Southcreek Manor.
Jeannie wore a surgical mask as she moved around the kitchen, fighting off a lingering cold and low-grade fever while she prepared dinner.
She''d been under the weather for three days now, but she hadn''t cked off in caring for Irwin, not even once.
When Briony found out Jeannie was sick, she packed up Little Nina and extended their stay at Skybreeze Retreat. She said it was to keep Nina from catching Jeannie''s cold, and with that excuse, Stewart couldn''t object.
Jeannie worried Stewart might me her for the disruption, so even on her worst days, she worked as diligently as ever.
A car pulled up outside.
Jeannie turned the burner down to its lowest setting, wiped her hands, and stepped out of the kitchen to greet Irwin.
But after waiting a good while, there was still no sign of him.
Puzzled, she walked toward the front door.
Bob had just parked in the garage and wasing out when he ran into her.
"Ms. Radcliffe."
Jeannie nced around. "Where''s Irwin?"
"Oh, didn''t the young master tell you?" Bob asked.
"Tell me what?" Jeannie frowned.
"His mother came to pick him up for dinner."
"His mother?" Jeannie stared, surprised. "Rosita?"
"That''s right." Bob had been with the Wentworth family for years; he knew exactly who Irwin''s birth mother was.
Jeannie nodded. "Irwin must have forgotten to tell me. Did he say when he''d be back?"
"No, he didn''t," Bob replied. "But he said Mr. Wentworth was aware."
"Alright, thanks."
Jeannie headed back to the kitchen.
The stockpot on the stove was still simmering, sending up clouds of savory steam.
She''d made Irwin''s favorite-creamy mushroom soup.
Jeannie watched the bubbling broth, lost in thought.
Without realizing it, she''d been the Wentworth family''s nanny for four years now.
Her contract with Stewartsted until Irwin finished elementary school.
Doing the math, she figured she had just four years left.
By then, she''d be thirty-two.
She touched her cheek absently.
She was twenty-eight now, younger than both Briony and Rosita.
But why would Stewart ever look at her that way?
Her only real advantage was that Irwin trusted her-trusted herpletely.
Jeannie turned off the burner, took off her apron, and left the kitchen.
With Irwin out for dinner, it was unlikely Stewart would be home either.
She was running a fever and had no appetite anyway, so she didn''t bother fussing over a meal for herself.
She decided to head upstairs and get some more rest.
Just then, she heard a car pulling into the drive.
She recognized the sound-it was Stewart''s car.
A rush of surprise and delight swept through her. She turned and hurried toward the front door.
She''d barely reached it when Stewart stepped inside.
"Mr. Wentworth, you''re back?" Jeannie said, setting his slippers by his feet with a smile. "I thought you''d be ing out with Irwin and Ms.
Lockwood tonight." fo
Stewart frowned. "What do you mean?"
His reaction caught Jeannie off guard. "You... didn''t know?"
From her expression and what she''d just said, he''d already pieced things together.
His handsome features went cold. "Rosita took Irwin?"
Jeannie finally caught on. "Bob said
Ms. Lockwood picked him up afteret
school, but Irwin told Bob you knew about it."
Stewart didn''t respond. He simply pulled out his phone and dialed Irwin''s number.
He handed Jeannie a bag. "These are Irwin''s new books."
She reached out to take it,
identally brushing her finge
against his. She quickly looked down and gripped the bag tighter
Stewart didn''t notice-his attention was on the call.
Irwin answered, "Dad?"
"Irwin, where are you right now?"
"I''m with Mom at Lunar Heights Estate."
Without another word, Stewart hung up, turned, and strode out the door.
By the time Jeannie rushed outside, the Maybach was already speeding down the drive and out of sight.