Page 56 of Hunted By the Guardian
“I suppose it is,” Jonathan allowed. He felt uneasy, off-kilter. He didn’t like to talk about his father. His friends knew that. Most of the time, they honored that. This was an aberration, and it made him uncomfortable.
“Once you find them, you’ll be able to say for certain what they’re like,” Nathaniel said.
“Which is why I don’t want them to know I’m looking for them,” Jonathan said. “If they’re not good people, I won’t have to let them get anywhere near the boy.”
“And if they are, what will you do?” Gabriel asked.
“If they’re truly good, and if Noah is comfortable, I would want to send him back to them,” Jonathan said. “A boy ought to be with his parents, if that option is available. He should be able to go to them. Do you think that’s right?”
“I do,” Gabriel agreed. “I think it’s a good outcome for the boy—and a good solution for you as well.”
“For me?”
“Well.” There was something a bit sheepish in Gabriel’s expression. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this.”
“Tell me what? You must tell me now. You can’t say something like that and then leave words unsaid.”
“You’re right, of course,” Gabriel said. “But please keep in mind that this is just…well, it’s something Agnes said to me in passing, and I don’t know how true it is. And even if it is true, I would be betraying a confidence to have spoken to you about it. You mustn’t tell anyone what I’ve told you.”
“You have my word.”
“It’s just that…Agnes told me that Lady Violet is enamored of the boy,” Gabriel said. “That he may be her strongest reason for wanting to stay in that house. And it makes me think that if he was gone, removed from the equation…”
Jonathan’s stomach turned. “You’re saying that she might leave the house.”
“And I know how much that house means to you,” Gabriel said quickly. “Because of the painting. I know how much it matters. If you could do something to make it so that the house was yours…”
“I wouldn’t have done it for that reason,” Jonathan said sharply. “You can’t think I want that house so badly that I would put the boy in bad hands.”
“Of course not.” Gabriel’s tone rose in alarm. “That’s not what I meant, Jonathan. I know you won’t do anything that isn’t right for the child. I just thought it might benefit you too. Because maybe if he’s happy and settled with his family. Lady Violet won’t want the house any longer. Maybe it could be that easy.”
Maybe it could, Jonathan thought. Maybe she would be happy to leave once Noah was out of the picture. Then the house would be his.
He had yearned for this for such a long time…
He thought of the painting in his bedroom, the one his mother had painted before her death. What would it mean to her that all this was happening now? He knew she would feel something about it. She would have opinions about every choice he was making. But what would they be?
If only I could speak with her. If only she could tell me what to do.
He swallowed. There really wasn’t a difficult decision to be made here. He knew what needed to be done. Regardless of what the future held, he did believe it was right to try to identify Noah’s parents, whether the goal was to reconcile them with their son or to make them face consequences for the harm Noah had suffered.
“Let me know what you’re able to find out about them,” he told his friends. “If anything. The more information we can get, the better, because then we’ll be able to make the wisest possible decision for Noah’s sake.”
“I’ll start making discreet inquiries at once,” Gabriel said.
“As will I,” Nathaniel agreed.
Jonathan nodded. “I won’t be too much help, I’m afraid. If word gets back to these people that they are being looked for, I don’t want them to connect it with me. I don’t want them to get a hint as to where their son is until I’m sure they’re suitable to be in his life.”
“I think that’s sensible,” Nathaniel said. “Don’t worry. Gabriel and I will be able to find an answer. We’ll get you some information. We won’t stop until we do.”
Jonathan let out a sigh. “Thank you,” he said sincerely. “I can’t tell you what it means to me that I can come to you both with this, and that I can rely on you for your help.”
“You can always count on us,” Nathaniel said.
“And Jonathan,” Gabriel said.
Jonathan looked at him.
