Rosalinde squeezed her eyes shut. “Even more compelling.”
“It’s more than compelling,” Asher said as he stared at the two women, warmth filling him. And understanding of the connection he’d felt from the first moment he met them. “It’s…true.”
Celia stepped forward, her eyes bright with tears. “Yes, I feel the same way.”
“The moment we met you, it was like…meeting someone you’d known your whole life,” Rosalinde said. “Like…like…”
“Coming home,” Asher finished.
The women exchanged a look and then they moved forward together. Felicity squeezed Asher’s hand once more and then released him as he was embraced by his sisters.
His sisters. He let out a sobbing breath as he gathered them both close and they stood together, trembling as one unit, one being, whole when they had never fully known they were missing pieces.
Gray’s voice was rough as he said, “There is only one way to be certain, of course.”
“Go to my father,” Asher said, drawing away from Celia and Rosalinde. “His home is two days’ ride from London. We could leave tonight.”
“Yes,” Celia said, moving to stand beside Dane.
“As soon as possible,” Rosalinde agreed.
Dane turned Celia gently. “I can make you no promises,” he said, his voice focused and intense. “As much as I believe this to be true, I…I’m not certain. I don’t want to let you down.”
“You never could,” Celia said, touching his face. “But I think we all know this is very likely where our road ends. Finally.”
Gray nodded. “Then let us prepare.”
“Yes,” Asher said, staring around the room at the faces of his old friends, now joined by the faces of two women he knew in his heart were family, blood. It was a startling thing. One that would take some getting used to.
But only once they’d confronted his father. Only then could the future be seen and planned. For Celia and Rosalinde. But also for himself.
Chapter Twenty-One
Felicity sat in Stenfax’s carriage, staring across at Lucien and Elise. It had been two days of hard travel, but they were nearly to the seaside village where Niall Seyton had made his home once he left their family’s employ.
Her heart raced at the thought of it. At the thought of what this day could bring for Celia and Rosalinde and especially Asher.
“You look worried,” Elise said.
“How could she not be?” Stenfax said, shifting in his seat. “We have no idea what is about to happen. What could come of it. Who could be hurt.”
Felicity reached out to her older brother. “You want to fix this. To control it. But you can’t.”
“I know, that’s why I feel like I’m coming out of my skin,” Stenfax ground out.
Elise took his arm and instantly his fidgeting slowed. He took a deep breath and it was like he found some calm center again.
“If Seyton is indeed Celia and Rosalinde’s father, then this is a very happy day,” Elise said softly. “And if not, well, I know it will be heartbreaking. But they have lived a long time not knowing the truth. They are both strong enough to recover. Especially with their husbands to support them.”
“It is Asher I worry about,” Felicity whispered. She looked out the window and leaned to see just the back of the other carriage ahead of them.
Asher had been riding in it the entire journey, spending time with Rosalinde and Celia, telling them about his father, learning more about them. She wanted to be part of that, but she knew she needed to allow him this time.
“Of course it’s Asher you worry about,” Elise said with a sly smile for her. “But you know he isn’t alone, either.”
Felicity looked at the couple again. “We’ve made no promises. If this turns out to be false, he’ll be devastated. And what can I do?”
“Be there for him,” Stenfax said.
