Read Online A Visit From Sir Nicholas by Victoria Alexander - Free Book Online
Authors: Victoria Alexander
Tags: Historical
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"I had rather thought you might return for good three years ago," Fredrick said casually. "When Lord Langley died."
Nick raised a brow. "Now, why would I do that, Uncle?"
Frederick shrugged. "As I said, it was just a thought."
Charles's unexpected demise in a carriage accident had been both a shock and a tragedy. He'd left not only a wife but two young sons. Nick had mourned the loss of his old friend and regretted the years apart. In spite of his words to the contrary, he had indeed considered returning to London, but to what end? To console Charles's widow? Charles's friendship alone deserved more than that. Nick's loyalty to his childhood companion did not end with his death. Besides, Elizabeth was surrounded by family and friends, and he would have been nothing more than an unwelcome interloper. Nick had avoided both Charles and Elizabeth on his brief visit home, and given their parting, he could not imagine Elizabeth greeting him upon the death of her beloved husband with anything less than disdain. Indeed, he might not have returned now had it not been for a letter from her brother.
"I wasn't certain you even knew of his death."
"As his solicitor located me in America through your solicitor and as you mentioned Charles's death in your letters, I could hardly avoid knowing," Nick said wryly. "Still, correspondence goes astray."
"Jonathon wrote me as well when it happened." Nick blew a long breath. "I could scarce believe it then and even now find it difficult to accept. I had not seen Charles in years, yet I do miss him. I had always assumed he, Jonathon, and I would be friends in our dotage just as we had been in our youth. I shall miss that as well." Nick's thoughts drifted back to his younger days and the golden-haired boy with the generous nature who had befriended him. "Friends one can count on are rare in this world.
"However," Nick pulled himself firmly back to the present and fixed Frederick with a steady gaze, "at the moment, Uncle, let us not talk of the past but of the here and now. Since my arrival last night, we have spoken of nothing but me. My life and travels and adventures. Surely, the years have not stood still for you?"
"Would that they would have, but the years march on inexorably, etching themselves in the lines on my face and the gray upon my head." Frederick heaved an overly dramatic sigh. "I am growing old even as we speak. I shall soon be doddering and inept and require a nursemaid simply to feed me."
"Come now, your fate is not that dire." Nick laughed. "Why, you are the very picture of health."
"Only at the moment, my boy." Frederick's voice was grim, but a twinkle shone in his eye. "One should be prepared for the future. I already have my eye on a nursemaid who would prove most… efficient."
"Oh?" Nick drew his brows together in concern. "Is there something you haven't told me? Are you ill, Uncle?"
"Not today, but tomorrow… It is always wise to be prepared." Frederick leaned back in his chair and blew a smoke ring that hovered in the air for a moment before fading away to oblivion. "For example, this nursemaid I mentioned would need a fair amount of training. Her current position does not demand the skills I should require. Or perhaps," he smiled wickedly, "it does. I daresay, in many ways, she might be well versed in the care of older gentlemen such as myself."
Nick stared for a moment, then grinned. "She is on the stage then?" Frederick nodded. "The woman has the most magnificent pair of…" He cleared his throat. "Legs. For a nursemaid, that is."
"Of course." Nick's grin broadened. "For a nursemaid."
"Or a goddess." Frederick chuckled and flicked the ash of his cigar in the general direction of the ever-present saucer. Inevitably the ashes drifted to the floor.
Nick laughed. "It is good to know some things never change."
"You, however, are not the same man who left here a decade ago."
"I had rather thought you might return for good three years ago," Fredrick said casually. "When Lord Langley died."
Nick raised a brow. "Now, why would I do that, Uncle?"
Frederick shrugged. "As I said, it was just a thought."
Charles's unexpected demise in a carriage accident had been both a shock and a tragedy. He'd left not only a wife but two young sons. Nick had mourned the loss of his old friend and regretted the years apart. In spite of his words to the contrary, he had indeed considered returning to London, but to what end? To console Charles's widow? Charles's friendship alone deserved more than that. Nick's loyalty to his childhood companion did not end with his death. Besides, Elizabeth was surrounded by family and friends, and he would have been nothing more than an unwelcome interloper. Nick had avoided both Charles and Elizabeth on his brief visit home, and given their parting, he could not imagine Elizabeth greeting him upon the death of her beloved husband with anything less than disdain. Indeed, he might not have returned now had it not been for a letter from her brother.
"I wasn't certain you even knew of his death."
"As his solicitor located me in America through your solicitor and as you mentioned Charles's death in your letters, I could hardly avoid knowing," Nick said wryly. "Still, correspondence goes astray."
"Jonathon wrote me as well when it happened." Nick blew a long breath. "I could scarce believe it then and even now find it difficult to accept. I had not seen Charles in years, yet I do miss him. I had always assumed he, Jonathon, and I would be friends in our dotage just as we had been in our youth. I shall miss that as well." Nick's thoughts drifted back to his younger days and the golden-haired boy with the generous nature who had befriended him. "Friends one can count on are rare in this world.
"However," Nick pulled himself firmly back to the present and fixed Frederick with a steady gaze, "at the moment, Uncle, let us not talk of the past but of the here and now. Since my arrival last night, we have spoken of nothing but me. My life and travels and adventures. Surely, the years have not stood still for you?"
"Would that they would have, but the years march on inexorably, etching themselves in the lines on my face and the gray upon my head." Frederick heaved an overly dramatic sigh. "I am growing old even as we speak. I shall soon be doddering and inept and require a nursemaid simply to feed me."
"Come now, your fate is not that dire." Nick laughed. "Why, you are the very picture of health."
"Only at the moment, my boy." Frederick's voice was grim, but a twinkle shone in his eye. "One should be prepared for the future. I already have my eye on a nursemaid who would prove most… efficient."
"Oh?" Nick drew his brows together in concern. "Is there something you haven't told me? Are you ill, Uncle?"
"Not today, but tomorrow… It is always wise to be prepared." Frederick leaned back in his chair and blew a smoke ring that hovered in the air for a moment before fading away to oblivion. "For example, this nursemaid I mentioned would need a fair amount of training. Her current position does not demand the skills I should require. Or perhaps," he smiled wickedly, "it does. I daresay, in many ways, she might be well versed in the care of older gentlemen such as myself."
Nick stared for a moment, then grinned. "She is on the stage then?" Frederick nodded. "The woman has the most magnificent pair of…" He cleared his throat. "Legs. For a nursemaid, that is."
"Of course." Nick's grin broadened. "For a nursemaid."
"Or a goddess." Frederick chuckled and flicked the ash of his cigar in the general direction of the ever-present saucer. Inevitably the ashes drifted to the floor.
Nick laughed. "It is good to know some things never change."
"You, however, are not the same man who left here a decade ago."
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