Page 72 of Sinful Persuasion of a Lady in the Making
“Yes, but I swear we didn’t know it at the time,” she said, her words tumbling out with urgency. “You’ve got to believe me, Sebastian. Had we known—”
“All right,” he said, taking her hand and looking into her eyes. All the panic in her dissipated, replaced by love and gratitude. “It’s all right. I believe you. So how did you find out?”
“Just before Luke and Alison married, our adoptive father was taken ill and died. But on his deathbed, he told us where to find our mother. One Lola Reynolds.”
“And she told you everything?” Jenny shook her head.
“No. Luke went in search of her, but she had long passed. Instead, he found her close friend and neighbor, Mrs. Mary White. Such a lovely lady. I visit her still, and Luke sends her parcels with foodstuffs and sometimes some cloth and other things. She explained everything to him—about Tina, about what she did and why. We have the same mother, you see, but our fathers… well, I don’t know mine, as you know, but her father married my mother.”
“I see,” Sebastian said. He leaned back on the bench and looked out over the long garden. Jenny continued to look at him for a moment, but then she followed suit.
Ahead, still scampering and romping, Gulliver chased butterflies and rolled across the muddy grass. To see something so sweet in the midst of something so terrible reminded her that perhaps the world was not so bad, after all.
“I can see why you think this letter may have come from your sister,” Sebastian said, not turning to look at her. “But you’re quite sure there are no other enemies to your family?”
“As sure as I can be,” Jenny said with a shrug. “If there are, they certainly have not made themselves known—other than the petty gossipers and rumor mongers, but this is too far even for them.”
Sebastian nodded. “And you’re quite sure you don’t want to involve Mr. Jones in this discussion?”
Jenny let her words dampen as her thoughts took over. Luke already had so much on his mind, and it had taken him and Alison so long to settle into their happy life together. This news would only serve to worry them.
“I’m sure,” she said after a while, her voice so soft it was barely there.
“In that case,” Sebastian said with a sigh. “Know this. I will always be here to help and protect you, Jenny. No matter what happens.”
Jenny took a deep and shuddering breath.
“I think we need to visit her. In the prison.”
“I think you might be right,” Sebastian said, reaching over and taking her hand in his. He squeezed it and in that, she felt his love wash through her.
“I need to know the truth,” she said. “And being able to ask her outright will—”
“I said I agree,” he said, chuckling at her reaction. “We’ll go tomorrow.”
