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My gaze dropped to the piece of jewelry in question, its small red stones circling a larger, oval ruby, and I shook my head. I must have been obvious in my fidgeting if he was going to make such a connection. “It was my mother’s.” I lifted my hand and showed it to Benedict. “I find myself fidgeting with it when I think of her.”
He picked up my fingers and brought the ring closer to look at it better, his gentle touch tenderly holding my hand.
“It does not carry much value,” I explained, “except in its meaning to me.”
It was one of the few things I took from Mother’s trunks when I left Vienna to return to England. It reminded me of watching her prepare for dinner parties and scheming of when we could do so together, of a mother who adored me, despite the choices she had made that I disagreed with. A mother who told me fanciful fairy stories and brushed my cheeks with rouge when I was sad I could not attend balls with her. A mother who made mistakes but did not love me any less for the way my father treated her.
“I can see why this ring means a great deal to you,” he murmured.
“It does. It is one of the last connections I have to my mother.” I pushed out a breath and looked to the letter in my lap again. “Mrs. Richter is another connection, of course.”
“The news she bears,” he said gently, his fingers wrapping more firmly around mine and lowering them onto his knee. “It is terrible? You needn’t share it if you don’t wish to.”
My mind understood the words he spoke, but my heart was focused on my dainty hand wrapped in Benedict’s large and capable one, nestled in warmth on his leg as he cradled it with care. It startled me back to the present, banishing memories of Vienna and Sweden and bringing my attention back to the second letter in my hand—the one from my father.
“Mrs. Richter found my father’s will secreted away in the writing table my mother used when we lived at her house.”
“Did he not have one—”
“It is a more recent will, created after the one that was read to us upon his death. Evidently, he used a different solicitor and supplied him with an explanatory letter to have delivered to me upon the reading of the will. But it was never done, because we wrote to Father’s original solicitor when he died, and his first will was carried out.”
Benedict bent forward a little, beseeching me to look at him. “It could not be all bad then? Perhaps it is very nearly the same.”
“Mrs. Richter read a copy of the will, Ben. My inheritance has been divided, whatever that means.”
He swallowed, his hand tightening softly over mine. “Oh, I see.” He hesitated. “I can leave you to read your father’s letter.”
My fingers wrapped more firmly around his, an impulse I did not regret in the moment. “Please stay.”
Twice now I had entreated him, lowered my defenses and asked for something from Benedict, and it had not had the adverse effect I’d expected.
Benedict reconfigured his hold on my hand to be more comfortable, lacing our fingers together. I ran my finger beneath my father’s seal, unfolded the letter on my lap using my free hand, and read.
Darling daughter—
It brings me sorrow to write this, for if you are reading it, that means I am dead. A bitter thought, that. I do not like the idea of leaving you on this earth without a protector, though I do not doubt your mother’s abilities, and I am certain she will remarry swiftly.
I will not leave you in further suspense, for I am certain you will be wondering at the secrecy of my methods, but I had to leave the letter with my solicitor or I feared it would never reach you, dearest. You see, I have a son. He was blessed with your same blue eyes and dark hair, and you will recognize the familial resemblance immediately, I dare say. I loved him the moment I saw him. He will undoubtedly be carried into a scandalous light once he receives his inheritance and my transgressions are revealed, but I know I can count on you to steer him through Society and be the family for him that I cannot be.
I would have liked to do so myself, but if you are reading this, then it has fallen on your capable shoulders.
You cannot know how much I love you, and I hope you will one day come to forgive me. You see, I could not abide the thought of leaving either of my posterity without a piece of my fortune. I do hope that, though it has been halved—
“Halved?” I all but shouted, startling Benedict into tightening his hold on my hand.
“What—”
“Shhh,” I admonished him, and continued to read.
—you will find your inheritance to be hefty enough to satisfy future suitors. You are a darling girl, and I am convinced you will not struggle to find a decent match when you come of age.
All my love,
Father
I lowered the paper and looked to Benedict. “I’ve a brother.”
“A brother?” he repeated, appropriately surprised.
