THE FOREST LORD By Susan Krinard

“You must have many questions, Lord Rushborough. But I wanted you to meet Donal first. He is five years old, and only recently come from Ireland. He still has much to learn.” She couldn’t bring herself to apologize for him beyond the barest necessity.

Francis looked at her and then back at Donal. He took several steps forward. Donal shuffled back until his head bumped into Eden’s middle.

“He is also rather shy with those he does not yet know,” Eden added.

“Then perhaps we ought to let Master Donal return to his governess,” Francis said. He smiled at Donal. “You should like that better than remaining here, shouldn’t you?”

Explaining Donal’s lack of a governess was not on Eden’s immediate agenda. It was remarkable that Francis sensed and sympathized with the boy’s unease… or recognized that they could not discuss Donal in his presence. She realized, with deeply mixed emotions, that Francis had already risen to the occasion very well indeed.

“You may go, Donal,” she said, “but please find Mrs. Byrne and remain with her for the remainder of the afternoon. Will you do that for me?”

Donal nodded, cast a glance at the marquess, and bolted out the door.

“I am sorry—” Eden began, and stopped. No easing the way for herself with a show of embarrassment or false shame. She straightened and met Francis’s gaze. “You may well ask why you have never met my son before, and why he is so wild. The explanation is simple. Until a few weeks ago, I did not know of his existence. And he is not Winstowe’s child.”

Once it was said, a peace settled over Eden. She resumed her seat and folded her hands in her lap, waiting for Francis’s response.

In spite of his kindness, he did not spout comforting platitudes. He regarded her as if he were being forced to alter his perception of her, and not necessarily for the better.

“Of course you do not know what to say,” Eden said to spare him the struggle. “You have known me in Society, and you know my reputation for having taken lovers. But of course that was after I was married, and such behavior became de rigueur.” She sighed, when once she would have laughed. “Let me tell you a story. When I was very young, before I met Winstowe, I spent all my time between Seasons with my father at his various estates. It was during my eighteenth year that the earl summoned me to Hartsmere. That was the year that my cousin Cornelius Fleming stayed with us.”

In terse, unadorned words she told Lord Rushborough how she had come to elope with her “cousin” and then learned something about him that made it impossible for her to wed him. Cornelius Fleming had fled, and she had gone home for her confinement, only to be told that her son had died at birth. She did not explain how she had learned of his existence, only that she had sought him out and brought him to live with her as soon as she became aware of it.

“So you see,” she said. “I made a foolish mistake as a girl, but I did not realize the full consequences until I found Donal. Winstowe was aware that I had… committed an indiscretion. He nevertheless agreed to marry me.” She swallowed. “Donal is my only child. I love him. I intend to give him the home he has been denied.”

Francis stood and paced a tight circle about the room. “I confess that I never expected… never conceived of you as a mother,” he said. The words carried a trace of strained humor, but Eden was not deceived. “It must have come as quite a shock to you, so soon after Spencer’s passing.”

Eden was relieved at Francis’s bluntness. It spared her so much. “Yes. A wonderful shock. I cannot regret him, Francis. I wished you to know this before… before we continued. There is another thing you must understand. I have made it known that Donal is the son of my late cousin, and that he had been living with my uncle in Ireland until Mr. Fleming became too ill to care for him. I intend to maintain that fiction, whatever I must do to keep it. I realize that you may not wish to be party to this… but I will be most grateful if you would keep this matter to yourself, whatever our future dealings.” She let no emotion touch her face or voice. “Of course you will need time to consider what I have told you. And perhaps distance as well.”

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