“It sounds rather serious, I must say,” Grace said, her expression wary. “Let me get comfortable.” She rose from the piano and went to join Aldous, both taking their seats.
“But is it good news?” Evie asked, her eyes wide.
“Or bad?” Clara continued.
“I’m not certain either describes it accurately.” Louisa hesitated again, her gaze drifting to her mother. “Shocking, certainly, and extraordinary in the extreme. I’m not quite sure how it might be accepted.”
Aldous gestured. “Then sit down and tell us what this is about.”
Louisa did as bid, with Maxwell beside her. He took her hand, linking his fingers through hers. “I’ll begin if you like,” he said.
As she gazed into the dark depths of his eyes, an idea slid into her mind. “Thank you, Max, but it’s all right. I know how to begin.” She regarded her mother once more, intent on asking a question, already aware of the answer. But it was a gentle first step. “Mama, what color were Uncle Julian’s eyes?”
Grace raised her brows. “Blue,” she replied. “A bright, brilliant blue, just as they are in his portrait. The same as Josiah’s. Why do you ask?”
Josiah. Of course! Why didn’t I realize that before? Not only the eyes, but the curly hair too.
Yet more validation. Not that Louisa needed it.
“Do you remember the night we spoke about him, Mama? Earlier this year, on the anniversary of his departure?” She gave Maxwell’s fingers a squeeze. “It was the day before Max agreed to take tenancy of the manor. I remember you telling me youwonderabout Uncle Julian every day. Notthink, butwonder. It sounded like a deliberate choice of word, and it begs a question. Do you believe Uncle Julian died at Waterloo? Or do you wonderif he somehow survived the battle, and just… just couldn’t come home because something prevented him from doing so?”
“I don’t understand, dearest.” Grace shook her head. “Why are you asking me this?”
“I have my reasons, Mama.”
“Then share them,” Aldous demanded. “You know this subject is upsetting to your mother.”
“Yes, I know, Papa, and I apologize. I just want to hear Mama’s thoughts before I go any further, that’s all.”
“Very well. The answer is ‘no’.” Grace shook her head. “I haveneverbelieved my brother died at Waterloo and, for the first few years at least, neither did your grandfather. We believed he survived but, for some terrible reason, was unable to come home. Whenever we told anyone, of course, we’d get a sympathetic look, or a remark meant to placate, but which actually implied we were clinging onto the impossible and unwilling to accept the truth. So, we simply stopped mentioning it. And I think, eventually, Papa gave up his belief. But I did not. To this day, I refuse to believe my brother died on that battlefield, though I cannot explain why. It is simply a feeling.”
Frowning, Aldous addressed her. “I never knew any of this, Grace. Why did you not tell me?”
“Because I was afraid that I’d see the same expression of sympathy on your face, Aldous,” she replied, softly, “and I couldn’t bear the thought of it.”
“Oh, my love.” He raised her hand to his lips. “I’m so sorry.”
There followed a moment of silence, then Julian spoke.
“We’re waiting for an explanation, Louisa. Why all these questions about Uncle Julian?”
“Because…” Louisa’s throat tightened, and the faces of her family blurred behind a sudden veil of tears. “Because I believe I’ve found him.”
Grace’s hands flew to her face, capturing a cry that surely came from her heart.
“Bloody hell, Lou.” Julian’s expression hardened. “You’d better be able to substantiate that claim.”
“I wouldneverhave guessed you were going to say that,” Clara murmured.
“Me neither,” Evie said.
Aldous put an arm around Grace’s shoulders. “I echo your brother’s remark, Louisa. You’d better corroborate this outrageous claim with something solid.”
Louisa wiped an errant tear from her cheek. “I would never have made such a claim had I not been certain. This is not easy for me either, I can assure you. Not easy at all. I knew it would be a shock to you.”
“That’s putting it mildly.” Grace, her face ghost-white, shook her head. “I hardly dare believe what I’m hearing. In fact, I cannot believe it. What makes you think this person is my brother?”
“And where is this person?” Aldous asked.
