An action that made me think he, too, had once rifled through Grandfather’s desk. More than once.
“Edward, we shouldn’t—” I began, but he waved me off, his focus unwavering as he finally produced the flint and steel.
His fingers worked quickly, striking the flint with a grating sound. Sparks flew, illuminating his determined face when the flame caught on the wick. A warm glow returned to the room as he held the candle aloft.
“Now, what did you find?” he asked as he turned his attention back to me, the flickering candle casting grotesque shadows of the two of us against the wall.
I retrieved the missives regarding indigo and our parents’ fates and held them out to him. He snatched the three letters and devoured the contents.
His distraction gave me a few moments to study him. He wore his elegant evening wear as usual, but curious splotches of filth coated the bottom of his pants and he carried a cane with a wicked silver wolf’s head, the snarling snout pointed enough to cause damage if it struck someone.
“Since when do you carry a cane? Edward, tell me you were not carousing late at night yet again. Surely you didn’t take Sebastian with you.”
He seemed lost in the letters, holding one then the other to the wavering light while shaking his head. “No, Kit, your intended is far too good a man to enjoy the nightlife of London. Rest assured, he is a perfect gentleman in all the ways that count. As for canes, they provide wonderful protection at the clubs.”
“You cannot hide your pain in drink ... and ...” Words failed me, for I didn’t want to know entirely what he did with his evenings before slinking back so late into our house.
A devilish grin curved his lips. “Oh, do finish, Sister.” Then his expression turned bleak as he folded the letters and slid them into his coat pocket.
“You realize Freddy worries for you as I do.”
His mouth pinched further but he made no reply.
I looked over my shoulder, trying to peer into the gloomy hallway. “Shouldn’t we return the missives? What if Grandfather discovers them missing?”
Edward moved with unhurried precision and crossed to the door to listen for movement before shutting it partway. “He won’t,” he said at last. “I’ll return them. The latest correspondence has stirred him to reorganize his papers. I have not encountered these before. Have no fear, Kit. But it is intriguing news on all accounts, and I want to verify all of it.”
“Who will verify it? Edward, our mother must be alive! We must reach her. Does this not align with the previous missive I told you about months ago?”
His beaver hat cast a shadow on the sharp planes of his face. “For whatever reason, Grandfather kept the truth from us all these years. I shall sort this out.”
A shiver rippled through me. “What would cause hallucinations? A fever? Perhaps the officials made a mistake.”
“It could have been poison,” my brother mused as he studied the paper. “Datura, for example. The thorn apple, which grows plenty in India.”
I folded my arms across my chest, thoroughly chilled.
He pierced me with a pointed look. “There are reasons we are forbidden to go back to India. Don’t go probing in Grandfather’s study again. You may not like the answers you find.”
“I dislike being kept in the dark with so many secrets,” I kept my voice to a whisper, even though I longed to shout.
“You really do not know what the world outside is like.” How weary he sounded. “I hate that he kept you isolated, but at least you did not have to endure what I did at Eton and Cambridge. Always on the outside, never fitting in due to our heritage, allowed to attend only because of the Grenville purse. We were the children of royalty in India. Here? What are we?”
My skin pebbled at his banked rage. “You seem to have friends enough.”
“Are they?” he challenged. “At any rate, I’m good enough to borrow pounds from to satisfy any gambling debts.”
“Edward!” I did not care for this admission of my brother playing the role of a moneylender.
He arched a black brow. “Enough about my sins. I have my reasons for them. Whatever made you decide to rifle through his things tonight?”
“I overheard Aunt challenge him several weeks ago regarding my impending wedding. She, too, was surprised to hear of my engagement with Sebastian. She said something very curious about Father and warned him never to allow me to return to India.”
I hesitated, my throat tightening. “Ever since I found that letter from Hyderabad—the one Grandfather refused to let me read—I’ve had reason to doubt him. I had to know the truth for myself. So yes, I’ve written to Hyderabad more than once. I cannot rest until I know our mother is safe.”
“Oh, Kit, however did you sneak your letters out of this house?” Edward held up a warning finger. “Don’t tell me. I’d rather not know the answer. You are determined to hurt yourself, aren’t you?”
“I want the truth of why Grandfather forbade us to contact our mother. Sebastian doesn’t carry your fear. He mailed my latest letters for me.”
