Promise Me by Dee Julian Page B

distrusted her as well.
    “ Oh, my, he looks exactly like Adrian.”
    “ You’re right, Gran. The resemblance is remarkable.”
    “ Edwin, I am your great grandmother, but you may call me Gran. And this gentleman is your Uncle Nicolas.”
    “ Hello, Edwin. Does he speak, Annie?”
    “ A few words, but he’s rather shy around strangers.”
    “ We are not strangers,” Lady Chase declared. “We are family. Come to Gran, dear boy. We’ll go for a carriage ride.”
    Leah turned. Edwin had his arms wrapped tightly around Anne’s neck, holding on for dear life.
    “ There’s no cause for alarm,” Chase told the child. “Grandmother Margaret simply wishes to get acquainted.”
    Edwin hid his face in Anne’s neck.
    “ He’s afraid,” Leah declared, her voice quivering in her own ears.
    The child lifted his head. “Eee ah?”
    “ Edwin,” she said as firmly as she could, the fear in his young eyes tugging at her heart. “You must go with your grandmother and uncle.”
    “ Come here, lad.” Chase took him from Anne. “Have you ever ridden a horse? I wager you’ll like my chestnut.”
    Edwin reached for Leah.
    “ No, love.” She wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold back her tears. “When you get settled, I’ll come visit you.”
    He whimpered, his brown eyes glistening.
    Leah calmly approached the child and held his small hand. “You must be polite at all times. Can you do that, Edwin? For me?”
    He rubbed his eyes and nodded.
    She kissed his cheek. “He has a slight cough,” she said, avoiding the duke’s hostile gaze. “I’ll fetch his medicine.”
    “ I’ll save you the trouble,” Chase retorted, his tone as cold as before. “I’ll send for a reputable doctor later this afternoon.”
    Another barb. Another stab at her incompetence.
    Leah glanced at Lady Chase. The older woman’s expression had become unreadable. Without a word, her ladyship turned and exited the study. The duke followed, carrying a sleepy Edwin.
    Anne exhaled a long breath. “Well, that went much better than I expected.”
    “ I fail to see how it could’ve been any worse.”
    “ Chin up, girl. It not as bad as you imagined.”
    “ I wonder if Lady Chase will ever forgive me.”
    “ I’m sure when Aunt Margaret has a chance to think things over, she’ll invite you for a visit.”
    “ Not if I have anything to say about it,” the duke announced.
    Leah glanced up. He stood at the door, his gaze more hostile than before.
    “ Nicolas--”
    “ Leave us, Annie.”
    “ I will not.”
    “ It’s all right,” Leah said to her friend, although she did not cherish the thought of another heated confrontation with the duke.
    Anne sighed. “If you need me, my dear, I’ll be in the study with the girls.”
    Chase closed the door behind his cousin and faced Leah, his expression angry but controlled. “You almost got away with it, did you not?”
    “ Got away with what?”
    “ You almost buried Adrian’s shameful secret so deep no one would’ve ever discovered it. What were your plans for the boy?”
    “ Certainly not what you’re implying. I kept Edwin’s existence a secret because Adrian begged me to.”
    “ Do not blame this on my dead brother. You kept that child away from his family for your own selfish reasons. Adrian would’ve never considered hiding his son if his beloved fiancée had not issued an ultimatum.”
    “ The only request I made to Adrian was that he not abandon his child. I certainly never threatened him. Yes, I kept Edwin from his family, but my intentions were not what you think. I never meant to cause anyone pain. Especially your grandmother.”
    “ Save your worthless excuses for the next eager gentleman who knows nothing of your character. I came back for one reason.” His hot gaze flicked over her. “Where can I find Maria Santiago?”
    “ Surely you don’t intend to contact Edwin’s mother.”
    “ That is none of your concern. Do you know where I can find the woman or