“What are you doing?” Emily looked horrified.

Stephen opened the door. “Be my guest,” he invited the boy. The rain splattered against the coach door, the wind blowing against their faces. At the sudden rush of cold, the infant began howling, her face pinched with surprise.

There was just enough fear, just enough uncertainty to keep Royce frozen in his seat. When he didn’t move, Stephen shut the door. “Understand this. I will not abide rudeness in the presence of your aunt.”

The boy’s face filled with fury, but he managed to nod.

“Good.” Stephen signaled for the coachman to drive on. But one matter was certain—he and the boy were now clear enemies.

Chapter Five

Stephen unlocked the door of the townhouse. He’d only been inside on one other occasion, when he’d decided to buy the property. It had belonged to a debt-ridden widower, Lord Brougham, who was more than happy to sell it. Though it was by no means a large residence, it was located near Mayfair in an excellent part of town.

A musty odor blanketed the hallway, and the entire house needed a good airing. Stephen rested his hand on the staircase banister, while Emily ushered the children inside.

She held the infant close to her cheek while Royce clung to her skirts. Though she held her posture perfectly straight, her eyes were dimmed with exhaustion. How had she managed the two-day journey with no one but his coachman and the nursemaid as escorts?

“There isn’t a nursery,” Stephen apologized, leading them up the stairs to one of the bedchambers. “And obviously there are no servants at the moment.” He ventured a rueful smile. “I hadn’t expected to move my belongings for another day or two. It wasn’t prepared for your unexpected arrival.”

“It will do nicely.” Emily ventured a smile, the first peaceful gesture he’d seen. “Can you help me find a place for Victoria to sleep?”

They went upstairs, and Stephen located two wingback chairs in one of the guest chambers. He pushed them together to form a bed for the baby. Victoria rubbed her eyes, fussing and arching her body.

Emily stroked the baby’s back and dropped a kiss upon her niece’s cheek. When Victoria would not quiet down, she reluctantly passed her over to Anna for another feeding. Royce removed his shoes and dived into his own bed, burrowing under the coverlet as though trying to shut out the world. For a moment, Emily envied him, wishing that she could just as easily forget all that had happened.

Her husband was a stranger to her now, a man who felt nothing at all toward her. It was like a waking nightmare, to love someone and to be forgotten afterwards.