Page 10 of The Duke's Lesson in Love

ChapterFour

Sadie angrily paced the length of the adjoining suite. Lord Gilleasbuig Wilkinson Quinn was a steaming pile of fresh horse dung. The man was impossible. He was lucky the women at Kindred Hearts took good care of his son and the boy wasn’t eating with his fingers! Most orphanages put the children to work around the home instead of letting them spend a day learning life skills.

As if they didn’t have enough to worry about. Now they were responsible for teaching the children which cutlery was meant for desserts and which was meant for the main course. If she had only known his true identity or that the man would claim his son, Sadie might have better prepared the child. Perhaps worked on his manners after the other children went to their beds.

None of that mattered now. Lord Gilleasbuig had decided her fate with his parting words.

If this was to be her last night with Edwin, she was determined to issue a few parting words of her own. But it was hours since dinner and the cad had not returned to his room. Not that she had pressed her ears to the door or listened for his key turning in the lock…

This was not a very good beginning for fatherhood. He could not simply hide away because he was miffed. Perhaps she should go in search of him. Not too far, of course.

Sadie sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She could not possibly leave Edwin alone.

A knock rattled the adjoining door. Her pulse quickened to a roaring symphony in her veins, and a fine bead of sweat peppered the valley between her breasts. This was silly. Exhaling, she yanked the door open and gasped at the disheveled man on the other side of the threshold.

He closed the distance between them, and she clutched the doorknob tighter. The sweet woodsy richness of brandy tickled her nose and snaked into the pit of her stomach as if she had sampled the flavor directly from his lips.

That was an absurd thought. This man’s entitlement did nothing more than inflame her anger. “Where were you?”

He cocked a brow. “Did you miss me, Miss Fields?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Thank the stars she managed to keep the quiver out of her voice. But the cad only stepped closer, bracing his shoulder against the frame.

“I did not come for your cutting tongue, Miss Fields, only to make sure the child was all right.” His gaze focused on the large bed behind her, Edwin tucked snuggly under the heavy duvet.

She clenched her teeth. “You mean to make sure I had not run off with him?”

His gaze slashed to hers. “Had you taken my son, I would find you. And when I did—”

She sucked in a sharp breath as the blue in his eyes darkened with wicked promise.

He pushed off the wall and stood so close she had to arch her neck to stare into his eyes. Eyes that rooted her to the floor. “—I would see you adequately punished for every gray hair you added to my head.” He tilted her chin higher with his forefinger. “That Miss Fields might just take forever.”

She shivered.

His touch stung, branding her and Sadie boxed his hand away. “As you can see, I did not take him. I would never deprive him of a better life. However, I am well aware, sir, that your upbringing was different from Edwin’s simpler one. Even if you send me away, I will not leave knowing you will be harsh towards him.”

“Leave?” The Duke’s forehead furrowed.

“He is a boy who just discovered he has a father. It will do you no benefit to shred his self-confidence. Do you know how difficult it is for children to accept that their home is in an orphanage because their parents didn’t want them?” She shook her head. “Of course not. You know nothing of harshness.”

His nostrils flared, making her jerk.

Oh no.Why did she think giving this man a piece of her mind was a good idea?

“My son does not need a nanny. He needs a governess who can teach him all he needs to know.”

Her heart dropped to her stomach. He was going to send her away, yet she couldn’t stop her chin from nudging upward. “And what of you?” she challenged.

“I do not need a governess,” he sneered. “I also do not need you to tell me I am lacking in fatherly qualities.”

She cocked her head at the latter. Sadie had questioned his intentions because she did not know what would make him turn his back on his child. She wasn’t naïve. Some circumstances allowed no other choice, but Lord Gilleasbuig did not seem in dire straits. Hearing him question his potential shortcoming as a father, however, tugged at her heart.

She had judged him without knowing enough about him. Regret tempered her next words. “No, but you need someone who will intercede and not watch as your son grows to hate you.”

She foresaw resentment growing between father and son if he continued to criticize everything the boy did. Edwin was sweet-natured. Kind. Over time, with nothing except harshness for comfort, his sweet nature would change.

“Are you threatening me, Miss Fields?” His eyes narrowed into slits.

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