“Did you…fight for us?” Rosalinde asked, almost in an apologetic tone.
He let out a great shudder. “I wanted to. I started to, but Fitzgilbert, he…he threatened Asher. It was let him take you and raise you two with money and privilege or he would hurt my son, he would hurt me, and he would take you in the end anyway.”
Asher gasped as he got up, pulling away from the support of Felicity’s touch and moving toward his father. “You let your children go because of me?”
“You wereallmy children,” Seyton said, stepping toward Asher and placing a hand on his cheek. “And Fitzgilbert was powerful. In the end, he would have had what he wanted and destroyed us all in the process. I should have fought harder, but—”
“No,” Celia interrupted. “We know him. I know you couldn’t have done anything more.”
Rosalinde nodded. “So then you went to work for Stenfax’s father?”
Seyton sighed. “I did. I was broken and I wanted my son so desperately. A friend helped me obtain a position as the last Stenfax’s valet, and off we went. We were happy with your family, of course, but I do not deny that I thought of Celia and Rosalinde every day. At first, I tried to find information about them, but it was almost impossible. I believed that Fitzgilbert would tell you both horrible things about me. About your mother. That he would raise you to hate me. In the end, I couldn’t face that. Hearing about you was so painful that I stopped trying to do so.”
“That was why you changed so much,” Asher breathed. “You rolled into yourself, pulled away from all you once were.”
Seyton nodded. “It was cowardly, I know.”
Rosalinde and Celia exchanged a look. Asher could see their hurt, but it mingled with their understanding. He drew a sigh of relief at the second emotion. They would forgive his father for pulling away. They would forgive him and form bonds with him.
They would be a family.
“But still,” Felicity said gently, rising to her feet and putting herself in the situation for the first time. “Stenfax’s question stands. How could you avoid knowing that Celia and Rosalinde were related to our family when you’d worked for us for so long?”
Seyton smiled at her, a gentle expression. He looked at Asher, then back to her. “My lady, once I left your employ, I cut all ties. I did not speak to anyone I’d worked with. I have lived in this cottage without any connection to Society workings for years. So I didn’t know.”
“If you had…” Celia whispered. “What would you have done?”
Seyton set his jaw and thrust his shoulders back. “You two coming into the world I’d once worked in could be seen as nothing less than providence. I would have…I would have come. Your grandfather be damned, Lady Stenfax be damned…I would have come.”
“Lady Stenfax?” Gray said. “Our mother?”
Felicity shot Asher a quick look before she said, “Yes. Mama once interfered in something to do with Asher. She…threatened him and Seyton.”
“Threatened them?” Gray gasped. “What could she possible threaten them over?”
“You and Asher,” Stenfax whispered, and his eyes went wide as he put the pieces together.
Felicity’s cheeks flamed as she looked once more to Asher, then nodded. “It doesn’t matter now. But I can’t imagine the horrible memories it brought back for you, Seyton. And I can tell you she is very sorry now, as am I.”
“Youhave nothing to be sorry about, for you did nothing wrong,” Seyton said. “And we all made mistakes in those days. Today has shown me that mistakes can be overcome.”
He smiled as he reached out to take each of his daughters’ hands and held them. There was a peace on his face, a joy that Asher could hardly recognize. After all, he’d never seen his father like this. He’d only seen the broken remnants. His father whole was…amazing.
“It is getting late,” Elise said. “Is there something I can make in the kitchen for everyone?”
Seyton gasped as he looked at the clock on the mantel. “Gracious, it is late. But I cannot have the Countess of Stenfax making supper in my little kitchen. Asher, will you come with me? You and I will put together a little feast.”
Asher nodded. “Of course.”
“May we help?” Celia asked.
Seyton leaned in and kissed first her cheek and then Rosalinde’s. “Another time, yes. Tonight, let your brother and I celebrate you.”
The women both looked uncertain, but nodded as Asher and his father left the room.
He followed Seyton the short distance to the small kitchen and watched as his father began to gather up the items needed for a cold supper.
“Father,” Asher whispered.
