your true identity a secret, but yes. I couldn’t afford to waste time. Time would give you the opportunity to change your mind.”
“I hadn’t even made up my mind!”
“Well, now you have.” A sunny smile. “Besides, you’d be doing a great service to Gaby.”
“To Gaby.” Once again, Bryce felt as if he were being dragged under by a great muddling wave. “Where does Gabrielle fit into this?”
“She hasn’t been back to Whitshire since the fire.”
“Yes, she told me.”
“It’s time she confronted her past. The best way to do that is by convincing her that she’s needed, that she’d be visiting Whitshire as a favor to someone other than herself.”
“And that someone is me.” Bryce shook his head in amazement. “You think Gabrielle’s protective instincts will rush forward if she thinks I need emotional support on my first excursion to Whitshire.” A frown. “Does she know my true parentage?”
“No. That is something no one knows.” Hermione hesitated. “With the exception of Chaunce.”
“Now, why doesn’t that surprise me?”
“The point is, we needn’t hide the facts any longer, need we?”
That brought Bryce up short. “Hermione, don’t even consider making a public announcement.” He clenched his fists at his sides, a gesture as totally unyielding as his demand. “The reality might be that Whitshire died last week, but to me he’s been dead all my life. Nothing’s changed, nor do I choose that it should. I am Bryce Lyndley. Were I to agree to meet Whitshire’s son, it would be a concession to you, not a bid to alter my status. Is that clear? I mean it, Hermione. No newspaper tidbits, no gossip whispered among servants—nothing. If any of those things should occur—”
“I would never reveal anything that was solely your right to tell,” Hermione interrupted. “Nor have I the slightest inclination to proclaim the truth to the world. This isn’t about status, Bryce; it’s about family. Rest assured, the only people I was suggesting we confide in were Gaby and Thane, both of whom would be directly affected by your announcement and both of whom are thoroughly discreet. Why, if you consider it, you’d be doing Gaby a great service and bringing me an abundance of joy—and all without relinquishing one iota of Bryce Lyndley.” A twinkle. “Surely that wouldn’t pose a threat to someone with as strong a sense of self-worth as you?”
Bryce opened his mouth, then promptly shut it. “And you wouldn’t want to face me in court?” he muttered.
A serene smile was his only reply.
“All right. All right.” Bryce shook his head in exasperated disbelief. “But I must say that my life was singularly uncomplicated before today.”
“That’s what family does. It complicates your life, turns it upside down, and brings you more fulfillment than you could possibly imagine.” Hermione gazed up at him, her eyes growing damp. “I mean to give you a family, Bryce. If not for your sake, then for mine.”
As if on cue, a crisp knock sounded at the door, and an instant later Chaunce entered, crossing the sitting room while gingerly balancing a pile of six or seven books. “Our ledgers, sir,” he pronounced, placing the books on the end table.
“Oh, Chaunce, I’m glad you’re back!” Hermione exclaimed, easing herself onto the settee. “I have wonderful news. Bryce and Gaby will be joining me when I ride to Whitshire for dinner tomorrow night.”
“That’s splendid, madam.” A polite smile touched the butler’s lips. “His Lordship … Forgive me, His Grace will be pleased.”
“His Grace,” Bryce reminded Chaunce dryly, “is expecting Lady Nevon’s legal adviser.”
“Which, among other things, is precisely what he shall get.” Chaunce tapped the pile of books. “These are the most current household accounts, covering the past few years. The items listed range from staff wages to the cost of food and supplies to specific extras required by
“I hadn’t even made up my mind!”
“Well, now you have.” A sunny smile. “Besides, you’d be doing a great service to Gaby.”
“To Gaby.” Once again, Bryce felt as if he were being dragged under by a great muddling wave. “Where does Gabrielle fit into this?”
“She hasn’t been back to Whitshire since the fire.”
“Yes, she told me.”
“It’s time she confronted her past. The best way to do that is by convincing her that she’s needed, that she’d be visiting Whitshire as a favor to someone other than herself.”
“And that someone is me.” Bryce shook his head in amazement. “You think Gabrielle’s protective instincts will rush forward if she thinks I need emotional support on my first excursion to Whitshire.” A frown. “Does she know my true parentage?”
“No. That is something no one knows.” Hermione hesitated. “With the exception of Chaunce.”
“Now, why doesn’t that surprise me?”
“The point is, we needn’t hide the facts any longer, need we?”
That brought Bryce up short. “Hermione, don’t even consider making a public announcement.” He clenched his fists at his sides, a gesture as totally unyielding as his demand. “The reality might be that Whitshire died last week, but to me he’s been dead all my life. Nothing’s changed, nor do I choose that it should. I am Bryce Lyndley. Were I to agree to meet Whitshire’s son, it would be a concession to you, not a bid to alter my status. Is that clear? I mean it, Hermione. No newspaper tidbits, no gossip whispered among servants—nothing. If any of those things should occur—”
“I would never reveal anything that was solely your right to tell,” Hermione interrupted. “Nor have I the slightest inclination to proclaim the truth to the world. This isn’t about status, Bryce; it’s about family. Rest assured, the only people I was suggesting we confide in were Gaby and Thane, both of whom would be directly affected by your announcement and both of whom are thoroughly discreet. Why, if you consider it, you’d be doing Gaby a great service and bringing me an abundance of joy—and all without relinquishing one iota of Bryce Lyndley.” A twinkle. “Surely that wouldn’t pose a threat to someone with as strong a sense of self-worth as you?”
Bryce opened his mouth, then promptly shut it. “And you wouldn’t want to face me in court?” he muttered.
A serene smile was his only reply.
“All right. All right.” Bryce shook his head in exasperated disbelief. “But I must say that my life was singularly uncomplicated before today.”
“That’s what family does. It complicates your life, turns it upside down, and brings you more fulfillment than you could possibly imagine.” Hermione gazed up at him, her eyes growing damp. “I mean to give you a family, Bryce. If not for your sake, then for mine.”
As if on cue, a crisp knock sounded at the door, and an instant later Chaunce entered, crossing the sitting room while gingerly balancing a pile of six or seven books. “Our ledgers, sir,” he pronounced, placing the books on the end table.
“Oh, Chaunce, I’m glad you’re back!” Hermione exclaimed, easing herself onto the settee. “I have wonderful news. Bryce and Gaby will be joining me when I ride to Whitshire for dinner tomorrow night.”
“That’s splendid, madam.” A polite smile touched the butler’s lips. “His Lordship … Forgive me, His Grace will be pleased.”
“His Grace,” Bryce reminded Chaunce dryly, “is expecting Lady Nevon’s legal adviser.”
“Which, among other things, is precisely what he shall get.” Chaunce tapped the pile of books. “These are the most current household accounts, covering the past few years. The items listed range from staff wages to the cost of food and supplies to specific extras required by
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