Rosalinde closed her eyes, but her mind conjured images of her grandfather’s rage as he lunged for her. She could still feel his fingers close around her throat, closing off her air.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “He lost control in front of a great many people. That might make him stay away. Either way, I think we both know what will happen next.”
“He’s going to cut us off,” Celia said. “We’ll be on the street.”
“Perhaps not on the street,” Rosalinde replied, trying to sound positive. “Stenfax and his family have been kind, and they say they won’t let us fall to complete ruin.”
“Yes, it was generous of Felicity and Lady Stenfax to come up when the food was delivered to reassure us we were still welcome,” Celia said, her cheeks filling with color. “But their charity cannot be expected to last. This will ruin us, ruinme.”
Celia put her head in her hands and began to cry. Rosalinde slid closer to her, wrapping her arms around her in what she knew was cold comfort. There was little to be done to mitigate the damage. Once the engagement was broken, Celia might be right that they would be shunned.
“Was I too hasty to walk away from a marriage to a man who could protect us?” Celia whispered. “To do so for a chance at love that may never happen?”
“No,” Rosalinde said, and grasped Celia’s cheeks to make her look up. “No, not too hasty. You didn’t love Stenfax. Perhaps that notion of a love match is a silly or naïve hope to have, but I’d rather have it than always wonder if you’d thrown it away. Darling, this will die down and you may yet meet the man of your dreams. The man who will sweep you off your feet and make you happier than you’ve ever been. When he arrives, we’ll be glad you didn’t settle for a title just to please grandfather.”
Celia sucked in a breath. “When did you find out about father being a servant in Grandfather’s house?”
Rosalinde let out a sigh. “Only last night, I promise you. Gray had us investigated in his quest to end the engagement. But the information didn’t arrive until yesterday, and I discovered it then.”
“Is there more than what you shared today?”
“Father’s identity is still unknown.” She frowned as her sister’s face fell. “But we now have a big piece of the puzzle. More than we ever knew before!”
“Do you think…do you think Mother loved him?” Celia asked.
Rosalinde smiled. “I like to believe she did. After all, she took a huge risk running away with him, bearing him children without the protection of a marriage. I like to think she loved him desperately. I also like to think his lowered position was the only reason he didn’t keep us with him.”
“Grandfather would have swept in once she was dead and taken us,” Celia whispered. “We were property to him. Chattel.”
Rosalinde nodded. “And with no position and likely little money, our father would have had little recourse.”
“If he’s still alive, perhaps he thinks of us,” Celia suggested, her eyes brimming with tears.
“I hope so.” Rosalinde took her hand and they sat together, lost in fantasy about a man neither remembered, a life they might have had. Of course, she knew the reality might be very different, but after today, they both deserved to dream.
There was a knock on the door, and both of them froze.
“Do you think it’s him?” Rosalinde whispered, thinking once again of her grandfather’s face before the attack.
Celia shook her head. “Stenfax and Mr. Danford would never allowhimup here.EspeciallyGray. He’d kill him first.” Her sister got up. “ButIwill answer, just in case.”
Rosalinde stayed where she was, heart throbbing as she watched Celia open the door. It didn’t stop throbbing when the person who had knocked was revealed, though the reason for her physical reaction changed.
It was Gray who stood there, peering past Celia and right at her. Gray who smiled,smiledas if there was something to be pleased about. And though she didn’t agree, she found herself smiling back, for the expression on his face was so rare that she couldn’t help but respond to it.
“Good evening, ladies,” he said.
“Hello,” Celia said before she shot a look at Rosalinde. “I’m surprised to see you at our door.”
“I came for two purposes,” he said, making no move to enter. “First was to apologize to you, Miss Fitzgilbert.”
Rosalinde pushed to her feet as Celia blinked at him in shock and stammered, “A-apologize?”
“I realize that may not seem sincere given the way today went,” he said, locking his gaze on Celia and holding it evenly. “And I do not expect forgiveness, at least not at this point. But it must be said that I was in the wrong to judge you so harshly, and I apologize.”
Celia opened and shut her mouth before she looked again toward Rosalinde, almost for help. But Rosalinde was just as dumbfounded. She had never expected Gray to do something so…out of character.
“Th-thank you,” Celia finally stammered. “And Idoaccept the apology, Mr. Danford. First because Ididunderstand in some way where you were coming from. And secondly because you saved my sister’s life today. So whatever bad blood was ever between us, I have already forgotten it.”
