He was about to open it, but Emily stopped him. “A moment, please.” Nigel inclined his head, and she gently eased the door open. Inside, she saw Royce playing with his tin soldiers. The soldiers were lined up around a wooden castle, complete with catapults and wooden carts. He clashed the soldiers together in a mock battle.

Victoria was grasping the edge of a toy chest, holding fast while taking steps around it. She reached out to accept a biscuit from Anna.

As soon as she saw Emily, Victoria’s face lit up. “Mum-mum-mum,” she chortled. Then she crawled toward Emily, determined to reach her aunt with all haste.

Emily scooped the baby up, cuddling her close. She hadn’t known it was possible to miss the children this much. It was evident that they had been well treated.

Then Royce spied her. “Aunt Emily! There you are.” He flew into her arms, squeezing her tight.

“Are you enjoying your visit?” she asked while Victoria clutched her hair and tried to stuff it into her mouth.

Royce shrugged, seemingly uninterested. “There are a lot of toys.”

“I was just telling Royce that he should come with me tomorrow to help choose his own horse. He’ll have to decide what color he wants.” Nigel smiled indulgently.

The blatant bribery incensed her. How dare Nigel try to entice her nephew by offering a horse? But Royce seemed unaware of it, and he returned to his tin soldiers. His lack of excitement made her wary.

“Why don’t we go and have a chat?” Nigel suggested. “I’m certain you must have many questions for me.” He opened the door and gestured for Emily to accompany him.

She handed the baby back to Anna. Victoria let out a screech, but Emily dropped a kiss on the child’s cheek, stroking her hair. To her nephew, she added, “I will see you later, Royce.”

When they were alone, Emily commented, “Do you feel it necessary to buy his affections? My nephew is more intelligent than that.”

Nigel’s smile faded. “Is it wrong to provide the boy with the things he wishes to have? You would do the same, were you in my position.” As before, it took him some length of time to descend the stairs but at last they reached the parlor.

“Why should I believe you want to provide Royce and Victoria with toys and luxuries when you never lifted a finger to help the rest of our family?”

“Now that is not true at all. As I told Whitmore, I sent money to your father and your brother every year. It might not have been a fortune, but certainly it was enough to feed and clothe your family.”

“You sent nothing,” Emily replied, angry at his lies. “You abandoned us and went to India.”