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The man of blood had become the man of peace?

And one day Hugo asked Étienne for all the information he had on Romy.

“It’s not that I—can ever hope for a second chance,” he said. “There are some things—I had to do—that are heavy on my conscience. I just want to ask her forgiveness for them.”

His dark eyes were haunted, and I had to bite my tongue not to ask what my gentle, kind brother-in-law possibly could have done to merit the guilt he carried?

But it was not my story to pry into. When he wanted to share, he would.

“And you’re coming with me, idiot,” Hugo told Mano, who only shrugged but didn’t complain.

What would both of them look like when they came back?

“What do you think?” I asked Tilly one day as we shelled peas. “You saw his cruelty to Hugo for years. Could a man such as he ever be redeemed?”

She hesitated, fixing her eyes on her work.

“Étienne—he has never been a moral man. He has always had tunnel vision for whatever he wanted, and the consequences be damned.”

My throat seemed to close. What had he done? What I heard next might determine my forgiveness.

If he had harmed—abused—Hugo⁠—

“Mme—she was the one who first imprisoned Hugo. She was the one who convinced Étienne to keep him there—and⁠—”

Her throat seemed to convulse and she swallowed very hard.

“I should have done more. I should have tried to get Hugo out of there long before. I felt trapped, feared the power of the Bastide family. But some of the things they did to him⁠—”

I waited.

“You did get him out,” I said gently. “I know he doesn’t resent you. But—what things did they do to him?”

“There was one time—Hugo refused to do something for his Mme, and she asked Étienne to make him do it. Your husband refused, point-blank. Said it was small prick behavior to hit his brother over that.”

I felt a tiny flicker of hope, almost swamped amidst my sorrow for what Hugo had endured.

“After Étienne was gone—Mme called Mano over—got him to do it.”

Tilly turned her head. “Hugo—you know how he is—he held out as long as he could. But at last he was forced to give in. It was around the time of your wedding, so your Mme knew Étienne would not be there to check on his brother. You know, as much as she favored Étienne there were times I thought—she secretly wanted Mano in charge. He was much more suggestible, more willing to do whatever she wanted.”

It was a relief to know my husband had refused to torture Hugo, but what about my sweet, intellectual brother-in-law? Was he safe with Mano? What had it cost Hugo to kill his own mother, even if she was his tormentor?

I had tried not to worry over Hugo’s trip, not to pester him with texts, but I couldn’t resist checking in.

How are you doing <3

Ciel and I love you so much <3

everyone misses you here <3

I got a response almost immediately, rapid fire texts one after the other.

Love you too, Léonie.

Kiss Ciel for me and give my love to everyone.

Don’t worry, but something bad has happened.