The Viscount Returns by Eryn Black Read Free Book Online Page B

to me.” He calmed himself. It was easy with Ruth…always was. She had taken the role of nanny in his life when his father sent the real nanny away.
    “I will tell you what I can.” She was stiff and stern in her seat.
    “Is that boy my son?” His words were slow and clear.
    “Yes.”
    Once again he obsessively combed his fingers through his hair and took a steadying breath. “When was he born and why was I not told about him?”
    Her eyes squinted and she studied him.
    “He came nine months after you left. He was a little thing just as you had been. Her ladyship told me how she wanted you here and insisted that you were contacted a month before hand, but…”
    “But?” He coached her.
    “That is something you best bring up to Jefferson.” Her jaw tightened.
    “That is another matter I need resolved. Where is Jefferson? Why hasn’t he come to see me yet, and why does it appear that there are no servants to care for this estate?”
    “I fear that you had best ask your wife these questions, only…” She bit back her words.
    “Only?”
    “I would wait until morning. I do not think she will be in her best to receive you tonight.” Her eyes pleaded with him. “Please be kind to her, things have not been easy for her over these years while you have been gone.”
    Robert stood up and backed away. Sickened by Ruth’s words, he began to shrink into the doorway. Looking at himself from the outside, he saw only a raging monster who had attacked a lonely mother and her child—his son. Littered on the floor and crunching under his feet was the broken serving ware that Ruth had once displayed their family meals to his mother’s strict approval. Nothing was ever as simple or accomplished as a young man may imagine. Only hours ago he envisioned a grand feast hosted by his beautiful wife who he had imagined would eagerly welcome him home.
    Food scattered on the floor, Robert knew that in his father’s time there would have been a staff on hand cleaning up his father’s wasteful mess. He realized in their present state this was perhaps what his household now saw as a feast. For whatever reason—which he did not understand—his household was impoverished and his lady wife was beyond his reach.
    “Why should I not see my wife tonight? Do you think me so heartless? Do you think me a monster?” He did not rely on her answer to see in himself what he had just seen reflected back in his son’s fearful eyes.
    “No. Only there is much you do not know.” She stood slowly and tried to reach for him, but Robert turned on his heels and made his way up the stairs before she could say anything else. Allen stood slowly and watched as his friend fled out of sight.

Chapter 5
     
     
     
    “Mother, please, you need to drink some water.” Sprout held the glass to her, but she would not take it.
    “Why didn’t you wait for me?” Was all she would say, looking into nothing with her glassy eyes. Curled into a ball, she trembled in her pains while she waited for the numbing oblivion to take over.
    “I am sorry, Mother, but you always say I am the man of the house, so I figured as man of the house I should greet my own father to dinner.”
    Setting the glass of water down on the bedside table, Sprout climbed up into bed with his mother. Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled his back into her and together they cried.
    “Of course you wanted to see your father and show him the man that you are, but things are not that easy.”
    Knowing that it would not do for her boy to see what she needed, Fiona did not keep him there for long. Once the crying had softened into deep comforting breath, she kissed her son on the top of the head and sent him off to bed, promising that things would change with the new day.
    Left alone to face her demons, Fiona went to her vanity and drew the bottle out of its hiding place. It would only take a lick to steady her shakes, but little was not what she took. Lifting the bottle to her lips, she