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‘I thought they were safe. I truly thought they were.’ She wrapped her arms about her waist, hating that Egbert had practised one last deceit on her. ‘I stored everything that was precious to me in that cavity. It was surrounded by stone and I thought if the worst happened and we burned to the ground... It was all in vain.’
‘Who else knew?’ His hard voice broke through her misery. ‘Who else knew about the cavity? Were you the only one? Did you have help to fill it?’
‘I presume Egbert must have known. My father made sure he knew all of the hall’s secrets. But I never moved anything in there until after he left.’ She put her hand to her head, trying to think. ‘It was something passed from father to son. My father only told me because he had no son.’
‘It is a mystery then, but I will swear wherever you want that the cavity only held that cup when I first opened it.’
‘He could have returned,’ Edith said slowly. ‘It is unlikely, but it could have happened. About a week after Egbert left, Godwin told me his story about bad men coming through the tunnel. I thought it was a story, but I did arrange for that tunnel to be blocked.’
‘Godwin sees much. You should have checked your hidden wealth at the time.’
She sank down on a stone bench. ‘It is not so much the wealth, but the sentiment. The jewellery belonged to my mother and her mother before that, going back generations. It was my link to the past. It was one of the reasons I refused to give them to Egbert. I wish I had something, no matter how small.’
He dug his hand into his pouch and held out the circlet of keys. ‘I wronged you before. You should wear these while you remain here. You are far better at looking after this house than I could ever be.’
Edith stared at the circlet without taking them. He was returning them to her. He might never marry her, but he was allowing her to be in charge. Would he do that if he knew where she’d been? ‘My mother always held the keys.’
‘Take them.’ He placed them in her palm. ‘Unless there is some reason you can’t.’
She traced the emblem of the running hare that adorned the circlet, torn. She couldn’t confess now. She’d give Athelstan more time to recover. It was what her mother would have done. ‘You can see my mother’s crest. I should give you back the keys.’
‘I trust you, Edith.’
Edith swallowed hard. ‘I will endeavour to live up to that trust.’
‘Good. Don’t disappear on me again. Tell me when you go. I worried.’
‘How did you guess I was coming back?’
‘You’d never leave Hilda to face my wrath. She doesn’t deserve you as a cousin, but you’re loyal.’
‘You’re right.’ Edith closed her hand about the keys. ‘I’d never leave her to face you alone.’
Her throat worked up and down as she traced the lines of the hare. She conjured up an early memory of her mother wearing the hare and confiding that seeing a hare always meant that good fortune was sure to follow. Finally everything would work out. She could do her duty and find a measure of happiness.
‘Thank you,’ she whispered finally, knowing the words were inadequate.
‘My pleasure.’ He took a step closer to her. ‘I do want to give you pleasure, Edith. Remember that.’
She glanced about the stone room, suddenly aware of what her mother might have thought about her being here. ‘I should go. There will be things that need to be done. Not the least of which is putting the cup back where it belongs. You needn’t worry. I won’t take it again without your leave. I’m no thief.’
He put his hands at her waist and gently undid her belt, taking off the pouch that held the cup. He laid it on a bench. ‘I will keep it safe for now. When you require it, you may have it back. I hope you trust me like I trust you.’
A single tear trickled down her face. She’d been angry with him and now he had done the most unexpected thing—he’d given her back some of her heritage. He wasn’t seeking to have everything.
‘They were part of my dowry. They were what I had left of her. That and my mirror.’ She brushed the tears away with impatient fingers. ‘You must not mind me. I’m obviously overtired. There is so much to be done as well. This time of year is busy. I’ve taken too much time for myself today.’
He pulled her to him. His hand tangled in her hair, gently pulling out the pins until it tumbled down about her shoulder. ‘Not too tired, I hope?’
