The Proposal by Lori Wick Read Free Book Online Page B

I’ll be sending for the staff, but for now, have Collins keep things busy here.”
    He’d finally made it back to the study and finished his sister’s letter. He’d read it through twice. Not having received a reply in all these years did not seem to have put her off. His sister’s letter was sanguine and caring. And the note at the bottom was one he could not ignore.
    I know how busy you must be, Jennings, but should you ever have time to write or stop in, it would be lovely to see you or hear from you.
    Much as William Jennings knew that he did not deserve a sister such as he had, he was not going to ignore this offer. If he’d had more time, he would have gone back and read all his sister’s letters, but right now he just wanted to see her. He wanted to talk with her and Frank Palmer, and share with them this event that had happened in his life. Even knowing that his not calling on them until he had a need was a selfish act, he hoped they would forgive him for the children’s sake.
    “We’ll be off just after breakfast tomorrow.”
    “Very well, sir,” Bates said, all the while making notes. “Do you wish Megan or one of the other housemaids to go along to make Miss Penny more comfortable?”
    “I think we can manage,” Jennings said. “She’s quite content with her brothers, and they deal with her needs most competently.”
    Bates was taking more notes when there came a soft knock on the doorframe. The men looked to see Thomas standing just outside.
    “Did you wish to see me, sir?”
    “Yes, Thomas. Come in. That will be all, Bates.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Sit down, Thomas. I wish to ask you a question.” Jennings waited only until Thomas was comfortable in one of the large leather armchairs to begin. “I’m trying to understand something, Thomas. It might seem obvious to you, but I need a little help.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Before Mrs Smith came, were you hoping to get away from Aydon?”
    “No, sir.”
    “I repeat, this might seem clear to you, but I need to ask, why?”
    “Because Penny was safe then, and we were able to see her.”
    “So if I had insisted that you come on rides with me or come in here for a lesson of some sort that would have excluded Penny, would you have tried to leave?”
    “I would have been most uncomfortable leaving Penny on her own, but I don’t think I would have taken such action if she was not being harmed. If she was upset and lonely, I would have tried refusing you, if not—” Thomas finished with a shrug since he didn’t honestly know what course he would have chosen.
    But Jennings had heard enough. He had suspected as much, and now Thomas confirmed it. It shouldn’t have been such a mystery to him, but it had been.
    “Thank you for explaining to me, Thomas. Now, I need to tell you that we’re leaving in the morning.”
    Thomas nodded.
    “My sister and her family live near Collingbourne. We’ll be leaving after breakfast, quite possibly for an extended stay.”
    “All of us, sir?”
    “Yes. I told Bates that we did not need one of the women for Penny, but if you’d rather she have someone along, he can arrange that.”
    “Will Penny be with us the entire time?”
    “Yes, certainly.”
    “James and I can take care of her, sir.”
    “I felt confident you could.”
    A high-pitched shriek sailed through the doorway just then, and Jennings came half out of his seat.
    “Was that Penny?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “Should we see to her?”
    “No,” Thomas said with a smile. “She and James are playing in the nursery. Would you like me to tell them to quiet down?”
    “No,” Jennings said slowly, his face thoughtful. “They don’t need to quiet down at all.” He was quiet himself for a moment before adding, “My sister and I used to play in that nursery.”
    Thomas nodded and watched the older man for a moment. Something had certainly changed in him that day. Just twenty-four hours earlier, Thomas was ready never to see him again, but the young man