The Duke nodded his head in understanding. “That is to be expected.”
“I venture that you are having similar thoughts,” Frederick noted, looking up into his father’s tired, bloodshot eyes, ringed red from tears.
“At first, yes. I felt betrayed, hurt, angry, fearful that all would come to an end, but then I realized that it was not the absence of my bloodline that I mourned, but it was the idea that you might prefer another father, another life. You see, I remembered that the only important thing in this situation was my love for you. I can only pray that it was not altered yours for me.”
“Never, Father. No matter what secrets this life may hold, my love for you and mother is without question. I too am angry, hurt, confused… there are not enough words to describe how I feel about mother’s deception, but I also feel gratitude, for had she not done what she did we would never have been a family and that is an unacceptable thing to me.”
Frederick stood and the two men embraced. “‘Tis glad I am to hear it,” the Duke replied with tears in his eyes.
“What will you do with Tatham?”
“‘Tis true that he threatened your mother and should rightfully hang for pulling a gun on a Duchess, but when I think of what I wouldn’t do to get you back had it been me and not him, then I find that I cannot blame him for his actions. Were it I in his place, nothing would be too much. There is not a line I would not cross, but no one, not even the servants, can know what happened here today or at Dun Dubh all those years before. There can never be any question as to your paternity.”
“Had Mother simply told us the truth…”
“She feared that I would reject you and her. She feared that the world would find out and all would be lost forever. She would have never stopped running if it had meant that she was keeping you safe.”
“She ran to keep me safe?”
“Yes, she did, and she would have kept running were it not for Devon Tatham finding her and dragging her back here.”
“She would have let you die in her place?”
“To protect you she would have, and I would have done the same. Your mother did a terrible thing in taking you as she did, but in doing so, she gave us both the most wonderful gift any person could ever bestow upon another. Your mother and I lost child after child. No matter what we did to prevent it, every babe born to us died at birth. She could not bear to lose another child, nor could I.”
“I am sorry, Father.”
“As am I, my son, but I would not trade you for anything. As far as Mr. Tatham is concerned, I will let you decide how you wish to deal with him. If you wish for him to be a part of your life, then we will find a way to do so without drawing suspicion. If you do not wish to ever see him again, that can be arranged as well. I leave it in your hands. Now, I will leave the two of you to converse. You may find me later in the library if you wish to speak further on the matter. Your mother and I have much to discuss.”
“Thank you, Father.”
The Duke smiled, squeezed his son’s shoulder in affection, and departed the room leaving Frederick and Josephine alone once more.
“What do you plan to do?” Josephine asked, attempting to sit up. Frederick moved forward to assist her in placing pillows behind her head and back for support.
“Tatham has been a loyal friend to both of us since we were children. I cannot simply cut all ties to the man. What happened was not his fault, but I cannot condone his actions after that. Can I really allow him to stay on after he hurt you and nearly destroyed my family?”
“Desperate men do desperate things, Rick. Imagine if it had been your child that had been taken.”
“The fear, pain, and anger would be unbearable.”
“Yes, it would.” Josephine looked at him with an expression of sympathy mixed with the suggestive implication that he too might have gone a bit mad were the roles reversed.
“I will admit to some curiosity of my origins. I cannot help but wonder what Sarah Evans was like.”
“I am sure that both Mr. Tatham and Sarah Evans’ brothers would be happy to share their memories of her. It would appear that they have waited a very long time to do so.”
Frederick nodded his head in agreement. “I wonder what my grandfather would have said had he known. Would he have made me his heir or let Pentford return to the crown out of principle?”
“With everything you know about your grandfather, do you really believe him to have been capable of abandoning you in such a fashion?”
Frederick smiled and shook his head. “No, he would not have been capable of such a thing. He would have loved me just the same.”
Josephine smiled warmly at him, taking his hand in hers. “He would be proud of the man you have grown to become.”
“‘Tis my sincerest hope.”
“Perhaps it might be of benefit if you went and spoke with Mr. Tatham alone, to hear his side of the story and to learn more about Sarah,” Josephine suggested.
