Page 366 of Hidden Depths

“He couldn’t,” Nathan said.

Pain entered her eyes.

“I was his daughter-in-law.”

“You were also Daniel’s wife.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

Nathan hesitated.

“James didn’t know who had betrayed him.”

Mom stepped away from him.

“You think he suspected Daniel?”

“No.”

“You just said⁠—”

“I said he didn’t know who had betrayed him. That isn’t the same as believing it was Daniel.”

“Then why keep this from me?”

“Because anything he told you, you would have told your husband.”

“Of course I would have.”

“And James knew it.”

Mom’s face crumpled.

Nathan reached for her.

She moved away.

“Don’t.”

“Elanore—”

“My father and my husband argued a week before Daniel died. James knew something, didn’t he?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’ve been keeping his secrets for almost three decades.”

“Not this one.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

Nathan absorbed the accusation.

He didn’t become angry.

He simply looked tired.

“I would never lie to you about Daniel.”