“We already washed our hands,” announced Giles and all four boys held up very clean hands for Olympia to inspect.
Despite the obvious hunger the boys revealed, their manners had only the slightest of rough edges as they helped themselves to what food remained on the table. Brant became even more certain that the boys were being taught by someone and suspected that Olympia was the one seeing that they were trained in ways that could help them better their lot in life. It revealed a generosity of spirit he knew few would ever guess she had.
He sipped at what he considered was the best coffee he had ever tasted and waited as more food was brought in. It was awhile before the boys slowed in their eating enough to explain why they had come to the Warren. Knowing that whatever information the boys had would soon be revealed robbed Brant of the calm and contentment a good breakfast and good company had given him. The hairs on the back of his neck bristled and he could not shake the feeling that he was about to be dealt yet another blow.
“Pardon, m’lady,” said Abel as he wiped his mouth with a finely embroidered napkin. “We was sore hungry and that made us forget why we hurried here to speak to you.”
“Quite understandable, Abel,” said Olympia. “You may tell me your news now.”
“The most important news is that Lady Aggie’s maid has done lost her brother. Lady Aggie was right upset o’er that and made us swear to tell you as soon as could be done.”
“What do you mean by lost her brother?”
“The lad disappeared yestereve, he did. He is but eight years, same as Giles here, and the maid has had the care of the boy since he was born and all. Soon as he could he helped some in the kitchens or the stables to earn his keep. Good lad, he was. Everyone says so. No one thinks he ran off or the like, but he be gone for certain.”
“Just like our Ned and Peter and my aunt,” said Thomas. “I wager the lad was another by-blow.”
“Was he?” Brant asked Abel, dreading the answer.
“Well, the maid did say her brother was,” Abel paused and frowned, “his lordship‘s last frolic.”
And there it was, Brant thought, the blow he had been waiting for. “It appears my father frolicked quite a bit before he died,” he muttered.
Yet another half brother. Yet another child his father had bred and left to be no more than a servant in his household. One could be left to believe that his father had decided to fill his need for workers by simply breeding them. It also appeared that his mother was finally working to rid herself of all living reminders of her husband’s consistent unfaithfulness. The fact that, in doing so, she also punished the child and filled her purse she no doubt saw as an added and pleasant benefit. She cared nothing for the fact that she was destroying an innocent child. Suddenly all the food he had eaten churned in his belly with a vengeance.
Olympia took one look at Brant’s pale features and quietly sent everyone else out of the room. There was a great deal that needed to be discussed but Brant was too deeply shocked to participate yet. She moved to the sideboard, poured a small glass of brandy, and went to his side. As she held the drink out to him, she lightly stroked his dark brown hair, which was only lightly tied back in a queue. It was something she did to comfort all the boys when they had need, yet the urge to comfort Brant was only a small part of what she experienced as she touched his thick, silken soft hair.
“Not sure I should drink this,” Brant said even as he took the brandy she had poured for him.
“Why not?” Olympia reluctantly removed her hand from his hair, certain he might soon guess the fact that it was no longer a completely innocent caress.
“I have become too fond of drink,” Brant murmured as he stared at the amber liquid.
Olympia pulled a chair closer to his and sat down facing him. “You begin to think you have reached that point where you have too much need of it.”
“Yes. I have not had any since the night before you came to Fieldgate and I was just wondering if I have gone so long without at any time during the last few years. It has not truly been so very long this time, either, yet I now fear that one drink could well lead to too many others. It is also still morning.”
“And you have just had a grave shock.”
“I believe I have had quite a few of those since you first appeared at my door,” he drawled and smiled faintly.