‘It’s not your fault, Talek. Accidents happen all the time in mining.’
‘I’m the owner. It is our second in six months.’
‘It is in your nature to feel responsible, even when it is not within your control.’
‘Then you should know that your well-meaning reassurances will make no difference.’ He let his head rest against the back of the seat. ‘I cannot un-feel my responsibilities. A man died at my mine. It is fortunate more did not.’
They fell into a painful silence as mere words of comfort seemed inadequate somehow. After some minutes, Amelia could hold her tongue no longer. She had to know what Grace had told him. She began to worry a loose thread on her shawl.
‘Grace was anxious to see you.’
Talek drained his second glass.
‘Did she stay long?’
‘I’m tired, Amelia. I would rather not discuss Grace.’ Talek placed his empty glass on the table beside him and rested his hands on the arms of the chair. With an idle finger, he began to trace the swirl of the pattern on the arm of the chair. ‘The landslide happened while Grace was there. She tended to the wounded.’
Despite her brother’s resistance to speak of her, Amelia could still hear the tenderness in his voice. She snapped the loose thread with her fingers and cast it aside.
‘What did she want to see you about?’
‘She wanted me to know why she had not told me about Henry’s fraudulent activities.’ Talek lifted his gaze to look at her and she felt her heart begin to race. Had Grace told him that she knew about Henry’s contract?
‘And what did she say?’
‘It doesn’t matter. It changes nothing.’
‘Please, Talek, tell me.’
Talek stared at his empty glass. ‘She told me that Henry was blackmailing her. He threatened to disclose the truth about her parentage and she did not want me to know. I told her that it would not have mattered to me . . . or words to that effect.’ Talek grew restless and stood. ‘We should arrange for a new companion for you. You should not have to suffer because Grace has left us.’
‘What about her parentage?’
‘It does not matter.’
‘And she said nothing more?’
‘No . . . nothing more.’
Amelia hugged her shawl about her. She felt terrible. Even now Grace was still protecting her. She was sacrificing her own relationship with Talek to keep her secret. And it was all for nothing. She had to tell him the truth.
‘Talek—’
‘I think I should go to bed. The mood I’m in, I’ll drain every bottle we have and that will do no good.’ He returned his empty glass to the side table. ‘Goodnight, Amelia.’
Amelia watched him walk to the door.
‘You still love her, even though you feel she has betrayed you.’
Her brother halted. ‘What makes you think that?’
‘Because you are hurting. You can deny it all you want, but I know you. You must love her very much.’
Talek had still not moved. ‘I will get over her. I have loved and lost before.’
Amelia could not take any more.
‘It is my fault,’ she blurted.
