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after yesterday’s harrowing episode, and she had a book she wished to give him.
    Tucking the volume under her arm, she knocked softly on the door. “Good morning. It’s Miss Kent. May I come in?”
    At his affirmative, she entered and smiled at the boy sitting upright against a mound of pillows. Thankfully, he looked none too worse for the wear. He inclined his head in a formal nod, the effect somewhat spoiled by the fact that his golden hair was tousled, a cowlick springing up at the back of his head.
    She approached the bed. “Good morning, Lord Frederick. Feeling better, I hope?”
    “Yes, thank you. And I give you leave to call me Frederick. Or Freddy, if you prefer.”
    She hid a smile at his solemn manners and sat by the side of his bed. “Then you must call me Dorothea or Thea, as my friends do.”
    “Miss Thea,” he said gravely, “I am in your debt for your assistance yesterday.”
    “I was glad to lend a hand. Not that you needed it. You showed uncommon courage refusing to obey your governess’ commands.”
    “I was obeying Papa. He told us to stay put.” A nearly imperceptible breath escaped Freddy. “And I disappointed him.”
    “Disappointed? Why would you say that?” Thea said in surprise.
    “He was angry,” the boy mumbled to the sheets. “I could tell.”
    “If he was, I’m certain it wasn’t at you.”
    She hesitated. It wasn’t her place to translate Tremont’s behavior to his own son. Actually, it was rather ironic that she should decipher his actions to another when she couldn’t figure out what he wanted from her. Yet seeing him with his boy—the depth of emotion in his eyes—she had no doubt of his fatherly concern, even if he didn’t express it in so many words.
    “If not me, then who? I’m the one who caused the problem yesterday.”
    Goodness, misery was written all over the boy’s little face.
    “You didn’t cause the problem. Your governess did.” Brow furrowing, Thea asked, “Had she been acting strangely before this?”
    Freddy shook his head. “She only started with us recently. My old governess received an inheritance out of the blue, you see, and left us with little warning. Mademoiselle Fournier applied for the post.” His thin shoulders went back. “I’m sure her references were exemplary as Papa is always thorough.”
    “I’m sure,” Thea murmured. “All the same, her behavior left something to be desired.”
    “One moment she was fine and the next she was insisting that we see the bears. I’m not even partial to bears.” A bewildered wobble entered Freddy’s voice, his façade of maturity slipping. “I tried telling her so, but she wouldn’t listen.”
    “You certainly did your best, and the most important thing is that you’re safe.”
    He raised his knees, his arms curling around them. “Do—do you think she’ll come back?”
    Thea thought it prudent to be honest. “I don’t know. But if she does, we’ll be prepared. There are footmen guarding the premises as we speak, and your father plans to hire on more men to protect you.”
    “This is my fault.” Freddy’s blue-grey eyes had a sudden glimmer. “Papa didn’t want to take me to London, but I badgered him into it. He was right: I am too sickly to go anywhere. Now we can’t leave because Dr. Abernathy says I’m too weak to be moved—”
    “None of that is your fault. You did nothing wrong, dear.”
    “But I had a spell. In public.” Moisture spiked the boy’s eyelashes, and his chest surged on uneven breaths. “Now everyone will know that I’m an odd-oddity. I em-embarrassed Papa.”
    Thea’s heart clenched with sudden anger. Had Tremont hidden the boy in the country, kept him from Society, becausehe wasashamedof his beautiful son? Because he thought Freddy too imperfect, too delicate for the eyes of the world?
    “You are not an oddity,” she said firmly, “and you’ve nothing be ashamed of. You can no more help your spells than I can mine.”
    Freddy blinked.