“Where were you all of these years? I thought you were dead.” Penelope asked, looking at her wide-eyed.
“I will have none of this. Percival, escort her out.” Penelope’s father huffed, having given up the ruse of being ill by standing taller and straighter than Daniel had seen him look in years.
“With all due respect, Your Grace. I cannot. I will not stand by any longer as you lie and manipulate those around you. I was willing to overlook the things I knew before as I thought you meant well, but I can now see you. They deserve better.” He motioned to Daniel and Penelope.
“How dare you speak to me like this? Have you gone mad yourself, just like his father?”
“His father was not mad. You know this well, Edmund,” the woman said and turned to Daniel. “You are not mad, just as your father was not mad. I am afraid my estranged husband has had you thinking this for far too long.” She looked at Penelope. “And you, my darling daughter, have been left to think I was dead for much too long. I am sorry I have not returned before now, but I can explain it all. If you will allow me.”
Penelope turned, giving the woman who she’d thought dead for so long a curt nod and indicated toward the drawing room. Her father, however, was not in favor of this arrangement at all.
“This is my house! I decided who is entertained and who is not.”
Daniel looked at him, hardly able to control his anger. “Your Grace, if that is the case then I am more than happy to have the entire party move to Carlton Manor, where we will all be able to speak in peace.”
The man’s mouth dropped open and Daniel found himself feeling greatly relieved at having spoken up at last. He would have none of this any longer. If this woman had knowledge of his father that could shed light on his true personality, then he needed to hear it. They all did.
* * *
The party had gathered around the fireplace, all but Penelope’s father, who was seated in the armchair by the pianoforte, looking away.
They’d hardly taken their seats when Penelope spoke up.
“Why was I told you were dead? I do not understand? And what knowledge have you of Daniel’s father? And…” She looked at Mr. Percival who raised a hand to slow her.
“Her Grace will explain it all.”
Daniel placed a hand on Penelope’s in an effort to calm her nerves. It seemed to work as she let out a long breath and leaned back, indicating for the woman to speak.
“It was not easy for me to come here, Penelope. But after speaking to Mr. Percival, I knew I had to. I could delay my return to your lives no longer. But before we can discuss that part, I first must explain my departure from your life. Believe me, I regret nothing more than leaving you, but I had to. You see, I was in love.”
At this, she turned her gaze to Daniel and smiled. “With your father, the Earl of Carlton. Or Richard, as I called him.”
His mouth dropped open but he said nothing more, allowing her to continue.
“He and I fell in love when we were young and Richard intended to make an offer of marriage, but another had set his cap on me by then.” She looked toward the Duke who was glaring in her direction. “Edmund had fallen for me. Alas, I had no interest in him. I was—I still am—much younger than he and I did not want to marry an older man, especially not when I was already so very much taken by the Earl of Carlton. However,” she sighed, dropping her shoulders. “Edmund was determined to have me, even after I explained that my heart belonged to another. He spoke to my father and entered into a financial arrangement that my father did not care to refuse. And as you may know, the previous Earl of Carlton—your grandfather—had gambled away much of the family fortune, making it impossible for Richard to match the offer. And so…”
“He bought you?” Penelope’s voice sounded shrill as she turned to her father. “Is this true? Or are you no longer capable of telling truth from lie?”
The words wounded the old man, it was clear to see. “I know the truth. Alas, mine and hers are quite different, for I loved her from the moment I laid eyes on her and I only ever attempted to give her a good life. Can you at least admit that, Katherine?”
She nodded once in concession. “I will say he did. I never wanted for anything. Gowns, jewelry, I could have anything my heart desired. Expect for one. Richard.”
Her husband sneered at this and looked away, crossing his legs.
“But wait. My mother! My father loved my mother. I read his letters. They were all about how he could not live without her.”
The woman turned to Mr. Percival who gave a long groan.
“I am afraid, My Lord, that is not correct. I am afraid those letters were not meant for your dear mother, but for the Duchess here. While your father cared for your mother, it seems theirs was an arranged marriage that never amounted to anything other than a convenient arrangement for both. She was provided with the title of Countess of Carlton while he received a dowry large enough to set right the affairs of the estate.”
“And how do you know this?” Daniel demanded.
“I received a letter from Mr. Scott some years ago, to be opened in the event of his death. In the letter he detailed the events Her Grace is recounting, but from the point of view of your father. As you know, they were close.”
“Your father was fond of your mother,” Penelope’s mother said in a soft tone. “But he did not love her. In fact, he and I never loved anyone but each other. After I was forced into marriage, he took a wife. We tried to be cordial, especially since we were all but neighbors. I made friends with Lorelei, your mother, thinking eventually my feelings for Richard would disappear. They never did. At last, we understood that we would be forever miserable if we could not be together.”
Daniel looked at Penelope and saw in her eyes that she was thinking the same thing he was. Their parents’ stories almost mirrored their own. Almost.
