The Convenient Arrangement by Jo Ann Ferguson

in.
    David hesitated.
    â€œDo as Lord Moorsea says,” Valeria said quietly.
    With a grimace, David edged forward a half-step. He was not going to surrender his will to Lorenzo’s any more than he must.
    Lorenzo bit back his curse. This battle, he feared, was far from over. Although it was one he did not want to fight, he guessed the boy had other ideas. Locking his hands behind his back, he faced the boy and said, “I suggest you go to your room and stay there. Your supper will be brought there to you, and I suggest, as well, that you plan on going to bed early because your lights must be out by an hour after dark.” He took a deep breath, then added, “Gil will be there to be certain you do as you’ve been told.”
    â€œAunt Valeria—” he pleaded.
    She put her hand on David’s shoulder. “Lorenzo, that is rather harsh. It was just a childish whim.”
    â€œWhich scared a year off your life.” Lorenzo was not sure if he was more irritated at the exasperating boy or his even more exasperating aunt. “It is time the boy considered the consequences of his actions before he embarks upon them. I’m just giving him time for that contemplation.”
    â€œI think you are making a mistake.”
    â€œMayhap, but,” he went on as David began to grin, “David made a greater one by not thinking before he acted.”
    The lad’s smile evaporated in the heat of his scowl. “Aunt Valeria—”
    â€œGo to your room, dearest.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek and a shove toward the door. “I will be there as soon as I have a few words with Lord Moorsea.”
    Lorenzo did not move as the boy bounced out of the room, abruptly happy. Miss Urquhart followed, mumbling something to herself.
    Keeping his hands clasped behind him, Lorenzo faced Valeria. His determination faltered when he saw luminous tears in her violet eyes. He was about to offer compassion for her lingering fear when her voice lashed him.
    â€œHow dare you!” She spoke in no more than a whisper, but he recoiled from her fury. “David is not your son.”
    â€œNo,” he said as quietly, “but this is my house, and you are my guest. I shall not have my home in an uproar merely to entertain a bored child. Nor shall I have my guests disturbed to give him a laugh.”
    â€œHe did not mean to cause any harm.”
    â€œOf course he did.” He laughed without amusement.
    The wrong thing to do, he realized, as she turned on her heel and strode out of the room. Dashed woman! If he had half a brain, instead of wandering around Moorsea Manor today, he would have started looking for a husband for her.
    Tomorrow, he would begin the search across the moors. Then he would make sure the banns were read in the nearest church with all speed while the household arranged for a grand wedding here that would be the perfect sendoff for her and her naughty nephew. Then, and only then, would he have serenity in his own home.
    And then, only then, would he be able to forget how he longed to share more than angry words with Valeria.

Six
    Valeria tapped her chin, then asked, “Where is the biggest room in Moorsea Manor?”
    Gil’s forehead rutted in thought. “Other than the old hall, you mean?”
    â€œYes.”
    The footman pondered her question for a moment, then said, “There is a big parlor on the opposite side of the staircase from the library.”
    â€œHave you and David been in there?”
    â€œNot me, my lady.” He rubbed one foot against the back of his other leg. “Don’t know about Mr. David. He’d explored a lot of the house before Mr. Wolfe—I mean, Lord Moorsea asked me to keep an eye on him.”
    â€œWhere is he now?”
    â€œLord Moorsea? Don’t know, my lady. Reading, most likely. He likes to do that, you know. Reading and writing and writing and reading all the time.”
    â€œI meant