An Elaborate Hoax (A Gentlemen of Worth Book 5) Read Online Free

emotional plea affect her, as it had David, of the approaching sad and imminent end of his grandmother’s life?
    “Go Wiww-whoas , Da!” Davy, whose pronunciation, as a toddler, was sometimes cryptic at best, had no trouble relaying the very same enthusiasm as his sister. He tugged on David’s fingers.
    “It is up to your family to decide if you are to travel with me.”
    Lucy, followed closely by Davy, ran to her mother and father. “Please, oh please, may we visit the Willows?”
    “ Wiww-whoas! ” Davy repeated.
    David abandoned the family scene to observe Mrs. Parker reading Mr. Randolph’s letter. Mrs. Parker’s hand went to her mouth as she drew in a hasty breath. Her eyes blinked rapidly, clearing her unshed tears perhaps?
    It was apparent that nothing David could say would alter her opinion that he had acted carelessly. Presently, he thought the very same. The decision for her to aid him was not for him to make; the choice would have to be Mrs. Parker’s alone. Perhaps Mr. Woodsworth had managed to sway her into doing so.
    David stepped closer to Mrs. Parker when she lowered her arm, finished with the letter.
    “Can you not help me provide Gran the family she has dearly wished to see for so many years?” he said to her while the others in the room were occupied. “My grandmother is dying, Mrs. Parker. She may even be gone as we speak, I cannot know. But will you please consider, not for my sake, but for hers?”
    Mrs. Parker closed her eyes. David could read the indecision on her face. Waiting for her answer was unbearable. It seemed to go on forever. He remained still, and she remained quiet.
    Yes? No? Yes? What was she going to say? No?
    Mrs. Parker opened her eyes and stared at him, and not in a manner that he would call kind. He expected to hear the worst.
    Without Mrs. Parker, this entire charade could not move forward. Frances would never give her permission for Lucy and Davy to accompany him to Dorset alone. David would have no time to find another female to portray his wife. The lump in his throat and the heaviness in his stomach nearly made him sick. The thought of life without Gran was one he could not dwell upon.
    “Mr. Cavanaugh,” Mrs. Parker said, “I’m afraid I am not so heartless that I can allow your grandmother to die without the joy of being surrounded by her beloved family. Not when it is in my power to see it come to fruition.”
    What? Could she possibly mean . . .
    Mrs. Parker addressed Frances. “If you will see that the children are prepared for the trip, with the help of Nanny, I shall take on full responsibility for their care and well-being during our absence.”
    David was momentarily robbed of speech.
    “Very well, Mrs. Parker. I shall do so at once.” Frances appeared shocked at Mrs. Parker’s change of heart. “Lucy, Davy, you will come with me, please.” The children ran to keep up with their mother and glanced over their shoulders at David with some trepidation, uncertain as to what was going on. “Come, Gerald!”
    David met his friend’s gaze. They both nodded, acknowledging their success. Gerald strode out of the room, following his family. David stood alone with Mrs. Parker, who appeared to be deep in thought. It boded well, he decided, that she considered her participation in his scheme instead of hastily dismissing him.
    David reminded himself that she had not yet said yes .
    “It would mean several days of travel,” she said.
    “I shall arrange for appropriate lodgings for our party, I can assure you.” David would take the added steps, and expense, to see that their journey was as pleasant as possible for everyone involved.
    “Lucy and Davy have never traveled for that length of time.”
    “They’ll find it quite the adventure.” David knew the children well and wondered what sort of mischief would erupt from this journey.
    “I’m sure they would.” Mrs. Parker seemed on the verge of making a final decision, and David couldn’t help but