Both of the women gasped. Willow said, “But I thought Stoker’s father was a mystery, even to him. According to Cassin, he wears his illegitimacy like a badge of honor. Is he not thrilled? Is itharassmentto be contacted by a long-lost father?”
Sabine tucked the letter away again. “The old man wants money, I believe. Likely he would never have sought him out if Stoker had not become a millionaire.” She made an expression of distaste. “He’s an impoverished aristocrat from what I gather.” Another shrug. “The forgotten Duke of Something or Other.”
“A duke?”asked Tessa and Willow in unison.
Sabine stared at her lap, refusing to say more.
Tessa and Willow shared another glance but decided not to press. When Sabine wished for them to know, she would tell them.
Suddenly, Sabine looked up. “You’ve been getting a significant amount of mail in Belgravia yourself, Tessa.” She nodded toward the letters she’d stacked on the corner of Tessa’s desk.
Tessa frowned. “Oh, yes. Those. I will read them eventually. I’ll have to shore myself up before each one. They’ve sent as many to Joseph’s address in London, and they are forwarded here. He reads them first to prepare me. I’m not sure why we bother, it’s always more of the same.”
Tessa’s parents had learned of her lavish estate in County Durham and Joseph’s wild success with the guano importation. Not long after, the letters began. In one note, her mother had even referenced Tessa’s work in the thriving Hartlepool dockyard. They wrote, after all this time, to apologize and request a new peace. To meet the baby. To make amends.
“Because of the money—as with this man ‘hounding’ Stoker?” Willow asked.
Tessa shrugged. “Certainly the money and the house has not hurt.” She stared into her teacup. “We did not hear from them before the house or the dockyard success.”
“But will you see them?” asked Willow.
“I haven’t decided,” sighed Tessa. “So many of their values would have to be amended. I could not tolerate one ill word said against Christian—not one word of judgment, not even a sidelong glance. But they send gifts. Joseph has learned that they discuss me with their London friends as if there is no rift at all.” She laughed without humor. “‘Rift’ is a generous word for what exists between us.”
“If they mean only to exploit your success to impress their friends,” said Sabine, “then why would you forgive them?”
Tessa nodded. “In the end, I’m less concerned with what they want or why and more about the effort it takes for me to remain angry. I am the one who suffers when I hold such bitter resentment so close to my heart. It takes work to polish and shine an old hurt all these years.”
“What does Joseph say?” asked Willow.
A knock on the open door interrupted their conversation, and the women spun.
Joseph, holding Christian, and Cassin crowded the doorway.
“Josephsays,” said Joseph, “let us eat and put this baby to bed. I’ve an important announcement to make, and it calls for food and wine and friends—and no babies.”
“Yes, babies!” said Christian, throwing his hands in the air.
Tessa’s friends looked to her, question in their eyes.
“Twenty more minutes, darling?” Tessa asked.
“Right,” said Joseph. “Then you may enjoy Dollop for those last twenty minutes. Cassin and I will embark on the wine.” He stooped to release Christian, and the toddler waddled to his mother and crawled in her lap.
Tessa kissed the top of his head and spun him to face her friends. “Go,” she said, waving the men away. “Twenty minutes more. Will you send word to the kitchen?”
“Papa,” Christian informed the two women smiling at him. He pointed at his retreating father.
“Quite so,” said Sabine, grabbing his tiny foot. “And what great announcement does your Papa have for us tonight? Why such a fuss?” She glanced up at Tessa.
Tessa tried and failed to hide a smile. “Hold on to your purses, ladies. Mr. Joseph Chance is about to make a run for Parliament. Butshh. Please don’t let on that you know. He wished it to be a surprise.”
“Tessa! How exciting,” enthused Willow. “You’ll not manage to keep your parents away now. A son-in-law in Parliament? But I’m glad you told us. Naturally I assumed you would announce another baby on the way. My confused stare would hardly be the reaction Joseph expected.”
“Oh, well,” rambled Tessa, blushing just a little. She squeezed Christian until he squawked. “There isthatannouncement as well, but even Joseph does not know it. I was going to tell him tonight. After he’d had his moment crowing about the campaign.”
“Tessa!”said Sabine, leaping from her chair to hug her. Willow crowded in, forming a circle embrace of three laughing-crying women and a bucking toddler.
“But when will it come?” asked Sabine.
