24. A Grandmother Confronts Her Husband

CHAPTER 24

A GRANDMOTHER CONFRONTS HER HUSBAND

A half-hour later

When Will entered his master bedchamber and discovered Barbara sitting on the edge of the bed, he knew the next few minutes would be tense.

Uncomfortable.

Painful.

Instead of saying anything, he sat down next to her and took one of her hands in his. “Donald shared rather interesting news after you left the dining room,” he said softly.

“Did he tell you we have a grandson?” she asked.

Will thought back to the post-dinner conversation and realized that at no point during his comments had Donald said anything about the new Marchese Montblanc being his son. “He didn’t mention it at the table,” he hedged.

Barbara turned to him. “You’re not surprised,” she stated. She suddenly stood, which had him rising from the bed. “How long have you known?” she asked, whirling to face him.

Will took a deep breath, his gaze darting to her hands. He noted how they clenched into fists, and he knew he was in for a beating if he didn’t think fast. “Since the day he returned from his Grand Tour,” he admitted, reaching down to grasp her fists in his hands.

“You knew ?” she replied in disbelief.

“I did. I do,” he said quietly. He pulled her into an embrace, determined to keep her from pummeling him with her fists or slapping him across the face. The way she began struggling in his arms had him tightening his hold on her.

“You didn’t think to tell me ?” she countered, doing her best to escape, her pounding fists ineffectual in making contact with his torso.

“I promised I would not,” he said in a whisper.

She stilled, her body suddenly feeling limp in his arms. “Why?”

He rubbed her back with one hand. “What could I have done? What could he have done? What could you have done?” he asked softly. “Nicoletta was already married to another,” he added in a whisper. “Although, not really if I’m to understand what truly happened.”

Barbara looked up and stared at him for a moment. “You could have sailed to Sicily. Brought our grandson back,” she said, although there was no conviction in her voice.

“Steal a babe from its mother?” he countered, arching a brow to reinforce his point. “Antony—our grandson—is now the Marchese Montblanc,” Will stated. “In possession of a good deal of property and some wealth, it would seem. And he’s probably going to become our son’s stepson in the next year,” he added, brushing away her tears with his thumb.

“I hate you,” she whispered, pounding a fist on his chest.

Will gave a start, her words—and the punch—hurting far more than they should have. “I am sorry, Barbara. I thought our son might have been more forthcoming with you, but now I understand why he did not share this news with you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked on a huff.

He arched a brow. “He knew exactly how you would react.”

Barbara inhaled sharply. “How did you react?” she countered. “When he told you?”

Will inhaled and held the breath for a moment. “I was… surprised, and disappointed, and hurt, and resigned to it,” he murmured in a halting voice. “I suppose I thought since he’d been a bastard, he would know better.” He winced. “But he is determined to marry Nicoletta, that much I am sure of,” he added. “They even have Montblanc’s blessing. So... given his son’s status and the situation overall—Nicoletta may not wish to move here—I think it’s best if Donald goes to Sicily with the intention to remain there.” Before Barbara could put voice to a protest, he added, “Which is why I’m going to take you on a wedding trip.”

Barbara blinked several times. “A wedding trip?” she repeated in confusion.

Sensing the fight had gone out of her, Will gave up his hold on her hands and moved his to her waist. “I know it’s well past time, but this way, you can meet Antony and your future daughter. Perhaps we can be witnesses for their wedding...”

He couldn’t continue when she suddenly stood on tiptoes and kissed him, one of her hands moving to the back of his head while the other gripped his shoulder.

“Yes,” she said when she finally ended the kiss.

It was Will’s turn to blink. “Well,” he said before chuckling softly. “I told the boys we would leave in a week.”

Her eyes rounded. “A week ?”

“Is that too soon?”

“I can be ready the day after tomorrow,” she countered, which had him barking a laugh.

He pulled her into an embrace. “We have some arrangements to make with Henry first,” he said. “And some decisions regarding who we take with us. We’re going to be gone for at least a year.”

Barbara’s eyes rounded. “Can I take Stevens?” she asked, referring to her lady’s maid.

“Of course,” he replied.

She lifted a finger to his face, where his beard was longer than usual given he hadn’t been shaved that morning. “What about your valet?”

He gave her a quelling glance. “I rather imagine he’ll have to come along since he’s married to your maid,” he teased.

Barbara tittered for the first time since that morning. “I love you,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his waist as she placed her head against his chest.

Heartened it hadn’t taken as long to placate her as he expected, Will kissed the top of her head, his arms engulfing her smaller body. “Does that mean you’ll let me share your bed tonight?”

He felt her nod and silently sighed his relief.