‘I cannot bear the suspense,’ said Freddie. To a stranger he might sound jovial and relaxed, but Tobias was familiar with his brothers now and knew that for Freddie to appear this way was costing him.
Mrs Wilmott glanced at Emily, who nodded back. The widow straightened, smoothing her hands over the thread she’d been tugging at. ‘I have some news to share with you all that may come as an unpleasant shock. It is better, I think, that I say it straight away.’ Tobias agreed with that and, if he’d been able to speak, would have pointed out that she was doing the exact opposite. ‘My sister…’ Mrs Wilmott cleared her throat. ‘My late sister was Clare Dashworth. She married Seb… Lord Sebastian three years before their deaths.’
The silence that followed her statement was absolute. Tobias had the strange sensation that the room was spinning slightly. The words sank in slowly as he stared at Mrs Wilmott. She tilted her head, looking directly at Lady Blackmore and not at anyone else.
If what this tiny woman was saying was true, then she would know everything about his brother’s last few years. She’d know if he hadbeen happy, if he had truly loved his wife, why he had not written to Tobias or any of his younger brothers. She might know how Sebastian had died, whether it had been quick or if he had been in pain or alone. Not knowing about those final moments haunted Tobias in the long, quiet hours of the night and now he might be able to get answers.
When no one spoke, Mrs Wilmott asked, ‘How is Charlotte?’ She was holding herself still, as if the matter was very important to her, and it hit Tobias that if this woman was not a charlatan, she had a claim on his beloved niece. Tobias would rather die than hand Charlotte over to anyone. Charlotte was the one person Tobias loved over all others. He cared about his brothers, of course he did, but it was different with his niece. She needed him, for him. Not because he was a duke or because he was rich. She loved him because Tobias was the closest thing she had to a father. Charlotte was his daughter as far as he was concerned. This Mrs Wilmott must be lying. It could not be true. There had been no sign of any of Charlotte’s other relations for years. Mrs Wilmott was only saying this now because… because… he could think of no reason, but the sentiment remained the same. Charlotte was a Dashworth. She would never be a Wilmott.
‘You cannot have her.’ The words were out of Tobias’ mouth before he had even registered thinking them. Normally speaking easily was something to be celebrated, but he could hardly be proud to have done so, given the shocked inhales that reverberated around the room.
Mrs Wilmott smiled thinly, regarding him much as one would an unwelcome slug. ‘I did not request that of you. I merely asked after my niece’s welfare.’
‘She is thriving. As she has done every day under our care.’
‘Excellent. I am very pleased to hear it. I have been worried.’
Tobias and his brothers had a man in America investigating Sebastian’s death, a Mr Hornel, Katherine’s brother. He had not mentioned Clare having a sister, but there did seem to be something amiss with Sebastian’s in-laws, which meant this stranger may be a threat despite her diminutive size. ‘So worried you have not been in her life for over two years.’
Mrs Wilmott’s eyes flashed with anger. He was quite sure she would have set him alight if she could, but she could not come in here making these outrageous claims and not expect him to point out the very obvious holes in her story.
‘I have my reasons for not being with Charlotte. But do not think, for one moment, that my heart has not hurt every single day with the loss of her.’
Grown men quailed when he glared at them, but Mrs Wilmott tilted her chin in his direction, as if she were a queen and he was less than a peasant. His own fury flared beneath his ribs. She couldn’t just turn up here and demand to be taken seriously, and if what she said was true, then he and his family would have to take her as a threat to Charlotte’s safety. ‘And we are to take your word that you are who you claim?’
A slight dip of her head, but her eyes still held his. ‘Not at all.’
‘Then you have some way of proving it all? Because I find it highly suspicious that the woman who tried to drown me two days ago is sitting in my home telling me that she is related to my brother.’
‘As I told you before, you pompous clodpate, I was saving you.’
Tobias ignored the gasps from around the room. ‘So you do have proof?’
She hesitated and a flare of triumph surged through him before he was hit with a sharp pang of disappointment.
‘The situation is delicate,’ she said slowly, her shoulders slumping. ‘I never thought I would need to confirm who I am.’
Over the course of his life, many people had come to Tobias wanting something. Some were subtle, some blatant. But claiming to be his dead brother’s sister-in-law was a new one. As he had no expectations with regard to her, the lead weight of disillusionment was surprising. ‘What is it that you want from us, Mrs Wilmott?’
The spark in her eyes flared back to life. ‘I want nothing from you.’ She turned so that she was facing his brothers, effectively dismissing him from the conversation, which did nothing to ease his simmering anger. ‘I have some of Sebastian’s personal belongings. He would want you to have them. I also have some of my sister’s things for Charlotte, but I was hoping to hold on to those until she is older so that I might explain their significance.’
Tobias had assumed everything personal of his brother’s had been lost, aside from Charlotte and her fortune. The idea that there were things out there, things his brother had touched, was almost too much to bear and yet he still did not truly believe her.
‘What do you have of Sebastian’s?’
Although he had asked the question, she addressed the answer to everyone else. ‘There is a chest, around this size.’ She held out her arms to demonstrate the length and width. Bigger than a small portmanteau but not as large as a desk. ‘It contains some ledgers, possibly a diary, although he did not strike me as someone who would keep one, and some unfinished letters.’
‘What do these letters say?’ Tobias was still asking the questions, but the stubborn miss was still not turning towards him.
‘I did not read them. They were personal and I am not in the habit of invading people’s personal lives.’ The implication was thathedid just that. But as he never had and never intended to do so, herecognised that it was a general jab at his ungentlemanly behaviour. Although he did not like to admit to being in the wrong, he wasn’t behaving at his best. If she was genuine, then he was being impossibly rude. In his defence, she was exceptionally provoking. ‘I can arrange for them to be delivered here at your earliest convenience.’
‘I will come with you now and collect them myself.’
At that, she turned to glare at him. ‘I understand that a man to whom I am not married, coming into my house, would cause an almighty scandal. I shall not subject myself to that.’
‘Quite right,’ said Emily, jumping into the conversation. ‘If it is acceptable to you, Kate, Sophia and I shall accompany you to your home and collect these belongings.’
‘Of course. I am ready to leave as soon as you are.’
