Page 119 of Her Beast

Nanny Potter, who had to be eighty, if a day, had resembled a tiny, fluffed up bird as she’d perched on the horsehair settee, her neat puff of white hair as pure as freshly fallen snow, her faded blue eyes surprisingly sharp.

“Why is Miss Julia with you?” she’d asked.

Malcolm hadn’t told her why and had no intention of doing so. Instead, he’d lied. “Her parents were called on a journey to the north quite suddenly and Mr. Harlow—an old friend of my family—asked if she might stay with me.”

“And you want to bring Mr. Richard up to see her?”

“Yes, ma’am, as a Christmas surprise.”

“In your private rail carriage,” she added flatly.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Her shrewd old eyes narrowed. “It occurs to me that you might be the Barton of Barton’s Emporium.”

“The very same, ma’am.”

A huge smile broke out on her face at that information. “Barton’s is reputed to be quite a miracle of modernity. A lady in our village—Mrs. Logan—visited your London store last summer and dined out on the fact for months.”

Malcolm had chuckled. “Well, you will be able to do her one better ma’am because I will give you a private tour.”

“On Christmas Day? But surely it is closed?”

“Ah, but I have the keys, Mrs. Potter.”

That had made her laugh, but she’d sobered quickly. “Richard is a good boy—and so sweet and kind, but—” she’d frowned, her mouth tightening. “To speak plainly, sir, it surprises me that Mr. Harlow would allow Richard to visit his sister considering he has always refused to acknowledge the relationship. He isveryinsistent on keeping Richard out of sight. As he pays for everything, I wouldn’t want to anger him by going against his word.”

“Well, you needn’t worry about all that, Mrs. Potter. I will take care of Thomas Harlow.” In more ways than one.

She brightened at that. “That is such a relief. Richard will be tickled to go on a train. We’ve only been once before and he adored it, so thiswillbe a treat. Except—” she cut him a pensive look.

“What is it, ma’am?”

“It’s just that Richard doesn’t like to be away from home very long. He gets… anxious—quite agitated, really—and could never stay anywhere overnight.”

“Don’t worry, ma’am, the journey is just under two hours and I will make sure he is in his own bed tonight.”

The old lady had looked delighted. “Well then, that’s settled! Let me get Mary to fetch Richard.”

Malcolm had been eager to meet the man who Thomas Harlow refused to acknowledge and whom Julia had bartered her future to save.

As it turned out, the lad—or young man, for he was twenty, the same age as his twin—was just as charming and friendly as both Julia and the old lady had described him.

Just like his sister, he was fine boned, pale, and had enormous blue eyes. In shape and color, they were the same as Julia’s, but unlike the fierce intelligence and burning curiosity in her eyes, Richard’s gaze was sweet and placid.

Nanny introduced them and then explained—painstakingly—how Malcolm would take him to see Julia.

But Richard was clearly too fascinated by Malcolm’s appearance to pay attention.

The instant Nanny Potter stopped talking he said, “What happened to your face? Why are you wearing that mask?”

Nanny made a despairing noise and cut Malcolm an apologetic look. “Oh, Richard—you know you shouldn’t ask people personal questions until you are better acquainted.”

Malcolm had smiled. “It’s fine, Mrs. Potter.” To Richard he’d said, “The left side of my face was badly burned and it scares people to look at it. So I keep it covered.”

Richard had pondered that and then said, “My Papa said I scare people. He said I shouldn’t go out and about atall. Didn’t he Nanny?”

The old lady’s face twisted painfully.

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