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“I accept…Peregrine,” she replied, happiness surging in her chest.

However, before they could even appreciate their shared happiness, a groom from Ashbourne galloped toward them to hand a sealed letter to Peregrine. He frowned and hastily opened it.

“What is it?” Rosamund asked, her heart pounding.

“It is from Adrian,” Peregrine explained, his jaw clenching. “He has found Edmund Crowther. The man claims that he knows the secret your father spent Henry’s inheritance to protect. He wants to speak only to me, and he wants money for the truth.”

The mood quickly dampened in Rosewood’s gardens.

“He claims to have letters written by Eleanor Vale. He also has documents connected to your father’s payments.”

“I am coming with you,” Rosamund said.

“No,” Peregrine replied. “Crowther seems to be a hardened blackmailer. I do not know what else he is capable of. I cannot -”

Then, he stopped himself. Rosamund watched as awareness flashed in his eyes. He closed his eyes, and inhaled deeply as if steadying himself. Then, he opened his eyes once more to meet Rosamund’s questioning ones.

“I would prefer that you remain safely here, away from Crowther, but the choice is yours, Rosamund,” he said. “If you wish to be present, I will arrange it in such a way that Adrian and Miss Bellamy will accompany us.”

Peregrine’s effort to give her a chance to choose touched Rosamund. It was clear he fought his usual instincts.

“I am coming,” she said softly.

Two days later, they met Edmund Crowther at a solicitor’s office. Mr. Honeycutt’s office would serve to be some sort of neutral ground to ensure all parties would be safe. Alice waited in an adjoining room while Adrian remained with Rosamund and Peregrine. To prevent claims of impropriety, there were enough witnesses.

When Crowther finally entered the room, Rosamund could not help but be disappointed. The man was ordinary looking. She was expecting him to be obviously cruel, to look like a monster. Instead, they met a man who was polished and well--dressed with a neatly-trimmed beard. He looked like the merchant he claimed to be. It was clear, though, that he was a little resentful.

“Your Grace,’ Crowther greeted, giving a smooth bow before looking at Rosamund coldly. “Lady Rosamund. Your Grace.”

“Have a seat, Mr. Crowther,” Peregrine commanded. “You claim to possess some important information about Eleanor and Marian Vale, as well as the Earl of Ashbourne’s secrets. I will only pay you once I know what I am paying for.”

“As you know, my late wife was Marian Vale,” he said. “I thought she was Eleanor Vale’s daughter, but I was wrong. Before your mother ever met your father, the Earl of Ashbourne, she was unofficially engaged to another gentleman. It was an unsuitable match and her family was opposed to it. During this forbidden courtship, your mother found herself with child, and the child was Marian.”

Rosamund gasped aloud, her eyes widening. Her hand flew to her chest. Never in a thousand years would she have expected this.

“To save your mother from permanent ruin,” Mr. Crowther continued, ‘the child was delivered in secret and placed in the care of Eleanor Vale, who was her trusted childhood friend and companion. Eleanor raised Marian publicly as her daughter. Your mother went to make a brilliant match with the man who would become your father, Lady Rosamund.”

“Did my father know then?” Rosamund asked.

“Yes, he did. He learned the truth shortly before the wedding, but he loved her enough or was proud enough to marry her, anyway. However, he knew that exposure would not only destroy your mother socially but it would also cast doubt upon the legitimacy of any future children.”

Rosamund was still reeling from the revelation.

“For years, your father quietly provided for Eleanor and Marian. At first, the funds were voluntary. However, the circumstances soon changed. Eleanor became bitter that your mother enjoyed a respectable life while Marian remained hidden. She began demanding money. After she died, Marian discovered the truth herself. She did not know the value of the secret at first. But I knew.”

The unsaid was clear. Crowther had begun blackmailing the Earl of Ashbourne.

“You bastard,” Peregrine seethed.

“The Earl panicked. He had already exhausted his private accounts, supporting Eleanor and Marian. He did not have a choice but to start withdrawing from his very own son’s trust.”

Rosamund could not believe that what he knew about her father had become more complicated.

“Why have you come forward now?” Peregrine asked furiously.

“Marian died years ago, but I continued blackmailing the Earl until the money was gone and Lady Rosamund did not have the money I needed. I kept the documents, knowing that they will be valuable again someday. Now that I have seen that Your Grace and Lady Rosamund are constantly seen in the company of each other, I saw an opportunity.”

“Really?” Peregrine asked contemptuously.