“I think Fiona is likely to be more aware of it than any of the rest of us.”
“She said something like that to me. Told me to stand in her shoes and I would know. When she said Ben was Thaddeus’s son, I believed it and wondered how I hadn’t seen it for myself.” Out of the corner of her eye, Phoebe saw him nod and realized he was not at all disturbed by her confession. “What are you thinking?” she asked.
“Mm. Thinking about the money. Wondering how Ellie came by it.”
“I thought you’d know, but I can explain. It’s from the mine. Her husband’s partners bought her out after he died. She’s saved it for Ben, but apparently she’s willing to part with it to see the last of Fiona.”
“What mine? What partners?”
“Um, I don’t know. Don’t you?”
“This is the first I’m hearing of it.”
“Thaddeus must know. It was so long ago, and as you said, you were a child. No reason that anyone would have talked to you about it. She showed Fiona a savings book from the bank. The money is there.”
“Huh. I’m a little surprised Ben never said a word. You’d think it would be something he’d know.”
“That seems likely. According to Fiona, his name’s on the savings book.”
Remington said nothing, but his expression was thoughtful.
Phoebe said, “I’m hoping Fiona will tell it all to your father. He can sort it out.”
“He probably can.” He started to reach over to take Phoebe’s reins when the descent steepened, but he stoppedand withdrew his arm when he saw how well she was handling the mare. She was good on her own. “When you say you hope she’ll tell itall, is there something more than we’ve discussed that she should be saying?”
“You know there is.”
“So this secret that isn’t yours to reveal and isn’t mine to say actually belongs to Fiona. Is that right?”
Phoebe nodded. “Yes. It’s hers.”
“Can we assume that she’s already told Thaddeus and that you’re free to tell me?”
“I suppose we can assume anything, but that doesn’t make it true.”
“Let’s call it a premise.”
“Dress it up, you mean.”
“Sure. Let’s dress it up, take it out, and see how it does at a social.” He pointed to her and then to himself. “You and me. We are the social.”
Phoebe did not answer immediately and Remington did not press, which in the end was what tipped the scales in favor of speaking. “I won’t be shocked if you’ve known all along, or at least suspected for some time, but it really hasn’t been for me to say. You asked not long after I met you about the difference in our ages, mine and Fiona’s. I never say exactly. Fiona’s sensitive, you understand. It’s because of her work, and she thinks it is more important to be young than old. The truth is that she is young, and I make her feel old. There were fourteen years between us when I was born, which means she was thirteen when she conceived me. Do you understand?” Phoebe did not wait for him to answer. “Fiona is my mother I’ve never had.”
Chapter Thirty-six
Remington turned Phoebe’s words over in his mind. She had said them with precision and she meant for them to be taken precisely.Fiona is my mother I’ve never had.Notthemother, butmymother.
“I don’t know what to say, Phoebe.”
“It’s all right.” Her smile was rueful. “I don’t know myself. She doesn’t forbid me to say so. At least she’s never made me take a blood oath.”
“Phoebe.” He said her name as a gentle admonishment, but then he imagined that flippancy guarded her heart. “Never mind. Say whatever you like.”
“No, you’re right to reproach me. I’m too hard on her; I think I always have been.”
“I didnotsay that.”
Phoebe went on as if she hadn’t heard. “I follow her lead. That’s more or less what she expects. When the mood suits her, I am her daughter. And when there are other considerations, such as a new suitor, especially one with deep pockets, then I am her sister. My task is to keep it straight in my mind.”
