Page 43 of An Unwitting Alliance
Was it?
He was charming and even sweet. And she could fall into his gaze and live there forever. Was she making the biggest mistake of her life by pushing this man away?
No. She needed to trust herself. This was not the sort of decision to let her emotions make.
Chapter 16
Sunday morning all was wellat Fairview. Tom leaned against the wood frame of his door and observed the organized chaos. He caught a glimpse of Cassie as she disappeared up the stairs to the nursery to help Nancy with the girls. Nutmeg was chasing Robin, who was using her shawl as part of his highwayman disguise. Michelangelo and Peter the Rock were sprawled on the landing above the stairs, playing chess—Michelangelo was surprisingly good, though the Rock held his own. The boys were dressed far before their sisters. And no baby had been born in the night, which Tom took as a very good sign.
He was surprised to realize how comfortable he had become with the Vails. Being around the children no longer scared him. Remarkably, he found himself beginning to form friendships with each of them. They weren’t tiny, fragile creatures who were going to die at any moment like he had originally feared. Just small humans capable of caring for others and needing that care as well. He was still wary of having children of his own, but he could see why others could not resist them.
Mr. Vail stepped out of his room and clapped to get his children’s attention. “There will be a family meeting in Mother’s room in a quarter of an hour. Megan, please find Cassandra and tell her.”
Nutmeg had stopped chasing Robin and nodded to her father. “What about Bethany and Jane?”
“They will not be needed.”
Nutmeg took the opportunity, with her father standing there, to rip her shawl free from Robin. With a satisfied smirk, she moved to the stairs and began her climb to the nursery in search of her older sister.
“What is the meeting about, Papa?” The Rock asked.
“You will find out soon enough.” Mr. Vail caught sight of Tom and moved toward him. He stopped not more than a foot away and in a lowered voice said, “Mr. Harwood, might I have a quick word with you in my study?”
Tom nodded, though he was unsure what to expect. Was this about Mrs. Vail’s condition? Tom’s betrothal to Cassie? He followed Mr. Vail into the corridor. They stepped around the chess game and took the stairs down to the main level. Mr. Vail pushed open his door, went to the chair covered in newspapers, and scooped them off and onto a pile on the floor. “Take a seat, Mr. Harwood.”
“Call me Tom, please.” He might not be ready to call the man Papa, but after a week together, the formalities felt stuffy.
“All right, Tom.” Mr. Vail went around the desk and sat in his seat. He leaned over his desk, clasping his hands together. Something was off. He was not as cheerful as normal, though it was understandable with his wife’s and baby’s health on the line. “Thank you for giving me a moment of your time.”
“I hope everything is all right.”
Mr. Vail sighed and dug out a letter from inside his jacket. “It could be. It could be more than all right. But only time will tell.” He unfolded the letter and smoothed it out. “I received this two days ago, just before my wife took her fall. Unable to address it at the time, I sent out some inquiries to see if it was even an opportunity worth considering.”
“Good news?”
Mr. Vail shrugged. “My uncle has died. But no condolences necessary. No one liked Robert Vail. My son Robert is, of course, his namesake, which was at my uncle’s request. It was never easy to say no to the man. You probably think less of me, hearing that I was intimidated by my own uncle and am now speaking ill of the dead. And you would be right in doing so. I say it only to help you understand my shock in being named in his will.”
“This does not sit well with you?” Tom asked.
Mr. Vail rubbed his thumb back and forth over his jaw as he stared at the paper. “Above all else, it is an unexpected surprise. My uncle’s solicitor requests I meet him in London, but the timing is dreadful. I dare not leave my wife, and she cannot travel. Of course, Mrs. Vail insists that whatever money or property we are given is worth the risk.
“It is not easy to admit this to anyone, but you have likely guessed at the state of our financials. We have economized where we can. We dismissed the tutor for the boys and are down to only the essential staff. However, the estate has all but dried up, and we are depending on the sales of the wool from our sheep to keep us afloat this year. It will help to get the girls married, but I want Peter to inherit a solvent estate. In the end, you must agree that my wife is correct.”
Did Mr. Vail desire Tom’s opinion on the matter? Why was the man telling him all these details? “How can I be of help?”
“I am glad you asked. I trust your parents, and I sense in you that same value of character. I want to leave my family in your protection while I am away. There have been rumors of a thief in the area, though we hardly have anything of value to be concerned about. Truly, it’s your presence alone that puts me at ease. You see, if you agree, I shall leave tonight.”
Tom did not respond. The thief did not worry him at all. The family was another story. He had no experience with raising children or overseeing the health of a very pregnant woman. Lud, he could not even manage an engagement. Perhaps Mr. Vail should be worried about leaving his beautiful daughter. Tom was starting to have thoughts about her that were not at all what one would have for a mere friend.
“Please, Tom. I would not ask if I were not desperate.”
He looked at Mr. Vail and knew at once that the man loathed to leave his family behind, no matter the enticement of money, but he loved them enough to sacrifice so they might have opportunities he could not otherwise provide. Tom sighed. If Mr. Vail was anything like Cassie, Tom might have an idea of how he felt. “What would be expected of me?”
“Mrs. Vail’s cousin, Mrs. Beecham, lives not ten minutes from here. I rode there yesterday morning, and she agreed to house the younger girls. They need their mother the most, but they also wear her out more than the others. Nancy, of course, will go with them. I am to take Peter with me. He has never been to London, and he needs the experience. I have also written to my wife’s older sister, Miss Evans, to come from Bradford to stay as companion to my wife and to act as an added chaperone.
“However, I have learned a great deal goes into running a family of this size, and they would all be in your care until I can return. Still, nothing much should be needed besides your protection. And you have a gift for making people smile, Tom. That cheerfulness will be an asset while I am away.”
Mr. Vail had not even left, but Tom felt the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. The burden was unfamiliar and heavy. What if the worst happened to Mrs. Vail while Mr. Vail was gone? Tom was not even a relative, and he still harbored hope to end his engagement to Cassie. And what about the workhouse and his desire to reform it? An image of little Alan came unbidden to his mind. But how could he deny his assistance? It was not in his nature to do so. Despite his reservations, the Vails were good people and deserved this chance to further their opportunities.
