“I must go, Your Grace,” she said softly. “But I will return soon. And we shall continue our voyage together.”
For a breath, nothing happened. But then, the Dowager smiled. Hazel’s own heart swelled so completely she thought it might burst. She clasped the book with trembling hands, bowing her head in gratitude and relief.
Just then, the door opened. Mrs. Atherton entered briskly, and her voice was full of its usual cheer. “Your Grace, shall I bring your tea?—”
The words cut off. Mrs. Atherton froze, with her eyes wide and her hand flying to her mouth.
“Oh,” she whispered. “Oh, my heavens… she’s smiling.”
Hazel turned, beaming. “She is.”
Mrs. Atherton pressed her hands to her chest. “Oh, Your Grace… oh, this is… Your Grace, you’ve done wonders.”
Hazel flushed, overwhelmed. “It wasn’t me. It was the book. Thememories.”
Mrs. Atherton shook her head, tearful and glowing. “It wasyou.You brought them back to her.”
The Dowager gave a single, small nod at that, as if to confirm it. Hazel could hardly breathe. She had come feeling like a thief. But now, she felt like a savior, like she had returned something precious that had long been lost.
Greyson had finished his business in town earlier than expected, which was a rare occurrence. And though he told himself there was no particular reason for it, his carriage turned toward the townhouse almost of its own accord.
He wished to see his mother, to reassure himself that she was well—and, if he were so bold to have admitted it, perhaps glimpse the faint trace of calm Hazel’s presence had brought her before.
But as he approached the townhouse, something pricked at him. His own crest glinted on a second carriage parked just ahead.
Hazel’s carriage.
Greyson paused, his hand tightening on the door frame before he climbed down.
She is here.
He ascended the steps and knocked only once before Mrs. Atherton flung open the door as though summoned by divine intervention.
“Oh, Your Grace!” she exclaimed, with a face that was alight with unrestrained joy. “You’re here! Oh, your timing is perfect!”
Greyson stepped inside, glancing toward the hallway. “Is my wife?—?”
“She’s with your mother,” Mrs. Atherton said quickly, ushering him forward with fluttering hands. “You must come at once. Something marvelous has happened.”
Greyson stiffened. “What is it?”
Mrs. Atherton only beamed wider. “Oh, you must see it yourself.”
She led him down the familiar corridor, and her excitement was nearly palpable. When she opened the sitting room door, Greyson felt the breath leave his body.
His wife stood beside his mother’s chair. The Dowager Duchess herself sat in her window seat, facing the room this time rather than the horizon beyond it. And her eyes were not blank. She was not lost. She was…smiling.
Greyson froze.
Mrs. Atherton could not contain herself. “Your Grace,” she whispered reverently, “shesmiled.”
He felt the world tilt as his gaze snapped to his mother, whose eyes were warm and gentle. Then, his gaze moved to Hazel. She looked earnest and guilty at the same time. A soft flush rose inher cheeks the moment his eyes met hers. Her fingers tightened around something she held close. And then he saw the book.
She had disobeyed him. She had taken something he meant to keep sealed away. She had done exactly what he had warned her not to do. A spark of anger flared… or perhaps, it wasn’t anger. It was fear, that old fear of loss, of reopened wounds, of memories too sharp to bear.
But that fear shattered when his mother looked up at him again, and her smile grew. It was radiant in its smallness, filled with recognition. He moved toward his mother as if in a dream. His steps barely made any sound. His breath lodged in his chest. The entire world felt impossibly distant, blurred at the edges, until only two things remained crystal clear: his mother and Hazel.
He reached his mother’s chair and paused, afraid that if he touched her, the spell might break. But her eyes lifted to his, warm and aware in a way he had not seen in years. Her fingers twitched, as if beckoning. Greyson’s composure cracked. He dropped to one knee beside her, taking her delicate hand in both of his.
