Page 98 of Sunday's Child

She sat quietly for a while, going through sheaf after sheaf of what turned out to be documents concerning estate matters. Eventually, seeing that Gervase was so absorbed in his quest to prove that he was Sir Oliver’s son, she rose from her seat. ‘I’m leaving now, Gervase. I hope you find what you’re looking for.’

He did not seem to hear her and she left the room to find Foster hovering outside the door. She hesitated, eyeing him curiously.

‘You’ve served the Greystones for many years, Foster.’

‘I have, Miss Nancy.’

‘Did you know Sir Oliver Greystone?’

‘I was the late Sir Michael’s butler before he inherited Greystone Park. I did meet Sir Oliver occasionally.’

‘His wife died quite young, I believe,’ Nancy said tactfully.

‘Lady Greystone was a lovely woman, if I might be allowed to say so. She took her husband’s disgrace very much to heart.’

‘Did she die in childbirth, Foster?’

His grey eyes widened in surprise. ‘No, indeed. The poor lady was found early one morning, drowned in the lake. It’s rarely mentioned, but it’s true.’

‘Thank you, Foster. Would you send for my carriage, please?’

Nancy returned to Rockwood Castle with more questions than answers. She was shocked by Foster’s revelation as to the cause of Lady Greystone’s death, but that put an end to Gervase’s theory that the baby left in his parents’ care was Lady Greystone’s child. The mystery remained as to what happened to that baby and if, in fact, she had been abandoned by both Sir Oliver and his brother, Michael. She left the dog cart at the stables and walked the rest of the way, still mulling over the information that Gervase had handed out so casually.

When she entered the bailey she was surprised to see an unfamiliar carriage, but a cry of delight escaped her lips when she recognised the tall young man who leaped to the ground.

‘Tommy.’ Nancy ran to greet him and he swung her off her feet in an affectionate hug.

‘Where have you been, Nancy?’ Tommy glanced up at the louring clouds. ‘This isn’t the sort of day to be out for a walk?’

‘I am so glad to see you,’ Nancy said breathlessly. ‘Sometimes I think you are the only sane member of the Carey family.’

‘You’re shivering.’ Tommy slipped his arm around her shoulders. ‘Come inside and tell me everything.’ He saluted Jarvis as they entered the hall. ‘Good afternoon, Jarvis. It’s good to see you again.’

‘Good afternoon, sir. It’s always a pleasure to welcome you home.’ Jarvis signalled to James, who rushed out to bring in the luggage.

Nancy glanced over her shoulder. ‘Have you come home for good, Tommy? That’s a lot of baggage for a short stay.’

He laughed. ‘Honestly, Nancy. I’m not the academic type, unlike Uncle Walter. I’m more like Papa. I’m a practical fellow and I’ve had enough learning to last me a lifetime.’

‘In other words, you’ve been sent down.’ Nancy smiled up at him. ‘I am so glad to see you.’

‘You are a sight for sore eyes, even if you have a smut on the tip of your nose.’ He brushed it off with the tip of his finger. ‘I am starving. I haven’t eaten since very early this morning, and travelling always makes me hungry.’

‘We’ll go to the dining room and I’ll ring for Tilly.’

‘No, don’t do that.’ Tommy shrugged off his greatcoat and tossed it onto a carved oak coffer. ‘Let’s go to the kitchen and see what Cook has to offer, as we did when we were children.’

‘You are trying to avoid your papa, aren’t you?’

‘He’s not going to be best pleased that I’ve been sacked from university. But I don’t care. I’m home now and I’m not going away again.’

‘I’m hungry, too. You can work your charm on Cook. She was always susceptible to your big brown eyes.’

‘I can’t help it if women fall at my feet. At least, older ladies do. I haven’t had much success with the younger ones, but that’s because my heart belongs to you, Nancy. It always has.’ He gave her a hug and brushed her cheek with a kiss.

Nancy laughed. ‘It’s so good to have you back where you belong, Tommy. Let’s go down the servants’ stairs. If we bump into Hester you’ll be in for a grilling.’

‘She’s best avoided at all times. I could never work my magic on Hester.’ Tommy looked round. ‘Where is everybody, anyway? The old pile seems very quiet.’