Violet pressed her lips together. “I don’t condone violence, but I must say that brute must be held accountable. When I think what you have suffered because of him—”
“I wasn’t without fault,” Jack cut her off. “In many ways, I needed a taste of life’s harsh reality. It pains me to think of the trouble and heartache I caused Papa.” He touched the scarred corner of his eye, reminding himself of the times he’d come home bruised and bleeding in his youth.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Violet said as they stepped onto the iron pier. “That was a long time ago. But if it’s any comfort to you, people learn from their mistakes, and they can and do change. Aunt Prudence proved that much to me.”
“Perhaps she simply returned to her old self after shedding that blackguard, Sir Richard.”
“I think that is a fair assumption.” They veered right and walked along the jetty, which jutted over the ocean. “Aunt Prudence grew wiser when Sir Richard discarded her for another woman, and she realized what he was capable of doing. At some point, she must have discovered he stole your inheritance. I am certain that is how she forced him to leave twenty-five thousand pounds to the ladies’ college—bless her.”
“If that’s true, then someone still has that evidence in their possession.”
They stopped to enjoy the view from the jetty, watching the rowboats and bathers bobbing about in the water.
“I’m just now remembering something Aunt Prudence told me before she died.” Violet gazed at the ocean as if it was the keeper of her drowned memories. “It didn’t make much sense at the time, but it speaks to me now.”
“Yes?” Jack raised his eyebrows.
“She remarked, ‘If your uncle doesn’t do right by you in his will, go see Mrs. Briggs, and she’ll have something for you.’ I didn’t press her for more information because I was too preoccupied with her health.”
“Who is this Mrs. Briggs?”
“She’s my former headmistress, dear friend, and mentor.”
“Was she also close friends with Aunt Prudence?”
“She was. They came to know each other through me. When Mr. Thomas and I opened Canterbury Ladies’ College, Aunt Prudence became our patron and an avid campaigner for women’s education. Headmistress Briggs shared her passion, so they grew close.”
“That’s the answer then. Aunt Prudence must have gathered whatever incriminating evidence she had against Sir Richard and given it to this Mrs. Briggs whom you both trusted. If Sir Richard tries to fight us, we may have need of it. As for the twenty-five thousand, it hardly matters now. When I get my inheritance, your school will be well-funded.”
“I’m glad to hear it, but the money is yours. You have earned it, and your future should be filled with nothing but joy.”
“You have no idea how much joy it gives me to help you in your endeavors, Sister.”
“Excellent!” She nudged him playfully. “I shall enjoy having the great Jack Bastin at my disposal, readily available to the college for lectures on writing and literature.”
Jack took off his hat and bowed low. “At your service, Madam. Your interests are mine as well.”
Violet put an arm around his waist and gave him an affectionate squeeze. “Your brotherly devotion gladdens my heart. But in all seriousness, I want you to focus on fulfilling your own needs and desires. When the world treats you harshly, people put up shields that block happiness and deny love. They’re in too much pain to understand how wonderful life can be, especially when it involves love.”
Jack stiffened. “If you’re referring to Ottilie, she’s been avoiding me. I doubt she wants to talk to me.”
“She does—more than anything—trust me. She’s only kept her distance these past three days because she wanted to give us the space and privacy we needed. Now that the initial shock has worn off, we have a lifetime to rebuild and reconnect, and you have your future happiness to think about.”
“In truth, I’m ashamed of how I treated her and afraid of how she feels about me now. I will not blame her if she never trusts me again.”
“If you love her, you must talk to her, or doubt will take hold and erode the connection you share.”
Jack exhaled heavily. Violet was right, but why did a conversation with Ottilie frighten him more than facing the barrel of his uncle’s pistol?
“But enough lecturing from me. It’s time to get down to important business.” She retrieved binoculars from her skirt pocket. “Last summer, a lady claimed to have seen a whale through her spyglass.”
“I doubt you will see very far through those opera glasses.”
Violet giggled. “I’m not really looking for whales. I like to watch the swimmers. There is something about the ocean that sets people free.”
Jack took the binoculars from Violet and pressed them to his eyes. “Yes, it seems men and women mingle freely together in the water.”
“It’s become a bit of a scandal, but I have no objection. Margate isn’t London, and many break protocol here. I think it’s healthy for hard-working people to relax and escape society’s burdens.”
