A brief silence followed.
“You’re right,” Balak said.“We’ll keep looking.”
“It’s time to take a more direct approach,” Kaya said.“There’s a social on Friday night.We’re all attending.But first, Sophia, Abbye, and I are going to meet with the elder Mrs.Hildcrask for afternoon tea.”
“Why?”Balak asked.
“The Hildcrasks have maintained their place in Motan’s upper society for generations because they understand the food chain, and Konni just reminded everyone why the Steeles are nearly untouchable.Frances Hildcrask won’t let one rotten apple bring the family name to ruin.Not on her watch.”
Konni’s arms tightened around me.I held his gaze, watching his conflict play out in his expression.
“Is it wise to bring Sophia?”Balak asked.“Today is her first day back.How will it look if she’s already socializing?”
“Like I did nothing wrong,” I said firmly.“And it’ll show everyone I’m not an easy target.”
I saw the defeat in Konni’s gaze.
Frances Hildcrask,the matriarch of the extensive Hildcrask family, was already at a table when we arrived at Clay and Leaf.Her sharp gaze took us in as we approached.Mine was just as assessing, noting her trendy pantsuit and understated jewelry.Nothing flashy to show her status or wealth.Simply quiet refinement.
“Mrs.Steele,” she said.“Your unexpected invitation has me very curious, especially on the heels of recent, troubling news.I hope you won’t make me sit through an entire round of tea to discover what has turned the Steele eye in my direction.”
Kaya’s smile was genuine.“As always, I appreciate your forthright ways, Mrs.Hildcrask.It makes it much easier to know where I stand with the Hildcrasks.”
The older woman lightly snorted.“Stand with us?The Stonestocks are fools for publicly rejecting their association with you.If you’re concerned about that, I can assure you the Hildcrasks fully support the Steeles.We’re not fools.”
“Oh?I believe your grand-niece, Charlotte, might disagree.We have a reputable witness who says she helped Lianna Stonestock on several occasions.First to frame my future daughter-in-law for the Steele data leak, then to kidnap her.We believe Charlotte may have done even more to hurt Sophia and her mother, though.”
Kaya pushed the manila envelope on the table toward the older woman.
She opened it and scanned the documents we had regarding the transferred funds.
“A direct deposit into the account of the driver responsible for hitting Abbye Elmantas’s car.”Kaya indicated Mom.“And another deposit a few days before their home caught fire.It was on the news, if you recall.”
Frances lifted her gaze, her expression guarded.
“I do.It was all the news wanted to report for several days after.”
“Handing this over to the authorities is the last thing I want to do,” Kaya said in a friendly tone.“We’ve already given the media enough to report on, with the way my son likes to burn those who hurt his future mate, don’t you agree?”
Her mastery of reminding without threatening was applaudable.
“I agree and am grateful you came to me with this first.”
“Of course.Reasonable people respond reasonably.And you’re a reasonable person, Mrs.Hildcrask.Unfortunately, not everyone is.I had to cut ties with someone who was very close to me recently.I watched her grow up, but she crossed a line and needs to account for her actions.It’s very difficult to stand back and do nothing when someone you care about is in serious trouble.”
“I imagine so.”Frances’s keen gaze shifted to me.“You’re Sophia, Denis’s daughter?”
“I am,” I said.
“It’s terrible what men believe they have the right to do to women.I’m thankful you’re all right.”She paused for a moment, not looking away from me.“I heard you and your father are estranged.”
“We are, and I plan to keep it that way for the rest of my life.”
She nodded.“In a family as large as mine, we have a few dead branches too.It’s a pity.However, pruning a few branches keeps the tree healthy.We Hildcrasks have always been judicious pruners.”
Meeting Kaya’s gaze, she returned the documents.“Unlike you, I don’t have any difficulty standing back after I cut ties with someone.”
“I’m relieved to hear that, Mrs.Hildcrask.No one should have to suffer because of someone else’s mistakes.
