“As you wish, of course,” Stenfax said, but there was no denying the worry on his face. Or on Gray’s.
And that worry had nothing to do with the threats against her from the outside. She knew they feared more for the damage she could do to herself by denying the truth. A truth that terrified her almost as much as exposure did.
When Asher had returned to his London townhouse that afternoon, he had been greeted by a pile of new financial information obtained by John and his contacts. How, Asher wasn’t certain he’d wanted to know. But he’d welcomed the work, for it kept his mind off Felicity. And it had for a time. But the moment he made preparations to return to Stenfax and Elise’s London home, all distraction faded. All that was left was Felicity.
Now he pulled his horse to a stop in front of the London estate and sighed as he looked up at it. He was conflicted about coming here. Partly he was excited he would see Felicity. After all, they had been separated for much of the trip back to the city.
But partly he dreaded the same. He felt her pulling away from him. He knew it was the best thing for them both. And yet it broke his heart every time she put a wall down between them.
“Good evening, sir,” Stenfax’s London butler intoned as he took Asher’s things. “You are expected in the green parlor. Let me escort you.”
Asher followed the man, subtly analyzing his livery, the way he strode down the hall. He recalled his father’s lessons in that same stride. A servant, especially a more elevated one, was to walk with “purpose, but not arrogance”.
Asher had always felt like he was walking a tightrope.
“Mr. Asher Seyton,” the butler announced before he stepped aside and Asher was allowed into the parlor.
Everyone else was already gathered there. Celia and Rosalinde stood together at the fireplace. John, Stenfax and Gray were together at the sideboard. Felicity stood alone, leaning on a wall beside the darkened window, watching him as he strode into the chamber.
“Good evening,” he said, trying to sound falsely bright.
“Hello, Asher,” Stenfax said, moving to shake his hand.
The others said their hellos, except for Felicity. She only nodded at him rather than approaching.
“Did you get my package?” John asked.
Asher forced his attention away from Felicity and nodded. “I did. But should we talk about this now? Lady Stenfax will be joining us soon, won’t she?”
That made Felicity move. She pushed off the wall and shook her head. “My mother complained of being tired after the trip and cried off supper here tonight.” She bent her head. “She has not been the same since I told her.”
Stenfax spun on her. “Told her?”
Felicity looked exhausted as she raised a hand to stay his worry. “Not about the murder. Just a little about the life I led during my marriage. She was under the impression that my marrying a title, marrying money, was worth any unhappiness I might have suffered. She was entirely unaware of the abuse.”
“And you told her about it?” Stenfax asked, his tone not revealing whether he approved of that or not.
Asher saw Felicity’s face fall, pained by the idea that she was not allowed to tell her story merely because it might make someone else uncomfortable. Immediately, he stepped forward.
“It seems that keeping secrets, trying to protect those you all loved, was the main cause of a great deal of the trauma suffered by this family.” He saw that comment sink in. Saw each couple recognize it as truth. Then he said, “It is Felicity’s story to tell. I think she has every right to share it as she sees fit.”
She met his gaze and her voice was gentle when she whispered, “Thank you, Asher.”
“Of course you are correct,” Stenfax said. “I’m sorry if I implied otherwise, Felicity.”
She gave her brother a little smile before she said, “At any rate, Mama will not be joining us, so we are free to speak freely.”
“Very well,” Asher said. “What I found is that Gregory Fitzgilbert just sent out a large sum of money again.”
To his surprise, both Gray and John jolted to their feet, and Celia and Rosalinde each gasped. Asher stared. He’d expected a response from them, of course. It was their grandfather. But this shocked and horrified reaction didn’t make any sense to him.
“Could it be a payoff?” John asked, reaching out to take Celia’s hand. She grabbed it with both of hers, looking up at her husband with wide eyes.
Asher nodded, treading carefully through this obviously volatile subject. “It is in a similar amount to what he paid out before, when Elise’s husband was in control of the book and blackmailing others with it.”
Felicity stepped forward and Asher’s stomach turned at her expression. She was paper pale and her hands shook as she whispered, “Then…could the code be broken?”
The room got very quiet as that question sunk in. Those words that no one had ever wanted to hear pierced through them and all the consequences bled out.
