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“I lied to you, Grandfather,” Emmeline said, not stopping until she had put her hands flat on the surface of the desk. “Will and I tried to have children for months and months after our wedding. We were unsuccessful. But I knew a child was an integral part of our agreement to reside at Winnover Hall, so I invented one. I invented two of them, actually.”
The duke blinked, then turned to Will. “Your wife is touched in the head. Please remove her.”
Will, though, looked at Emmeline. She had found a solution, by God. “I only work for the government,” he took up. “But she is telling the truth. Now, that is. Earlier, she was lying. We all were. When we received your invitation and knew we needed to bring our offspring along, we visited St. Stephen’s orphanage in London and borrowed these two children. Tell His Grace your names, children. Your real names.”
George puffed out his chest. “I’m George Fletcher, Your Grace. And I’m not seven. I’m eight years old.”
“I’m Rose Fletcher,” Rose said, and curtsied again. “I’m five years old, like I said, so I didn’t lie about that.”
“Orphans.” The Duke of Welshire looked as if he’d just stepped in horse shite with bare feet. “You borrowed orphans. From St. Stephen’s Home for Unfortunate Children. Where they specialize in the children of dead sailors and dockworkers and other unfortunates from along the Thames.”
Huh. He hadn’t known that. “Yes,” Will said anyway.
“So, you are childless.”
Emmeline lifted her chin. “No, Your Grace, we are not. Will and I intend to keep these two, if they’ll have us.”
Beside him, George gasped. Rose squealed and threw her arms around Emmeline from behind. Reaching over, Will took George’s left hand in his. The boy was shaking. Emmeline, while she gripped his other hand hard, was not shaking. And neither was he.
“That was not the agreement you signed,” the duke stated. “These aren’t my blood. They aren’t part of my legacy.”
“No, they aren’t, Your Grace. If you’ll do us the favor of thirty days, we will remove ourselves from Winnover Hall. I know Cousin Penelope has been itching to get her hands on it for years. I imagine she’ll be delighted.”
Malcolm Ramsey scowled. “You’re trying to sway me to allow you to remain. It won’t work.”
“I’m not trying to do any such thing. Will and I have been searching for a month to find a way to keep these two without turning the entire rest of their lives into one large and innumerable small lies. I was quite stunned when I realized a moment ago that the best way to accomplish that was simply to tell you the truth.”
“You grew up at Winnover. You’ve told me countless times how much you adore it. What’s your game, Emmeline?”
She shook her head. “There is no game. I love these little ones more than I love a heap of wood and stone, no matter how beautiful it is. We did not fulfill our part of your agreement. It goes to Penelope Chase.” She took a breath. “And since we need to vacate it, we will be leaving Welshire at once to begin packing. Thank you for your hospitality, Your Grace. Happy birthday to you. And best wishes for your legacy.” She turned around.
“Just a damned minute, Emmeline.”
“No. I believe I’ve spoken my piece. Did I miss anything, Will?”
“Not a thing comes to mind, my dear. Happy birthday, Your Grace.”
“Happy birthday, Grace. I’m sorry you’re not my grandfather anymore, but I’m glad we won’t get turned into toads.” With a curtsy, Rose headed for the door.
“I’m not sorry,” George said, taking his sister’s hand. “You’re a Captain Huff, trying to bullock all of us.”
Will opened the door, ushering his brood—his family—back into the hallway. “Well said, George.”
“Out!” the duke bellowed, and George closed the door on the old man.
That was it, then. Will tugged Emmeline against his side. “You did find a solution.”
“I hate losing Winnover,” she murmured, as the excited children bounced around them, “especially to Penelope, but look at them. They can be ours.”
“It’ll take some maneuvering,” he said, “especially if Hannah and Billet have just purchased a home in Birdlip. And you know Penelope won’t keep the staff on.”
She nodded. “I know. We will lose a great many friends over this, as well. I’ve been lying to most of them for seven years. And you will lose your position.”
Will shrugged. A few months ago, that would have flattened him. “I won’t have time for it. I’ll be occupied with being a father.”
Rose spun around, grabbing Emmeline around the waist again and looking up at her. “Am I Rose Pershing now? Or Flora?”
“You are Rose Pershing, my sweet. Or you will be, once we sign a few papers.”