The compassionate understanding in her voice made Rose’s chest ache. She’d expected anger, or at least coldness. Not this soft wisdom from someone who had every right to hate the Wentworth name.
“My whole life he lied to me,” Rose said. “He took my mother from me. And your father from you. It’s all too cruel to comprehend.”
“I don’t suppose we’ll ever truly understand why he did what he did,” James said gently.
Sophia nodded, her shoulders relaxing somewhat. “James told me you helped uncover the truth. That you chose to believe Sebastian even when it meant facing painful things about your father.”
“It was quite clear he was right about everything.”
“But it couldn’t have been easy.” Sophia looked directly at Rose, and there was something wise and knowing in her young face. “I believe you must be very courageous indeed.”
Rose felt a kindred spirit in Sophia. “I have not felt courageous.Mostly frightened. I should have had more faith that good would eventually triumph.”
Sophia smiled, shaking her head slightly. “It is hard to have faith when everything is difficult. I must acknowledge it is strange, given everything that’s happened between our families, that we are to be sisters. But as I told Sebastian in my letter, our best revenge against the evil done to us is to live fully and to love unabashedly.” She paused, studying Rose. “You’re even lovelier than my brother described. He said you possessed the perfect name to describe your beauty, and I have to agree.”
Rose felt her cheeks warm with pleasure. “You’re very kind to say so. You are as exquisite as Sebastian said you were.”
“If Sebastian was willing to let go of his desire for revenge, then he must truly love you. It has been the only emotion driving him for twelve years. To think that it’s all ended with love is quite remarkable, is it not? One might say a miracle, even.” Sophia leaned forward slightly, her earlier shyness transformed into earnest enthusiasm. “Your home is absolutely magnificent.” Sophia glanced around the drawing room with what appeared to be genuine appreciation.
“Thank you. Now that I’ve inherited everything, your brother and I plan to make many changes.” Rose glanced at Sebastian with a smile. “It might take some time but we intend to bring respect back to the estate.”
Sophia’s eyes lit up. “My brother is immensely clever, so I believe you’ll be successful in no time at all. What will happen to the staff?”
“The staff will all stay, of course,” Rose said. “Most of them have been here for years. They’re family to me. The only family I’ve ever had.”
Sophia’s expression grew thoughtful. “Family is everything.”
Rose nodded, understanding passing between them. The shadow of her father’s crimes would always be part of their history, but it need not define their future. Together, they could build something beautiful from the ashes of the past.
*
The eve ofher wedding had arrived, and Rose sat in her childhood bedchamber, brushing her hair in the lamplight. Tomorrow she would marry Sebastian, and surprisingly, she felt calm. When one was marrying one’s soulmate, there was little to fear.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
“Come in,” she called.
Mrs. Blythe entered, followed by Prudence, who was practically vibrating with excitement. The housekeeper carried something wrapped in tissue paper, handling it as carefully as spun glass.
“We have something for you, Lady Rose,” Mrs. Blythe said, her voice unusually thick.
Rose set down her brush, curiosity piqued. “How kind. I can hardly wait to see what it is.”
Mrs. Blythe placed the bundle on the bed and stepped back. Prudence bounced on her toes, hands clasped behind her back like a child with a secret.
Rose carefully unwrapped the tissue to reveal a wedding veil, delicate and trimmed with lace. Her breath caught. “It’s beautiful. Did you make this?”
“I did the sewing,” Prudence said, then bit her lip. “But the fabric… well, you might recognize it.”
Rose lifted the veil, and something about the fabric’s weight and texture made her heart skip. “Is it from Sebastian’s handkerchiefs? This is what you wanted them for?” Prudence had asked for them a week or so ago. Rose had not thought much of it, figuring she was merely going to wash them for her. “How clever you are.”
“I thought it would be a reminder of how hard you fought for love.” Prudence grinned and bounced once again on her toes, making her seem very young for a moment.
“At the time, I knew I shouldn’t keep them, but they were all Ithought I’d ever have of him.” Rose brushed her thumb against the lace.
“Dear Lady Rose,” Mrs. Blythe said, her eyes growing bright. “There’s nothing wrong with holding onto love, even when it seems impossible.”
“My tears are still in these fibers. All those nights I cried into them.”
