Page 20 of With Good Grace
‘Or someone wants you to think it is,’ Parker remarked.
Green materialised, wanting to know if Jake was remaining for dinner. Olivia looked at him and he nodded.
‘Thank you, that would be helpful, if you don’t mind my not changing.’
Olivia smiled. ‘The same goes for me,’ she said.
‘I think I can stand to bear your company dressed as you are.’
Olivia sent him a droll look. ‘You are too kind.’
Green cleared his throat. ‘Master Tom is anxious to see you, ma’am. He has something he particularly wishes to show you.’
‘When does he not?’ Olivia smiled. ‘Have Jane bring him down immediately, Green. It is almost his bedtime.’
‘Take the carriage back to Grosvenor Square, Parker, and have it call back for me later. Come with it yourself. I might have something I need you to do by then,’ Jake said, smiling as Parker nodded, wished Olivia a good evening and left the room just as Tom barrelled into it, a large wooden ship grasped in both hands.
‘Mama!’ he cried. ‘Look what arrived today.’
Olivia admired the brightly-coloured sailing ship and its intricate rigging. Pollock’s familiar mark was on its base.
‘What is it, Olivia?’ Jake asked, presumably because he noticed her frowning.
‘You should not have done this, Jake,’ she said softly. ‘I will not have him spoiled.’
‘I did not.’
‘Then what…’
Jake shushed her, and then devoted his attention to playing an energetic game with Tom that required him to chase the boy round the furniture and tickle him when he caught him, causing Tom to giggle wildly. His own father had never shown him half as much attention, Olivia thought, smiling indulgently as she watched them, wondering which of them was having a better time of it. Boys, it seemed, never really grew up. In fairness, Tom had been little more than a baby when Marcus died. Even so, Olivia was perfectly sure Marcus would not have had much time for the boy until he was considerably older. Perhaps not even then. But no matter how taken with Jake her child was, Olivia simply refused to have Jake indulge his every whim. Tom must learn that he could not have everything his heart desired, certainly not immediately; a lesson that could not begin too soon.
‘Time for bed,’ she said to Tom, kissing him, tousling his hair and handing him over to Jane.
‘Jake,’ she said as soon as the door closed behind her beloved son. ‘About that ship.’
‘I did not send it.’ He held up a hand to stay the protest she was formulating. ‘I can assure you of that. I would not buy him extravagant gifts without your permission.’
‘Then who…? Green, when did it arrive?’
‘This afternoon, madam. It was labelled for Master Tom’s attention. Unfortunately he happened to be in the kitchen when it was delivered to the tradesman’s entrance. Once he realised it was for him, there was no peace until he was permitted to have it.’
She managed a half-smile. ‘I would imagine not.’
‘Was there anything to suggest who had sent it, Green?’ Jake asked.
‘Not that I recall, my lord. I assumed Mrs Grantley had ordered it.’
‘All right, Green, that will be all for now,’ Olivia said, when it became apparent that her butler knew nothing more. ‘What does this mean, Jake?’ she asked, her brow creasing with concern as the door closed behind Green.
Jake sat beside her and took her hand. ‘I am afraid it means that someone knows you and Tom went to the docks yesterday.’
Olivia gasped. ‘Someone was watching us? But why?’
‘That is a very good question. Presumably someone is trying to send you a message. They want you off-balance.’
‘They are succeeding.’
Jake squeezed her hand and leaned forward to briefly cover her lips with his own. ‘Someone knows Tom is your weak point. One of my enemies trying to get to me through you, most like. This is just what I hoped to avoid.’
