Page 104 of Sunday's Child

‘Nancy, wait.’ Freddie called out to the coachman to stop and the carriage came to a halt. Freddie leaped to the ground and held the door open. ‘I’ll take you home. Get in, please.’

‘Freddie. This is a surprise.’ Nancy hesitated, eyeing him warily. His prolonged absence had made her suspect that his mother had exerted her considerable influence on him, and that he had proposed marriage to the heiress.

‘When I came to Rockwood last time you had not returned from Barbados. I told Patricia that I would return, but I was unavoidably detained.’

‘You don’t have to explain, Freddie.’

‘You can’t imagine how much I wish I’d been able to go with you.’

For the first time since Nancy had known Freddie she was at a loss for an answer. She climbed into the carriage, followed by Tommy, who sat beside her, wiping the raindrops from his face. Freddie took a seat opposite, gazing anxiously at Nancy. ‘You’re very wet. I hope you don’t catch cold.’

‘You sound like Hester,’ Nancy said, laughing. She glanced at Tommy, who was glowering at Freddie. ‘It was lucky that Freddie was passing, wasn’t it, Tommy?’

‘No one just passes through Rockwood,’ Tommy said drily. ‘I suppose he was on his way to the castle. You seem to drop in as and when you please, Ashton.’

‘Tommy!’ Nancy frowned at him. ‘I’m always delighted to see Freddie. We’re still friends, and we decided it was better to keep it that way.’

‘It wasn’t my choice, Nancy. I’ve been battling with Mama, who is determined to see me married to Letitia Barclay.’

‘Then why are you here?’ Tommy demanded. ‘Aren’t you afraid of upsetting your mama?’

‘That’s not fair, Tommy.’ Nancy gave Freddie an encouraging smile. Her own emotions were so raw that she needed to avoid any arguments. Tommy was only trying to protect her from more heartache, but this was something she needed to sort out for herself. She laid her hand on Tommy’s arm. ‘Give Freddie a chance to speak, please.’

Tommy sat back in his seat and turned his head away, staring out of the rain-spattered window. ‘Just pretend I’m not here.’

‘I wanted desperately to talk to you, Nancy,’ Freddie said apologetically. ‘I t-told your s-sister, P-Patricia.’

‘I know, Freddie. But I don’t know what there is to say. You and I were not meant for each other.’

‘You sh-shouldn’t take any notice of my mama. She is ambitious but I am not. I mean, I just want to live like a country squire. I don’t care about society and g-gaining more l-land. You and I need to have a proper conversation, on our own.’ Freddie sent a meaningful glance in Tommy’s direction.

‘Yes, I agree,’ Nancy said softly.

‘You are the one I need to convince, Nancy. You seem to think your history is a barrier between us. I can tell you it isn’t.’

‘Nancy is the best person I know,’ Tommy said, scowling. ‘She could do better than you, Ashton.’

‘Tommy, that’s not fair.’ Nancy frowned at him. ‘Really, Freddie, we’ve had this conversation before and, as it happens, I agree with your mama. You need to choose a bride who is worthy of you.’

Freddie shook his head. ‘I don’t know what I can do to convince you, but there is someone who might be able to help.’

‘Who is that?’

‘You’ll find this very odd, but I’m staying at Greystone Park.’

‘With Gervase?’

‘Good Lord! Are you off your head?’ Tommy demanded angrily. ‘You know the fellow is a jackass.’

‘I’m not so sure,’ Freddie said slowly. ‘From what he told me when we met accidentally in the Black Dog some time ago, he really believes that Nancy is related to the Greystone family. I called on him last evening on my way here and he showed me the piles of old documents he’s sifting through to prove his own identity, and yours as well, Nancy.’

Nancy held up her hand to prevent Tommy from saying anything. ‘We’ve been doing some investigating along those lines, Freddie.’

The carriage drew to a halt in the bailey and James emerged from the castle to open the carriage door.

Freddie laid his hand on Nancy’s arm as she was about to alight from the vehicle. ‘Give me a day or so to find out exactly what Gervase has discovered, Nancy.’

She sighed. ‘To what end, Freddie? I need to know my roots for my own peace of mind, not as a means of claiming a fortune or taking away someone else’s inheritance. I don’t want to get involved with Gervase and his wild schemes.’