“I shall.Is that all, Your Graces?”
Valaria glanced toward Callum and he inclined his head.“Yes.For now.Thank you, Higgins.”
When the butler had gone, Callum returned to the settee and Valaria did the same.She stared at him.“I assume there was a purpose to that.”
He drew a shaky breath, hating what he must say next.“I do not think Higgins will find a servant who accidentally forgot to report a delivery of the letter.Because I don’t think it was delivered by an outsider.”
She was silent for what felt like an eternity, with the color draining from her cheeks, eyes widening with terror and confusion.“Wh-what do you mean?”
He sighed and removed the sheet of vellum from his pocket, then handed it and the original letter to her.She held them, one in each hand and continued to look confused.“Is this supposed to mean something to me?”
“Feel the paper,” he suggested softly.“Feel the similarities.”
She did so and shook her head.“And?”
“The blank sheet is from a special set from my own desk, Valaria.I believe whoever wrote that note did so from my household.”
“One of your servants?”she gasped.“But how, why?”
“No, not one of my servants,” he said, and caught her trembling hand.“But someone who had access because she was in my home…with you.”
Her expression crumbled.“No.”
“Fanny,” he said softly.
“No!”she repeated, and tugged her hand away.“Fanny wouldneverdo that to me.”
“If she wrote the letter at my desk, with my stationery and pen, then returned to the house to collect things for you, she could have slipped the letter in with the rest of the correspondence.”
Valaria looked sick as she stared at the letter, but Callum could tell that what he was saying was sinking in.That she understood it could be true.Probably was true.“Which is why Higgins doesn’t know its origin.”
He touched her hand lightly.“Is Fanny available to speak to?”
Tears were in her eyes as she looked at him again.She nodded.“Y-Yes.I could ring for her.”
She got up as if to do that but before she could reach the bell, the door opened and the maid, herself, entered the room.
“You don’t need to ring,” the young woman said, her voice trembling.“I’m here.And…and he’s right, Your Grace.I did write the letter.”
* * *
The world felt like it was tilting and Valaria reached for the back of the closest chair to keep herself from falling over.Then Callum was at her back, holding her up by her elbow, his presence comforting and warm behind her.
She stared at Fanny, searching the face of a woman who was far more than a servant to her.“But why?”she asked, hating how her voice trembled and barely carried when she wanted to be strong.Firm.“Why would you do that, Fanny?”
“Money,” Callum said, his voice rough with a protective anger that seemed to vibrate in the air around them.
“No!”Fanny burst out immediately.“Not money.”
“I find that hard to believe considering it’s a letter of blackmail,” Callum snapped.
Valaria turned toward him and looked up at him.“Let her speak.Please.”
She could see how he wanted to hurtle between them and use himself as a shield.But he didn’t.He inclined his head, respecting her request, and grew silent.
“Tell me,” Valaria said softly, returning her attention to Fanny.“Tell me why.”
Fanny let out a low sob and then shook her head.“Because I…I wanted to tear you two apart.”
