Winston shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “You know about Aunt Sarah?”
Elodie spoke up. “We have known for some time now, but what we don’t know is why no one will talk about it with us.”
“It is for your own safety,” Winston said.
“How so?” Elodie inquired.
Winston glanced at the footmen in the room and ordered, “Leave us.” If he was going to have this conversation, he wanted to do so in private.
After the footmen departed from the room, closing the door behind them, he turned his gaze back towards his sisters. “Aunt Sarah and her son are somewhere safe. That is all you need to know.”
“Why are they not residing with us?” Melody asked. “Would it not be safer than hiding out somewhere else?”
“Aunt Sarah was terribly abused by her husband, Isaac, and she only had the courage to leave when he turned his heavy hand on their son,” Winston informed them. “Since Father was estranged from his sister, we thought it would bebest to keep up the charade until Isaac no longer posed a threat.”
“How do you know that Aunt Sarah is safe?” Melody pressed.
Winston reached for his glass and took a sip. “A Bow Street Runner is ensuring her protection.”
Elodie’s eyes widened. “I have always wanted to meet a Bow Street Runner. Just think of the stories they could share.”
“You are not going to meet this particular Bow Street Runner,” Winston said. “He is remaining close to Aunt Sarah for the time being.”
Melody grew solemn. “What can we do?”
“For now, just go on as normal, and with any hope, Isaac will not dare attempt to approach Father about his wife’s whereabouts,” Winston responded.
“Do you think that is likely?” Melody prodded.
Winston grimaced. He didn’t want to worry his sisters, but he didn’t want to lie to them either. He felt that they deserved the truth. “No, I do not,” he admitted. “I think it is only a matter of time before Isaac shows up on our doorstep.”
Elodie held up a knife in the air. “Then we shall fight to protect our own!” she exclaimed with dramatic flair.
“That is wholly unnecessary,” Winston said with a shake of his head. “We will just inform Isaac that we do not know where Aunt Sarah is, and he will leave.”
“And if he doesn’t leave, then we fight!” Elodie declared.
Winston glanced skyward in exasperation. “Good gads, there will be no fighting, at least not with knives. We can solve this problem with our words.”
Melody laughed. “Elodie is always looking for a fight.”
Placing the knife down, Elodie said, “But Isaac stands to lose out on Aunt Sarah’s inheritance if he doesn’t find her. That is the motivation for him not to leave quietly.”
Winston groaned. “How did you know about Aunt Sarah’sinheritance?”
Not looking the least bit ashamed, Elodie replied, “You might want to close the doors when you speak to Father.”
“Eavesdropping is a terrible habit to have,” Winston chided, giving his sister a stern look. “But Elodie is correct. Aunt Sarah is to receive one hundred pounds per annum. In order for Isaac to collect the money, he must have his wife present. Uncle Richard stipulated that requirement in his will.”
“Do you think Uncle Richard knew Isaac was hurting Aunt Sarah?” Melody asked.
“I don’t know, considering Father had no idea,” Winston said. “He hadn’t spoken to his sister since she had eloped to Gretna Green with Isaac.”
Elodie lifted her brow. “When do you think we can meet Aunt Sarah and our cousin?”
“Not until this is all over,” Winston replied.
As he uttered his words, his mother stepped into the room and announced, “I am calling a family meeting.”
