from the world.”
“And you went and got him,” Victoria said softly.
“Yes. My sister, Abigail, and I traveled to Italy to bring him home.” He nodded as his gaze settled on his brother again. “The first time we met Edmund, he recognized us immediately. My mother had given him miniatures of both Abigail and me. I cannot describe what it was like to have Edmund greet me as if he’d known me all my life, and yet he was a complete stranger to me.”
“What did you tell everyone when you brought him home?”
“I told the staff very little, and said nothing to anyone else except my closest friends.” Nicholas rolled his shoulders in an impatient shrug. “Everyone believed he was dead, and I left it that way. I wasn’t about to let people make him into a figure of fun.”
“Did Vickie resent Edmund being here?”
“No. She viewed him more as an inconvenience.” Nicholas shook his head. “The fact that she didn’t want children was one of the few things we did agreed upon. She had no use for children, whereas the risk of siring a child with the same difficulties as my brother is too great.”
“You can’t mean that,” Victoria gasped softly. “The chance of any of your children being like Edmund is very low.”
“Whether they are or not, I have no intention of testing those odds,” Nicholas said in a tightly fierce voice. “The repercussions are too great.”
Before Victoria could offer any other reasons why he shouldn’t be so adamant on the subject, Nicholas’ attention was diverted by Edmund, who was hollering at them from the other side of the pond. Ignoring the minor ache in his leg, Nicholas scrambled to his feet then bent to help Victoria up off the ground. Her hand on his arm, she pointed to where Edmund was jumping up and down on the opposite side of the large pond. Together they returned his wave, and Nicholas looked down at her with a smile.
“Would you care to take a walk? Obviously he’s anxious to show us his discovery.”
“Of course.” Victoria laughed up at him.
Instead of offering his arm,
Nicholas clasped her hand in his, and drew her along the shoreline to where Edmund was waiting. As they moved along the path that bordered the pond, the thatched roof of Goodman Cottage came into view. Edmund ran to greet them and grabbed Victoria’s hand to pull her toward a young man sitting in front of an easel. His brother shushed them with a finger against his lips as they drew near. Nicholas grinned at the way Edmund and Victoria communicated in makeshift sign language.
Sapphire eyes sparkling with pleasure, she looked at Nicholas and smiled with amusement at Edmund’s excitement. He chuckled softly and watched as she moved to stand behind the artist. As she stepped forward to study the canvas, the pleasure vanished from her features. In an instant, her face grew deathly white, an expression of shock twisting her mouth open in a mute cry of fear. A sharp blade of panic speared into Nicholas’ gut as he raced forward to catch Victoria in his arms as she fainted.
Chapter 17
Present Day
Nick emerged from the bathroom in Victoria’s hospital room, towel drying his hair. His gaze flitted toward Victoria hoping to see her looking back at him, but nothing had changed. It had been four and a half days now, with no sign of Victoria coming out of the coma. Barefoot and without a shirt, he returned to the bathroom to hang up the towel then tugged on a T-shirt that he tucked into his jeans.
He was sitting on the recliner bed that he’d just returned to its upright position when Nora knocked on the door and smiled at him as she walked into the room.
“Any change?” Her expression said she already knew the answer. He continued to tie his tennis shoes as he shook his head at her. She sank down on a nearby chair, and dropped her bag onto the tile floor.
“How are things progressing with the shop repairs?” he asked.
“We should be open by Saturday. The guys I hired have done a wonderful job putting everything back together.”
“Did the insurance guy give you any more hassle about the security system.”
“No, we’re good to go with that. I managed to get the security people to give us an upgrade for just a little more than what we would have paid for the original system.” Nora grinned at him, clearly pleased with herself. In the face of her optimism, he couldn’t help but chuckle.