The Pursuit (36 page)

Niki smiled into his eyes and shook her head no before looking up at her hosts. The looks on their faces were comical.

“Maybe we can hear about that story as well,” Morland said dryly, his eyes alight with humor.

The older occupants of the room all enjoyed a good laugh over this. The little boys laughed too, but for a very different reason. Their mother looked like their mother again, and the panic and fear she’d been feeling had receded from her face.

Every wise woman buildeth her house, but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord, but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him. In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; but much increase is by the strength of the ox. A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness will utter lies. A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

Niki silently read these verses from Proverbs 14 and thought about building up her house and honest witnesses. It was a lot to take in, but she was glad she’d taken the time. Her letter was already written to the Walkers, and although Edward was still downstairs, he’d sent word to Ellenborough.

It was only a matter of time before they met with the man, assuming he would come, and more than anything Niki wanted to trust God for the outcome. It was so hard not to fear Patrice Bettencourt, but she was working on it.

Help me to trust You, Lord God. Help me to remember how faithful You are, and how far You’ve already taken us.

Niki didn’t have much time alone. The boys, still a bit spooked by all that had gone on that day, were looking for her again. She did not want to send them away, not when they were nervous, but she was thankful that she’d had time to read and pray and found herself asking God to remind her of His truths in the hours ahead.

Henry accompanied Ellenborough to Ludlow. That man had been very quiet upon receiving Edward’s letter, but he had shared it with Henry, who had offered to take him.

During the ride over and after they arrived, Henry stole glances at the older man’s face. This had been the face he’d presented to Tate many months back, when they had met with him in London to present Tate’s case. It was no wonder that Henry had not been suspicious when Ellenborough had arrived at Newcomb Park. The working Ellenborough, the investigator, seemed a completely different man.

“Thank you for coming.” Edward welcomed Henry and Ellenborough into the room that Morland had chosen for the meeting. Lizzy was also present, and the six of them made themselves as comfortable as possible under the circumstances.

“I want you to know first of all,” Edward began, “that we have no wish to interfere with your investigation, Mr Ellenborough. But because you are a friend of my brother’s, I felt I could give you a bit more information that might, in the long run, be a help to Mrs Bettencourt.” Edward indicated Niki with a nod of his head.

“I’d like to hear whatever you have to say, Edward,” Ellenborough stated, his face still serious. “But you do understand that I have been paid by Mrs Bettencourt’s mother-in-law for a service, and I am bound by my word to do the job.”

“Certainly. I would expect nothing else.”

“May I ask a question?” Ellenborough suddenly inserted, his eyes on Niki.

That woman nodded.

“Are these children actually yours?”

Niki smiled, amazed at the peace she felt.

“Let me guess, Mr Ellenborough.” Niki couldn’t keep the smile from her face. “She’s told you that I’m a nanny who stole them from her daughter—her daughter who conveniently died having them?”

A smile tugged at Ellenborough’s mouth. “You’ve clearly heard the story before.”

“That one among many others,” Niki went on confidently. “And there are some aspects of the story that are true. She never had a daughter, only a son, and I was married to him. So it is true that my sons are her grandchildren.”

“But you didn’t want her in their lives, I understand.”

“I took my children out of her grasp only after she abducted them from me. I was widowed, and she proceeded to hide them from me for a year.”

Ellenborough’s gaze narrowed. The Steeles were good people. He had always known that. Could they be fooled by this woman? It was possible, but Ellenborough considered himself a fine judge of character, and right now he was bitterly certain that he had been the one duped, and not by these people before him but by the senior Mrs Bettencourt. If he had known what she was about, he would never have taken the job.

“Mrs Bettencourt and her sons are going to be living here in Collingbourne,” Edward put in before anyone else could speak. “If the older Mrs Bettencourt wants to come, she may do that. But she needs to understand that the boys will not be surrendered to her and that she may find herself having to answer to the law.”

“I checked her out,” Ellenborough said quietly, hating to admit to any professional flaws. “Everyone I spoke with confirmed her story.”

“She has power,” Niki said, unable to stop the shiver of fear that ran through her. “And she’s relentless. Not in all these years has she given up.”

“Did you go to France and meet with her?” Henry suddenly asked Ellenborough.

“Yes. Her missive to me wrung my heart. She begged me, certain that the children were here in England. She said she was old and desperate to see her grandsons before she died.”

