Lady Redgate nodded at the gesture. “He saw you at the markets, as he saw your pendant. The ruby jewel at its center is the emblem of House Redgate, and when I was told that you wore it…” She chuckled. “How you refused to sell it, I knew as I knew the sun would rise the following day and spread its light across this world. I knew I had found who I searched for.”
Octavia no longer tried to hold back her tears. She no longer tried to push down those feelings of hope that threatened to explode. Lady Redgate took her hand again, she looked into her eyes, and in her kindly stare, Octavia saw the truth of her words. Shefeltthem like a fire growing in the depths of winter, beating back the cold, saving her soul as it so desperately needed to be saved.
Even the name, Redgate. She might have laughed to realize now that she had always known that word. Her mother had told itto her, and she and Henry had used it as a secret code, never knowing its origin.
The room turned. Octavia swayed. Tears flowed. Her heart exploded. And just like that, she felt something that she had not dared to in years, always fearful of its appearance, never imagining it might save her. It was hope.
“You’re my granddaughter, Octavia,” Lady Redgate said softly. “My daughter, Amelia, was your mother. You are of my blood, the heir to Redgate. Finally, you are home.”
Without another word, knowing the moment was right, Octavia threw her arms around Lady Redgate. The elderly woman accepted the hug, embraced her fully, and for a moment they simply held one another.
Their bodies shook from their tears. Octavia shut her eyes, letting the hope take her fully. She did not know this woman, but she felt as if she had all her life. Nothing had ever felt so right before.
“What… what now?” Octavia asked when she pulled away, beaming, wiping the tears from her face. “I do not… this is all…”
Lady Redgate continued to smile. “You might have noticed that those men who you owed money to have been silent of late.”
“Oh.” Octavia blinked as she considered.
This was true; Marcus and his bullboys had not harassed her since she started working for the duke. But she had assumed that was simply because of where she was staying, that even they would not dare try to accost her in a place like this.
“Your debts have been paid off,” she said. “All of them. You no longer need to work as a governess. You no longer need to worry about where your next meal might come from or where you will wake up a month from now. You are a baroness, Octavia. That is what happens now.”
“I don’t…” She was speechless.
“We can speak of the future later,” Lady Redgate said. “For now, I just want to look upon the face of my granddaughter. You look so much like your mother, Octavia.” She sniffed back more tears. “I cannot believe I have found you.”
“Oh!” Octavia started. “Henry. You must meet Henry.”
“Henry…” Lady Redgate looked delighted. “Is he here? I would love to.”
Unbound amounts of energy swept through Octavia, and she jumped to her feet. “Wait right here, I will fetch him.” She rushed across the room and paused at the door so she could look back at her grandmother. “I am so happy you found us. I… I cannot believe it.”
“Me too, dear,” she said. “Me too.”
Octavia smiled before hurrying from the room. Her mind was addled; confusion and disbelief washed over her. Each step taken felt as if she might start to float, and she simply could not stop smiling.
This was her dream… no, not even that. So impossible was this situation that she could not have even dreamed of it happening. But it was happening, it was real, and suddenly the world did not seem like quite a terrible place anymore.
“Miss Finch!” The Duke stood down the hallway, waiting for her. “What did she…” He trailed off when he noticed her tears, and his expression hardened. “What happened? What did she do?”
“Your Grace!” Octavia swept to him, taken by a sudden urge to hug the Duke. She withheld that urge, but her body shook so she could not stand still. “It is… I do not know how to explain.”
“Are you hurt?” he asked with concern.
“What? No,” she laughed. “I will explain later. Please, I must find Henry.”
“What for –”
She rushed past the Duke, hardly able to consider how strangely she was behaving. But that did not matter. All would be revealed soon, and she was excited by how the Duke might react…a thought for later.
Octavia found Henry a few moments later outside. He played with Aaron, and she had to practically drag him inside. He appeared concerned, no doubt, but she assured him all would be well.
It was when she introduced Henry to Lady Redgate that Octavia finally broke. She watched Lady Redgate explain who she was; she saw the way that Henry slowly came to accept her words, daring to smile, daring to believe. And when they hugged… that was when Octavia burst into tears that she let flow fully and freely.
A few moments later, the Duke came to see what was going on. He was just as surprised as Octavia had been, and he sat down, his eyes wide, his mouth hanging open as it settled on his shoulders.
“It is wonderful, no?” Octavia said to him as she watched Henry laughing at something Lady Redgate said.
