Finally, I told him, and anyone else who wanted to know, to follow me to the parlour, where I would tell them what was going on.
Now anxious about what I was going to say, I rubbed my aching neck and headed there with Evan, Jane, Cassie, Papa, and Aunt in tow. Lucinda and Harry went to change out of their wedding outfits, and Seraphina took Tobias upstairs as she feared hearing the story again might set him off.
I removed my mask and stood in front of the fire with my hands clasped, as if I were going to recite a passage from a book. In a way, I was—only it was a passage about my life, and I wanted to get it over with.
‘If you’d all like to sit down, I will explain what has been happening tonight and the events that have led to it. Afterwards, you can partake of some tea with rum if youfind the story vexing.’
I know I will be having a large cup...
Jane gave me an encouraging smile and sat at the writing desk in the corner so the sofa was free for the others.
‘Goodness me,’ said Aunt, sitting down and smoothing her skirts. ‘Whatever it is, it cannot be that serious?’
‘I’m afraid it is, Aunt. But please let me say what I have to say without interrupting, or else I won’t be able to get through it all.’
‘Very well.’ She pursed her lips, and Papa took her hand, but I was not too surprised by this. He had told me of his intention to propose to Aunt while we were dancing and had asked for my blessing. It had not been the best timing as I could hardly focus, but I had wholeheartedly given it and wished him well. I did not know when he planned to ask her and hoped that what I was about to say would not spoil his moment.
I cleared my throat. ‘You all remember that a couple of years ago, I visited Jane in Bath with Lucy.’
They nodded.
‘While we were there, we met a man called Dorian Hart, who is Harry’s brother.’
‘And who is Rosalind’s fiancé?’ asked Evan. ‘He disappeared before I could make his acquaintance but seemed a nice-enough fellow.’
I gave him a quick nod. ‘Yes, he is also Rosalind’s fiancé. After making our acquaintance, Dorian invited Lucy, Jane, and me to Hartmoor, his family’s castle.’
‘How lovely,’ said Aunt with a smile. ‘I should like to hear more about that. You do not tell us nearly enough in your letters, Felicity.’
I sighed inwardly. Asking for no comments and to let me speak was perhaps asking too much. I pressed on.
‘We thought, from his attention and the impression he gave us, that Dorian was courting Lucy and intended to propose to her. But I discovered that he had tricked us into thinking so and was only interested in marrying Lucy for her money. And unbeknown to us, he had tricked her further into ... losing her maidenhead to him.’
I could not think of a more delicate way to put it.
Aunt’s eyes widened, and she gripped Papa’s hand tightly.
Cassie looked accusingly at Jane. ‘You did not tell me aboutthatwhen you returned.’
Jane tilted her head at her sister. ‘I did not know it!’
‘Go on, Felicity,’ said Papa, frowning as the story had taken an unexpected turn.
I rubbed my temple tiredly. ‘I thought that I had successfully managed to extricate Lucy from his clutches. But a few months after I returned home, Lucy andSeraphina appeared unexpectedly one night on our doorstep ...’
Cassie groaned. ‘Oh no, don’t tell me ...’
‘Yes, Lucy was with child.’
No one said anything, and I grappled with how to proceed next.
Evan prompted me by saying, ‘So not such a nice fellow after all. I assume Harry knows, Felicity? Did Lucy give the child away or ...?’
‘The child is Freddie,’ I said flatly. ‘I lied about giving birth to him to protect Lucy’s reputation. Max and I decided to become his guardians when Lucy and Seraphina were here. We ... we signed a contract Max’s lawyer had drawn up to make it official ... Harry knows the truth, but Dorian didn’t—until tonight ...’ I trailed off, unable to look at Papa and Aunt.
There was a stunned silence as they all digested this information.
‘I’ll be damned,’ breathed Evan. ‘That’s one hell of a family secret. Well done for keeping it under wraps. I always thought Freddie didn’t resemble Max one jot, but I didn’t like to say so.’