“And did you find her in ill health?” Niki asked without malice.

“No, but she even had a reason for that, stating that after I wrote back to her she had enough will to change doctors and was under a new treatment.”

“She sounds as though she could have made a living on the stage,” Henry said with a certain level of disgust.

Edward couldn’t stop his smile. His brother had that effect on him.

“I haven’t sent in my report,” Ellenborough said. “I won’t do that until I return to London and my secretary readies it.”

“What will you say?” Henry asked, not caring if it was his business or not.

“That Mrs Bettencourt and the children are here. I’ll be brief and to the point. My bill will be exorbitant, my usual fee, and my dealings with the elder Mrs Bettencourt will be concluded.”

“And what of your dealings with the younger Mrs Bettencourt?” Again Henry spoke his mind.

Ellenborough looked at the lady in question. There was no missing her sincerity or Edward Steele’s interest. He had always had a weakness for tall blonds and could hardly blame the man.

“I’ll let Henry keep me informed,” Ellenborough stated, his eyes going to both Edward and Niki. “I’ll expect to be invited to the wedding, and if you ever need my services, I’ll come at a moment’s notice.”

Niki managed not to blush and even smiled at him before asking in her sweet way, “Mr Ellenborough, would you like to meet my sons?”

Ellenborough’s heart swelled within him, and he couldn’t stop his answering smile.

“Nothing would give me greater pleasure.”

“Gar and Juliana are vagabonds; that’s how they describe themselves. They don’t keep servants long because they love to move about,” Niki explained to Lizzy while they enjoyed a cup of tea. Edward and Morland had taken the boys on that promised ride. “Denley had just begun to work for them, and for some reason, the two of us fit together quite nicely. It’s unusual, but then so is my situation. As a man Denley could get things for me that a female servant could not. He was willing to see to nearly every job, and of course a woman would never have worked when I went in disguise.”

“What was that like?” Lizzy found herself captivated.

“Frightening. I was never very relaxed. I wanted to be with my boys, and the constant fear of discovery was draining.”

“But the Lawtons always kept them safe?”

“Yes. They’ve been quite wonderful.”

“Where are they now?”

“On the move, I’m afraid, because Ellenborough found them.”

“How do they contact you, or you them?”

“We have a special place where we mail messages, a small town that no one has ever discovered.”

“Well, I hope you’ll write and tell them you’re here to stay. Invite them to visit. I would love to meet these people.”

“They would enjoy that so much.” Niki looked as pleased as she felt. “I think they might even love Collingbourne if they haven’t settled already.”

“Is Juliana Lawton the woman who introduced you to Christ?”

“No.” Some of the light went out of Niki’s eyes. “Gar and Juliana don’t see much need for God. They’re very self-sufficient, and I’m not sure they grasp such things.”

“We’ll just have to pray that they see their need,” Lizzy said simply.

Niki looked at her. “I like you, Lizzy Morland. I like you very much.”

Lizzy twinkled at her. “I’m glad to hear that, Niki, but what I really want to know is whether you like my brother.”

Niki smiled shyly but wasn’t afraid to admit the truth. “I do like him. I like him very much.”

“I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear that.”

“Did you doubt?” Niki decided to tease. “I can’t think why anyone wouldn’t like Henry Steele. He’s a fine man.”

Taken very much by surprise, Lizzy burst out laughing. She grabbed her napkin and put it over her mouth, but her giggles would not be suppressed.

Niki laughed with her. If the children had been anywhere near the vicinity, they would have come running to find out what they were missing, but the women were alone.

Thoughts of the children quelled some of Niki’s joy. Patrice would be on her way soon—she was certain of that. When the children were not in her presence, she was not completely convinced they were safe. Knowing this was a lack of trust, Niki resolved to try in the weeks to come to put that trust in place. She would find it to be the most difficult task of her life.

Chapter Twenty

By the time Patrice Bettencourt arrived in Collingbourne, the Walkers were home. Niki and the boys were once again safely ensconced at Blackburn Manor, where Edward visited and spent most of each day.

They had not announced their engagement nor even hinted at it, but the conversations that went on were all with a future in mind. Edward had not asked the question that was in his heart. They still had things to learn about each other, and facing Niki’s mother-in-law was just one more aspect of that journey.