Page 22 of Once Upon a Winter's Tale
“Your father spent a lot of time designing this space. His aunt Tricia had a round study here with bookshelves, but always wished it was bigger and held more books. He thought redesigning it with her in mind would honor her memory,” Mother murmured.
A knock at the door sounded, and a footman brought in the tray of tea.
“I will handle it from here,” the duchess offered. With a polite bow, the footman left the room.
“All right, can someone tell me what urgent matter caused this visit?” Albert looked at his mother.
“Well, darling,” she said, setting down the teapot and taking her seat. “I have a few things you might have needed to know before you left.” She trimmed off a piece of sugar and stirred her cup before taking a sip.
Both men looked at her expectantly.
“Mother, you never even discussed this on the way here, despite your insistence on coming. I find myself as anxious to hear as Albert,” Roger prodded.
“Well,” she said, setting down her cup. “Have you met my dear friend, Lady Thomas?”
Alfred nodded. “Your friend? What would one of your friends be doing living here, Mother? It seems highly unusual.”
“Thomas was her maiden name. She reclaimed her title as the daughter of Earl Linville Thomas. It was your father’s idea. She needed to remain hidden until they could sort things out. Her married name was…isthe Lady Wharton, as in Countess Wharton. And her daughter is the daughter once declared dead by the earl, Lady Brianna Phillips.”
“Phew!” Roger remarked, leaning back in the seat. “I wouldn’t have wanted to miss this.” He looked straight at his brother. “Have you met Lady Brianna?”
Albert pushed back and stood, pouring himself a brandy. “Mother, Roger? Can I offer either of you one?”
“I might like a sherry, my dear. My nerves are rattling, just discussing this again. Before you left, I should have told you. But when I went to find you, you had gone.”
He handed his mother a sherry and poured his brother two fingers of brandy, before replenishing his own glass and taking his seat. “I’m listening.”
“You know your father could never refuse me anything. And Alaina was—and still is—my dearest friend. I sent her a letter letting her know you were arriving. And I sent the one you gave to me that had come from Lord Wharton… the new Lord Wharton. I had some idea of what it might contain, since there was a new earl but had no way of knowing anything for sure.”
“Yes. Wharton was most eager to find Lady Wharton.”
“Do you believe he was sincere?” Roger asked. “I had heard she left him, and the old earl had begun proceedings to have her declared legally dead. Then it all stopped. I confess I have forgotten the timing,”
“Nasty business, that,” his mother remarked. “I’m sure as a solicitor you hear lots of sordid stories, darling Roger. This is one of them, I am afraid. And it ends with some innuendos and little resolution.” She stopped and stared up at the picture behind Albert. “I always loved that portrait. It was such a happy day.”
“Mother, please continue,” Roger prodded.
Albert laughed. “Yes, please. I see your patience hasn’t improved since I’ve been gone, little brother.”
They all laughed.
Roger Stanton could make them all laugh at just the right time. The duke and duchess had adopted him when he was five, and he had become family. He was Henry’s best friend, as well as his brother. Everyone adored Roger, mostly for his jovial outlook on life.
“Alaina went into labor. The child was her fourth in almost as many years. None of the others had survived, and the earl, she said, was frantic to get an heir.”
Albert cursed under his breath. “I’m sorry, Mother,” he said.
“It’s fine, son. I was upset when she told me she was with child again. The doctor had warned her husband it was dangerous to continue these pregnancies at such a close pace. She had almost succumbed to the one before it. All were girls.
“Alaina’s doctor brought her and the baby to our home in Sussex. He shared with me that the first two were stillborn, but the third had survived birth and appeared fine. When he returned in the morning, like Alaina, he was told the baby had died during the night. The earl told everyone it had been stillborn and buried it that same day, and the doctor regretted not questioning it.
“The doctor described the earl as unreasonable following the birth of this fourth child. And he had asked for something to help Alaina sleep. He received a note from the countess telling him she needed help. The earl wanted the child gone, since it wasn’t an heir. The doctor helped Alaina get away and secreted both her and the baby to our home.
“Your father could never refuse me. He brought them here, along with several servants he knew he could trust with their lives. And we have kept them here, in secret, all these years. When your father died, I was so overwhelmed with grief—and then you were injured—that I forgot to discuss this with any of you. I should never have kept such a thing from you boys. When the missives came the other week, there was so much there. I needed a minute to sort it out in my head before I explained it. But by then, you were gone.” The duchess dabbed the tears from her eyes as she spoke. “You will continue to protect them, won’t you?”
“May I inquire what the letter to Father said?” Albert asked.
“It was not so much a deathbed confession as an apology for having shamed himself and lost his wife. He acknowledged he would not ask her to return. He knew she would only leave again. The earl thanked your father for intervening and asked that we tell Alaina he loved her until the end,” the duchess said. “I do not know what your father did regarding this, but he told me once that he had taken care of the paperwork. He said there had been no death certificate. But Alaina was smart enough to have the doctor sign the Bible acknowledging Brianna’s birth date. She brought the book with her. Your father and Felix Phillips had been best friends most of their lives. Lawrence had a marvelous way of dealing with tough situations. I’m grateful my children learned that quality from your father.”
