Eleanor was trying to follow what was happening, but they had lost her.
“No. No one outside of this room. Your father took it to his grave.”
Grayson slammed the ring onto the table, making all the cups and saucers jump, as well as the teapot and Eleanor. Then he turned, yanked open the door, and stalked out.
Chapter Twenty
“Gray,” Eleanor calledafter him. Then she turned to Mrs. O’Connor, her future mother-in-law, who had tears streaming down her face.
“I don’t understand. Please tell me. What does it mean? Who is his father?”
“Look at the ring, dear.”
Eleanor picked it up, studying the plain gold ring with aGand aCcast into the flat surface.
Their conversation came clear. “Gideon Cambrey,” she surmised, thinking of what this meant. “John wears one just like it.”
“This is the original,” Grayson’s mother said. “The old earl—he wasn’t old, then, mind you, nor even that old when he died, poor man—he never wanted to hurt his wife, but he also wanted me to be able to prove my claim someday, at least to Gray. The earl made himself a new ring after he gave this one to me. But theGisn’t for Gideon. It’s for Godridius de Chambrai, a knight of William the Conqueror.”
“William the Conqueror,” Eleanor couldn’t help echoing, thinking of a family line that stretched so far back in history.
“The current earl, your sister’s husband, can tell you all about that. Every signet ring made for their family has always been the same.”
Eleanor considered a moment. “John and Grayson already love each other like brothers. And the Angsleys…,” she trailed off.
“They’ve always treated him like family.” His mother drew a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her face.
“But they didn’t know?” Eleanor asked.
Mrs. O’Connor shook her head. “No. They all like Gray for his own sake. I hope that will be the saving grace.” She started to cry again. “Go find him. Make sure he’s all right. Ask him not to hate me.”
Eleanor surged to her feet and embraced Mrs. O’Connor. “No, of course he doesn’t. He is just stunned. I’ll bring him back.”
And setting the ring upon the table, she chased after her fiancé.
*
Gray wanted tohowl. This changed everything—who he was, how he fit in, why Gideon Cambrey had been so kind to him for all those years. The old earl was his father!
“Arrrr,” he yelled, long and loud, staring at the rich blue sky.
Today, of all days, it was a perfect autumn display with a brilliant gilded sun, without a single cloud, and not a drop of water raining down upon him. And yet he felt as though he were drowning.
He knew Eleanor would find him, even if he hadn’t yelled. In a few minutes, he turned from where he was leaning against the railing, stroking Percy’s neck, and there she was.
She looked uncertain, which twisted his gut.
“Are you all right?” she asked, approaching closer.
“I don’t know.”Was that his voice, so gruff and strange?
“Tell me what you are thinking. What is the worst of this? And then I’ll remind you of the best.”
“I’m thinking I am not the man I thought I was.”
“You are.” She stood right beside him, setting her dainty foot, now healed, onto the first railing and then stepping up so their heads were at equal height.
“You’re Grayson O’Connor, fruit of your mother’s womb. A capable man, an estate manager, loved by many, including me.” She leaned her shoulder against his. “And admired by all.”
