Page 59 of Yours Truly, the Duke
“What about a tutor?”
“I checked into the possibility when I realized it was lingering past a few months. There was no one near Paddleton who could offer more assistance than what we were already doing. I wrote to an agency in London seeking a teacher who would come to Paddleton. They wrote back that no one qualified in speech treatment had an interest.”
“But you are here in London now.”
“Yes. Now that we’ll be here longer than expected, I’ll check with the agency again. Each of the children has had some difficulties since their parents died. I’m sure you’ve noticed that Elise never wants to be left alone. Though she won’t talk about her fears with me, I know she worries I’ll be like her mother and leave one day and never return.”
“That’s understandable,” he answered softly.
“Is it truly?” she asked, looking deeply into his eyes as if she wanted to understand how he could possibly know about a little girl’s fear of abandonment.
Memories Wyatt didn’t want to think about surfaced, but instead of keeping them to himself, he said, “There were boys at Eton who felt they’d been deserted by their families and would never see them again. It was difficultfor some to accept living with two hundred other boys. Whether that was from the unhappiness of being away from home, anger, physical or mental pain of being thrust into a whole new life, I didn’t know. At the time, I didn’t understand what they were going through. If I had, maybe I could have helped.”
“I don’t imagine you ever felt abandoned.”
Her voice was soft, her expression tender, and her intuitive words touched a place deep inside him. She was obviously thinking of when her own parents died and she had to live with Jane’s family. Wyatt knew he couldn’t begin to comprehend the depths of her feelings, Elise’s, or the boys at Eton. He reached up and touched her cheek softly, quickly. It wasn’t the hug or kiss of comfort he wanted to give, but he needed her to know he was trying to appreciate what she’d gone through.
“There was no reason for me to feel I had been left alone,” Wyatt continued. “I was heir to a dukedom. It never entered my mind that my father wouldn’t come back for me. Before I could walk he’d place me in the saddle in front of him and we’d ride over Wyatthaven. He’d sit me on his knee when playing cards and let me watch him. He was a good father. Whenever he left me to go hunting or to do other things, I never feared he wasn’t coming back. I want to think that’s the reason I didn’t understand what some of the boys at Eton were going through until it was much too late to help them.”
Her shoulders shifted and she tucked a loose strand of hair underneath her bonnet. “No doubt as a duke’s son you were allowed to say or do whatever you wanted when you were in school.”
Yes, by most everyone, he was treated differently. Grant’s injury stood as a constant reminder that he had to do his best at all times. Wyatt didn’t like to revisitthose memories. He had debts he could never repay. For today he’d leave them where they were and lighten the tone of their conversation.
He tilted his head, narrowed his eyes as if studying her, and smiled. “You enjoy thinking the worst of me, don’t you, Duchess?”
Her eyes brightened and sparkled with humor. “Perhaps I do. You make it so easy for me to—”
A scream rent the air. Wyatt knew instantly it was Bella and so did Fredericka. They looked toward the children. Bella was on the ground trying to raise herself with her elbows. A young lad about Elise’s age was running and shoving other people in his haste to get away.
Charles yelled for the youngster to stop.
Fredericka lifted her skirts and took off running. Wyatt passed her quickly. Anger at the footpad and himself for thinking everything would be fine stabbed Wyatt with every stride. By the time he skidded beside the fretting Bella, Elise had helped her to sit up.
“T-there he goes,” Charles squeaked, pointing. “H-he p-pushed her d-down.”
“Are you hurt, little one?” Wyatt asked softly as he took hold of her small hands while Elise moved out of his way.
“I don’t think so,” she answered in a whimpering voice.
For a second he closed his eyes in thankfulness, and then glanced toward the boy who was running for all he was worth. Wyatt wanted to catch the kid and throttle him but instead concentrated on Bella as other park goers gathered around.
With caution and gentleness, he moved his hands up and down her arms, feeling for lumps or signs anything that might be injured. “Did you bump your head or hurt your back when you fell? Your knees or ankles?”
“No,” she mumbled, then plastered an obstinate expression on her face.
“Good.” Wyatt smiled at her. “I knew you were strong and could handle yourself. I wish you’d had time to smack that boy before he ran off.”
Bella smiled. “Me too!”
“Oh, my darling.” Fredericka rushed up and knelt on the other side of Bella and gathered her into her arms, hugging her tightly. “Are you all right?”
Bella pushed away from her aunt, sniffed defiantly, and declared, “He’s not a nice boy. He took my cake.”
“He stole the money out of my hand!” Elise exclaimed in a fearful tone. “I didn’t know what to do.”
“It’s all right, Elise,” Wyatt said soothingly, looking at her with an easy smile. “It doesn’t matter about that. None of you were hurt and this wasn’t your fault.”
Fredericka looked at Wyatt. Frown lines nestled tightly between her eyes. “I told you we shouldn’t let them come over here on their own. We were too far away to stop this.”
