Page 95 of Sunday's Child

‘I don’t understand.’

‘I might know now who your birth parents were, Nancy.’

‘Then you must tell me. Please, Gervase.’

‘Come back tomorrow morning at the same time and I will reveal all.’

Chapter Twenty

Nancy returned to Rockwood Castle still puzzled by Gervase’s comments. He had refused to expand on his statement that he knew her true identity and nothing she had said would make him change his mind. She went straight to her room to take off her outer garments, but she needed to speak to someone and Rosie, her usual confidante, was far away. There was one person who would understand and that was Bertie. His doomed love affair when he was little more than a boy himself had resulted in Tommy’s birth. Bertie might be able to give her some advice and at the very least he would listen to what she had to say.

She made her way downstairs to Bertie’s study, where she could be reasonably sure of finding him at this time of day. Wolfe was just leaving.

‘Is it convenient for me to interrupt, Sir Bertram?’

Wolfe nodded and grinned. ‘He’s always got time for you, miss. I’d say you was one of his favourites.’

Nancy was too taken aback to answer. Wolfe rarely gave an opinion on anything, let alone a compliment. ‘Thank you,’ she murmured as she entered the room.

Bertie was seated in a chair on the far side of his desk. He looked up and smiled. ‘Nancy. This is nice. Have you come to keep me company? We seem to be the only members of the family left after the exodus to Cornwall.’

‘I’ve come to ask your advice, Bertie. I hope you aren’t too busy to talk.’

‘No, of course not.’ Bertie leaned his elbow on the desk, eyeing her intently. ‘What is it?’

Nancy pulled up a chair and sat down. ‘Christina asked me to visit Greystone Park. She wants Gervase North to move out, but he refuses.’

‘I heard that he’d taken up residence. Some nonsense about him being the rightful heir to the estate. Christina needs to get legal advice. She shouldn’t have involved you, Nancy.’

‘Yes, I think so, too. She seems to be under the impression that I am friendly with Gervase, which isn’t true. Far from it, I can’t stand the man.’

‘In that case you should keep out of it, Nancy. If Christina tries to involve you again just send her to me. I won’t stand for any nonsense.’

‘Thank you, Bertie.’ Nancy was about to rise from her chair, but she sank down on it again. ‘There’s one other thing that’s puzzling me.’

Bertie gave her a sympathetic smile. ‘Tell me.’

‘Gervase said he knows who my parents were, but he wouldn’t tell me.’ Nancy’s voice caught on a sob and she reached into her pocket for a hanky. ‘Do you think it could be true?’

Bertie frowned thoughtfully. ‘I suppose it’s possible, although I don’t see how he could have such information. Do you believe him?’

‘I don’t know, but he wants me to go back tomorrow morning. He said I can help him with something, although he didn’t say what.’

‘I’m afraid there’s only one way to find out. If you want to go there tomorrow I’ll send Wolfe with you. It’s a brave man who takes him on.’

Nancy shook her head. ‘I’m not afraid of Gervase. I don’t think he’d harm me.’

‘Think about it, Nancy. The offer is there if you wish to take it up.’

She rose to her feet. ‘Thank you, Bertie. I’ll see how I feel tomorrow morning.’

Nancy left the study deep in thought. She had no intention of telling Patricia everything that Gervase had said, but if anyone knew more about the Greystone family it would be the woman who had been married to Sir Michael until his untimely death.

After luncheon with Hester, who talked so much that conversation was very one-sided, Nancy set off for the house next to the sawmill.

Patricia was seated by the fire in the drawing room. She looked up and smiled when Fletcher showed Nancy into the room.

‘I’m so pleased to see you, Nancy. I’ve been forbidden to do anything other than rest. Fletcher watches me like a hawk and Leo is little better.’