Page 120 of Her Beast

Malcolm had fiercely regretted that he’d notsoftened upThomas Harlow a bit the night before. What sort of miserable fucking pillock could say that to his own son?

“You don’t scare me,” Malcolm had assured Richard.

“You don’t scareme, either,” Richard said right back, laughing.

Nanny Potter had given Malcolm a grateful look and patted the lad’s shoulder. “Aren’t you going to tell Mr. Bartonthank youfor taking you on the train to see Julia?”

“I’m not afraid of trains,” he’d proclaimed proudly. “Nanny was, but I told her they were safe. And it was, wasn’t it, Nanny? Didn’t I tell you? It was safe.”

“Yes, it was very safe, Richard.”

“Nanny said you’d take me in aprivaterail carriage,” he’d spoken as if Malcolm hadn’t been sitting there when the woman had explained it all. “Who will be in it?” he’d demanded.

“Er, just me, you, and Mrs. Potter.”

“The last time we went on the train we sat in third class and there was a little girl in the seat in front of us. She turned around and made faces at me the whole way.” His huge blue eyes had narrowed with suspicion. “There won’t be any staring little girls, will there?”

Malcolm had laughed. “I can promise that no little girls will be staring at you.”

Richard had briefly looked relieved, but then his smooth brow had furrowed again. “I will need to be back by my bedtime. Won’t I, Nanny?”

“Yes, luv. Mr. Barton will have you back by bedtime.”

Richard’s smile had been pure sunshine. “And I’ll see Julia after riding on the train.”

Malcolm had always appreciated his luxurious private rail carriage but never had it brought him as much joy as it did Richard Harlow.

Malcolm had smiled so much on the brief journey back to London that his face had hurt by the time he’d escorted the pair up to the rooftop greenhouse

He couldn’t have planned their arrival more perfectly, as Julia had just stepped away from the dining room, leaving Malcolm free to pass the visitors into Butkins’ capable hands and nip off before Julia returned.

Malcolm lingered just long enough to watch the brother and sister embracing and laughing and crying—on Julia’s part—before he silently slipped out of the greenhouse and made his way to his study.

You did a lovely thing, Mal. Why won’t you go and join them?

And a happy Christmas to you, too, my dear Sukey,he retorted as he sat down at his desk and flipped through the neat stack of documents that he’d instructed Butkins to prepare for today.

Right on top of the pile was the letter he’d told Tommy to send last night. He smiled, well pleased at the other man’s obedience.

When he saw that everything was in order he toggled the lever that rang a bell in the servant quarters.

He’d kept the staff on for today but would give everyone except the upper servants a two-week holiday starting tomorrow. Butkins, Kemp, and Norris would take staggered, extended, holidays after New Year’s Day.

James opened his study door a few minutes later. “Yes, Mr. Barton?”

“Tell Parker to have the carriage brought round immediately.”

“Very good, sir. And, er, if I may be so bold—Happy Christmas, sir.”

“The same to you, James.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Once the door shut behind the servant Malcolm unlocked his desk, removed two envelopes, and slid them, along with the stack of documents, into his satchel.

You deserve some happiness, Mal. Why don’t you join the people who care about you?

Malcolm ignored the questions. He was still wearing his coat and hat from earlier, so he headed directly for the lift.

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