Adrian sighed. “I know we haven’t spoken about this, and I promise I won’t make you talk about it ever again, if you don’t want to, but can you tell me how long you were there? Were you somewhere else before you came there?”
“No,” Gabriel said slowly, his eyes welling with tears. “I always lived there, Papa. Until that night you found me.”
“Do you ever remember seeing a little girl your age there? When you were very young?” Adrian asked, his voice breaking a bit.
“I was the only one who lived there since I was a baby,” the boy said. “Others, they came and went, but I always stayed.”
“Thank you,” Adrian said softly, pulling the boy into his arms and giving Luke a subtle shake of his head. He wasn’t going to ask the boy any more questions, and Luke didn’t blame him.
“Thank you,” Luke mouthed, going back out into the hallway, struggling not to give in to his despair. They’d barely started their search. No reason to give up yet. He would get a list of names of everyone who’d had anything to do with that place from his brother, and then he would go find every single one of them and question them until he found the answers he needed.
* * *
SERENITY COULD NOTbelieve the outpouring of support and friendship that Vanessa Strathmore gave her. Once her tears had somewhat subsided, the two women moved to the sofa and Vanessa called for tea while Serenity found herself pouring out the entire story, from her first meeting with Luke to how she’d run away in Dover.
Vanessa listened intently, her lovely face open and expressive, with no hint of the disgust she certainly must be feeling. How could a woman like Vanessa, a lady, ever understand the things Serenity had been through?
When Serenity had finished, she sat back, feeling emotionally drained. “I am so sorry,” she told Vanessa softly. “I don’t even know you. I don’t understand why I’ve told you all of this. You’re married to the brother of an earl. You shouldn’t even be forced to allow one such as me in your home.”
“Oh, Serenity,” Vanessa murmured, reaching across the space between them and squeezing her hand. “You have nothing to apologize for. And please, don’t think of me that way, as one of those high society women who would look down on a woman who was once a young girl in love and made a mistake. Besides, a month ago, I was an actress, so I’m not invited into those sacred parlors either.”
Surprised by the admission, Serenity reached for the handkerchief Vanessa had provided her and blew noisily, choking back a pained laugh. “I am so very glad I met you, Vanessa.”
Vanessa squeezed her hand once more. “Not very long ago, I was in dire need of a friend myself, and Morgan’s wife, Anne, showed me such kindness.” She sighed and blinked away her own rush of tears. “I still miss her so much, so I am very glad to have met you as well.”
Before Serenity could say anything else, she was distracted by Luke and Adrian’s return. By the grim looks on their faces, she knew the news wasn’t good, but she had to ask anyway. “Did Gabriel remember anything?”
Luke shook his head. “No, he doesn’t remember any other child being raised in that place, nor any girl his age.”
“I’m so sorry,” Adrian told her. “I would have pressed him more, but I honestly believe he doesn’t have any memories that can help us.”
Serenity bit her lip, determined not to give into a fresh wave of tears. She’d cried enough for one day. “Thank you for trying. I know it couldn’t have been easy for you, to have had to bring all those terrible memories back for him.” She would not think of her own daughter growing up in such a place. She would not!
Vanessa’s grip on Serenity’s hand grew almost painful, and she realized that although her new friend had been so supportive, she’d been very worried about her son.
“So, what do we do now?” Serenity managed to ask.
Adrian turned to Luke. “I know where to start. We can leave now, if you wish.”
Luke gave his brother a grateful look, then did his best to smile reassuringly at Serenity. “I’ll have our coach take you home. Get some rest. I don’t know when I’ll return.”
Home. The word shook her. Of course, he didn’t mean that it washerhome, too, but for a moment, it had seemed almost as though she were truly a part of his life.
She nodded abruptly and got to her feet. “Thank you so much for all your help,” she told Adrian and Vanessa. “I appreciate it more than you will ever know.”
Vanessa stood as well and embraced her lightly. “I think we’re going to be great friends, Serenity. Let’s get together again soon.”
“Thank you,” Serenity whispered. “I would like that very much.” She’d been so isolated her entire life, in one or another, that she’d had very few opportunities to form close friendships. In fact, Luke had always been her best and only friend.
With his hand at the small of her back, Luke escorted her outside and saw her safely in the carriage. Before he shut the door, he leaned forward and caught her lips in a swift, passionate kiss.
Surprised, she remained passive for a moment, then she twisted her hands in his silky hair and kissed him back, putting all her pain, sorrow, trust, and hope into it.
When he drew back, the hint of a smile danced in his blue eyes. “Thank you. I needed that.”
“I needed it, too,” she whispered, as he shut the door and strode away.
