His face paled. “Is that what your brother told you?” He looked visibly shaken. “I knew he gambled some of it away, but all of it? You truly thought I never cared?” An expression of pity moved over his face. “No wonder you must hate me so.”

He led her inside the parlor and sank down upon a pale blue wingback chair, signaling toward a parlor maid, who brought a tray of tea and refreshments. “Emily, would you pour, please? I’m afraid my hands aren’t as strong as they used to be.”

She did, noticing that his face was worn and haggard. Deep lines creased his mouth as he added sugar to the teacup. Nigel took a sip, his hands trembling. He cleared his throat. “I still cannot believe that Daniel withheld everything from you. It doesn’t seem possible.”

He set the cup upon the saucer. “I do not know what happened to the money, but I must explain matters to you. In particular, about the children. First, did your brother ever mention Royce’s inheritance?”

Emily thought of Daniel’s desperate attempts to bring in more money. “I don’t think there was anything left for Royce, except the entailed lands.”

Nigel’s concern doubled. “A few years ago, Daniel contacted me about a shipping investment he wanted to make. He borrowed money from me. The ship turned wonderful profits, enough to support your family in a fine manner. Then, from what I heard, he gambled the fortune away at the tables.”

Emily did not deny it, but she had difficulty believing Daniel would risk their future. “He did gamble, but he often brought home money to us.”

Nigel’s face sobered. “He gambled a great deal more than that, Emily. Which brings me to the children. I saw what was happening to your family, and I made an agreement with Hollingford last year. I would loan him money on another shipping venture, but with one condition.” He sipped the tea, adding even more sugar to the cup.

“You must understand, he was gambling away young Royce’s future. I could not let it happen. And so, I asked him to grant me guardianship of Royce, should anything happen to him. Hollingford changed his will accordingly. We took the profits and set the funds aside for Royce’s inheritance.” Nigel held his cup out and Emily refilled it.

“I am sure you believed I had something to gain by becoming the children’s guardian,” Nigel said. “But in all honesty, I was merely trying to protect Daniel’s son. Royce is my great-nephew, after all, and the new Baron Hollingford.”

Emily set down her own cup, a sudden fear rising up. She eyed Nigel, but he seemed to anticipate her worries.