Sitting back in his seat, her uncle shifted his gaze to Edwina. “Catherine is right. I do owe Edwina an apology, and it is long overdue.”
Her uncle rose from his seat and came around his desk. He continued. “It is because of you that we learned of Mr. Stanley’s treachery. Bennett told me what you did,” he hesitated as he shifted his gaze to Miles, “what you both did. And it was nothing short of miraculous.”
Edwina shifted in her stance, uncomfortable with the praise. “I didn’t do much,” she said.
Lifting his brow, her uncle remarked, “You saved this family from possible ruination. Your contribution cannot be understated.”
“Thank you,” Edwina murmured.
Her uncle sighed. “We have a problem though. Catherine told me that I have been doing a terrible job of being your guardian- and uncle. For that, I am truly, and utterly, sorry. But every time I gaze upon you, I see my brother inside of you and the grief washes over me. It is no excuse for mybehavior, though.” He closed his eyes, his voice betraying his emotions.
Edwina could hear the pain in his words and she knew he was in earnest. “I understand,” she said.
Her uncle’s eyes opened and they held a deep sorrow. “I promise that I will strive to be better with each passing day.”
“I forgive you, Uncle. I just wish we could return to the easy relationship that we once had,” Edwina remarked.
“As do I,” her uncle said. “You are as kind and generous as your father was. I have never met a more genuine person. He would be proud of you. Just as Catherine and I are proud of you.”
At the mention of her father, she felt tears form in her eyes and she started blinking them back. Miles gently placed a hand on the small of her back, providing her with immense comfort.
Bennett spoke up, drawing their attention. “Father and I have decided that we will work together to make our estate even more profitable.”
“What of the village?” Edwina asked.
“We will ensure they receive what we promised, and our tenants will be given the needed repairs to their cottages,” Bennett replied.
Winston stepped forward and said, “You might want to start with the vicar. Miss Bawden mentioned he was thinking about switching parishes due to the lack of funding.”
Bennett tipped his head. “We will go speak to him at once and make it right.”
Her uncle moved to stand by his wife. “We do have another problem that we need to address immediately,” he stated. “I am grateful that Bennett brought it to my attention and I feel as if I must rectify the situation at once.”
As her uncle reached for his wife’s hand, he shared, “I understand that you saw something that you were not supposed to see… at least for now.” He sighed. “But I cannot have you think the worst of me since I love Catherine with my whole heart.”
“I love you, too,” her aunt stated.
Her uncle offered his wife a private smile before saying, “The woman at the cottage is actually my sister. We have not spoken since she eloped with a man that was well below her station. She came to me a few weeks ago, battered and bruised, looking for a place to hide from her husband.” He let out a heavy sigh before revealing, “Sarah could endure the beatings, but when her husband turned his hand on their son, she turned to me for help.”
Her aunt interjected, “You must understand that no one can know Sarah is here. If her husband ever found out, it would be within his rights to take them away.”
Winston crossed his arms over his chest. “You have enough influence in Parliament that we might be able to petition for a divorce.”
“I doubt that,” her uncle said. “Divorces are so rarely granted, and my sister made her choice many years ago, much to the disappointment of our whole family.”
“We can still try,” Winston pressed.
Her uncle bobbed his head. “Perhaps, but for now, we must go on pretending as if Sarah is not here. And I will be much more cautious when I go to visit with her and my nephew.”
Edwina felt immense relief from her uncle’s words, knowing she had thought the worst and had been wrong. The weight she had been carrying seemed to dissipate, making her shoulders seem lighter.
Bennett picked up the ledger and said, “We have one more thing to discuss with Edwina and then we can adjourn for breakfast.”
Giving him an expectant look, Edwina waited for her cousin to continue.
“It is the matter of your inheritance,” Bennett remarked.
Her uncle offered her an apologetic look. “Mr. Stanley has stolen a great deal of money from that account and I was foolish enough to believe his explanation for it. I had hoped to honor my brother’s wishes but I knew that would take time. Which is why I never mentioned your inheritance. My plan was to turn the money over to you once you reached your majority,” he said. “However, now that you do know, I promise that you will receive every pound you are entitled to. It just might take some time.”
