Emily held the youngest blond child in her lap as they began to eat their meal, her fingers delicately grasping the handles of her fork and knife so she could cut the food into small enough bits for the small girl to eat. She took a piece of the chicken between her fingers and held it up to the young girl's mouth, letting her take a small bite before she put the rest in her mouth. "Good?"

Bailey nodded, snuggling herself into Emily's chest before letting the older woman set another piece of food to her lips.

Nathaniel looked up from his plate and set his eyes on the pair across the table from him. "Mable, you do know that Bailey can feed herself right?"

Emily felt her shoulders stiffen as she let her eyes connect with her captor's only a few feet away. "Yes sir, I do know that." She let herself smile down to the child in her lap, feeling her tiny has fist in the material of her dress. "She just seems a little too tired to do anything by herself right now."

"She's my daughter, Mable."

Emily let her eyes harden on the older man across from her, her arms holding small Bailey tightly against her chest. "Really? Because it sure doesn't seem that way when Hampton and I are the ones doing things for them instead of you, Nathaniel." She felt her heart speed its beats in her chest as his glare hardened on her, and she slowly shook her head. "If you want me to be their mother, then you act like it. Act like you can trust me, sir."

Nathaniel shifted in his seat, nodding to the dark haired woman who held his daughter to her chest. "You sure do know how to argue, Mable." He gave a snort before picking up his water from the table. "Some may say feisty," he watched as the younger woman's eyes fell down to her plate, "but I say courageous."

The younger woman avoided her captor's gaze, standing from her seat before hiking young Bailey onto her hip. She looked to the other children at the table, watching as they pretended to heard nothing that the adults were saying. "Kids, what do you usually do at this time of the day?"

Hadley set his fork down before looking up to his father's newest victim. "It's 'bout two now."

Eva nodded from her place at the table. "Study time, miss."

Emily licked her lip before giving a nod, feeling Baily snuggle her nose into the crook of her slender neck. "Alright, well then you all get your books and then come on outside."

"Outside, miss?"

Emily tried for a smile as she looked to the young girl who sat patiently in her seat. "Well it's pretty nice outside right now, don't you agree?"

Eva smiled from her seat. "Yes!"

"Well I think so too. So why don't you all grab your books and then come on outside to the yard with me? I'll help you with your lessons and when we're done we can have some fun in the sunlight." She watched as Hadley looked at her with his innocent eyes. "Does that sound good with everyone?"

Both blond children were immediately out of their seats and running up the staircase to their bedrooms, and Emily quickly turned her head to the older man who sat at the table. "Is that something that's ok with you?"

Nathaniel stood abruptly from his chair, walking swiftly over to the younger woman. His eyes bore into hers, making sure to stay a safe distance so he wouldn't scare his little girl that was cuddled in Emily's arms. "They do what I say, Mable. Next time you ask before you tell them to do something." He watched as her eyes narrowed on him. "Do you understand me?"

Bailey looked up from the brunette's neck, smiling to her father that stood in front of her. "Papa!"

The older man's fierce eyes looked down to the young blond, softening his gaze when her bright smile shined his way. "Hi baby."

"Awe you gonna come wif Miss Mayabell?"

Nathaniel gave a shake of the head. "No I don't think so, sweetheart. But you and your siblings have fun, ok?"

Emily felt Bailey nod against her neck, her small hands clutching the material of her dress near her chest. She let her eyes float back up to the older man's, nodding her head when she watched his gaze harden. "Will you undo my ankles?"

"Why should I?"

The younger woman let out a humorless laugh. "I'll be running with the kids, studying with the kids, playing with the kids and even possibly chasing the kids. I need to have my legs free to walk correctly, sir."

Nathaniel gave a grunt, bending down and slipping the key from his pants pocket. "I will speak to you about this later."

Emily let her teeth sink into her lip, feeling relief spread throughout her body as the cuffs dropped to the floor after they had freed her ankles. "Of course."