“I’m not going to leave, because there’s much that remains unsettled between us. As I said when I first arrived, although I realize I approached the matter poorly, the children were not off the mark last night. You would, indeed, make a most exceptional mother.”
“Of course I would. But speaking of the children . . .” Her face softened ever so slightly. “How are they?”
“They were better this morning, but they were obviously upset last night, as well as bewildered by the reaction of the guests. They were expecting rousing applause and you agreeing that yes, you’d love to become their mother. Instead, they got an unexpected lesson in disappointment.”
Gwendolyn blew out a breath. “I’ll stop by Sea Haven before I depart Newport later today. I’m not certain what I’ll say to them, but tell me what you said and I’ll pattern my conversation accordingly.”
“We didn’t discuss much except that all of us agree you’re the best, as well as only, choice to become their mother. I then assured the children I would try to make amends with you for what happened last night. That seemed to calm them, but Priscilla insisted I stay with them in the nursery last night, and it was incredibly late before they fell asleep. They were then up at the crack of dawn, wanting to come see you, but I told them it would be best to let me speak with you first.”
“Dawn was a few hours ago.”
“I didn’t think it would put me in your good graces if I showed up on your doorstep too early, which is why I ate breakfast with the children first. After they went off with their governesses, I was treated to a long and scathing lecture from my mother. She was so irate she had horses saddled for us, insisting we ride far away from Sea Haven so the children wouldn’t hear her shouting. She rode for forty minutes before she finally reined to a stop, then launched into a blistering tirade that centered around what an idiot I am.”
Gwendolyn’s lips curved. “I would have enjoyed hearing that.”
“I’m sure you would have, because Mother is beside herself over what happened last night. She’s furious with me for handling the matter, in her words, poorly. She told me in no uncertain terms that my idea to allow you time to regain your temper was foolishness at its best. Given that you were less than delighted to see me upon my arrival here, I believe she was right. I should have braved your temper last night whether you wanted to see me or not.”
He raked a hand through his hair again. “I would have been here earlier, but after Mother finished yelling at me, I made the mistake of thinking you’d still be at Mrs. Parker’s residence, packing your belongings. It took me a good thirty minutes to get to her house after Mother and I parted ways.”
A bit of a snort was Gwendolyn’s first response to that. “If you believe I’m going to feel sorry for you because of your detour, you’re sadly mistaken, especially when it wasn’t a best-laid plan for you to go to Mrs. Parker’s in the first place. It’s not a usual occurrence, after a member of a lady’s staff gets terminated, for them to return to their employer’s home and linger about overnight, packing their belongings in a leisurely fashion.”
Walter winced. “Mrs. Parker explained, when I arrived at her house an hour ago, that she informed you last night you were no longer welcome in her cottage, and that she’d sent over your belongings this morning.”
Gwendolyn smiled a less than pleasant smile. “Had a footman dump my trunks on the front porch before the sun was up.” She shook her head. “She must have been very irate, because she sent back the diamond choker Catriona gave to her, claiming she wanted no reminders of me lingering about.”
She lifted her chin. “But returning to you, if you’re here to convince me I should entertain the idea of becoming a mother to your children, you’re wasting your time. There’s nothing left for us to discuss.” She nodded toward the door. “I’m sure you won’t mind seeing yourself out.”
Walter refused to budge. “I’m not done. Contrary to what you just stated, we still have much to discuss. I know you adore my children. Besides that, until last night, I was getting the impression you were becoming somewhat fond of me. That makes it difficult to understand why you won’t at least consider forming an alliance with me.”
It was rather concerning when Gwendolyn seemed to swell on the spot right as Adelaide and Phyllis made a mad rush for the door, saying this was obviously a conversation they shouldn’t be privy to before their heels could be heard clattering down the hallway and out of the house.
“You are the last man on the face of this planet I would form an alliance with” were the first words out of Gwendolyn’s mouth after Phyllis and Adelaide made their abrupt departure.
Walter ran a hand over his face because, clearly, the conversation was going downhill at an incredibly rapid rate. “But I thought you were beginning to enjoy the time you spent with me.”
“I was,” Gwendolyn snapped. “However, even though you seem perfectly willing to form an alliance with me—which, well, be still my fluttering heart—that isn’t something that interests me. I’m certainly not going to entertain the thought of marriage to you knowing that I’m the best solution you’ve managed to find to provide your children with a mother. Yes, I adore your children, but here’s something you should know. Your children—while having a mother would be highly beneficial to their lives—don’t actually need a mother brought in. What they need, and have needed for years, Walter, is you—their father.”
She began pacing around the room, her color high, stopping in her tracks before she leveled a furious look on him. “Your children are remarkable. The twins are precocious and precious, and all they long for in this moment of their little lives is attention and genuine affection. They don’t need more toys or sweets. What they need is love.
“The lack of that from you, difficult as I’m certain this is to hear, is the root cause for their past misbehavior. Oscar realizes that, and he, at only nine years old, has taken it upon himself to ascertain his siblings get the affection they crave. Why else do you think he deliberately failed all his classes and delved into mischief at his school that was certain to get him tossed out, and right before the term ended?”
“He told you that?”
“Priscilla was the one to spill the beans, but apparently Oscar was worried the twins were lonely and no one was reading them stories at night or properly tucking them into bed. He decided to take matters into his unusually capable nine-year-old hands, failed his classes, got expelled from school, and then went about seeing after your children—something that should never be his responsibility, since it’s meant to be yours.”
A crushing weight settled over Walter.
He’d had no idea what was behind Oscar’s failure at school, but he should have realized something was dreadfully amiss and should have pressed his son to disclose what that something was.
It was little wonder Oscar looked at him with disdain.
Walter opened his mouth, struggled for a response, then realized he had nothing of worth to say because . . . she was right.
He’d been neglectful of his children, burying himself in work after Vivian died. He’d chosen to leave the responsibility of raising his children to the grandmothers, which hadn’t been fair to them, as well as to a parade of governesses who didn’t always seem to have his children’s best interests at heart, but he hadn’t even bothered to ask the children their thoughts about any of their many governesses.