Page 52 of An Earl's Scandalous Return
“Stubborn?” Arabella asked, and Edward finally looked at her, seeing the pain and eagerness in her eyes.
She, too, was ready for the truth, just as much as he.
His father nodded.
“Yes. But I fear that I made things much, much worse. I know you already know the truth from Gregory as well as the fact that Seraphina looks so very like her sister. But there is more to it. Your father loved Jane so very dearly, but I cautioned him against such an affair. As we all know, the gossips can be quite merciless, and I feared for your reputations as well if it were to come to light.”
Edward watched as Seraphina put a hand to her mouth and lowered her head as she listened. He wasn’t sure if she was happy about the news or not, but he was glad to know that Lord Montrose was not the monster Gregory had originally painted him to be.
“We fought bitterly, he and I. He wanted to marry her, but I thought he should take more time and give it more thought. But he married her anyway in secret.”
A little gasp rippled through the crowd, and Edward didn’t know if it was him or if all of them had gasped in unison at the news.
“So, my dear Seraphina, you are not a natural child but the legitimate, true child of the Earl of Montrose, a lady in your own right.”
This time, Seraphina lifted her head, and Edward saw the tears in her eyes.
“There is proof in a church just outside the city. Saint Joseph’s. The parish register has recorded the marriage. I wanted him to keep it secret, but he wished to tell all and sundry. And then everyone discovered that Jane was with child. But only a month or so after the marriage, Jane and the child disappeared. We only found out much later that she’d died, and Robert blamed me for it all.”
The duke sighed, and he put his head in his hands. Edward had never seen his father so moved, and he could hear the tears in his voice.
“And so, you must forgive me for my part, Alvin and Arabella. I have held this secret for far too long, and now it is time that it has come out. That is why your father and I were enemies of a sort from that day, and we allowed our feud to affect many other things.” The duke glanced at Edward, and Edward clenched his jaw with fury.
“But why did you not tell us of the child?” Alvin demanded.
Edward did not blame him, for he had angry questions of his own to ask.
“The information we received was that she had died in childbirth, and it had been implied that the child had died as well. Your father was inconsolable, but he never let it show. That is why you never knew.
I can only assume that he thought it best that you not be told. If I could have been certain of the child’s whereabouts and existence, I would have gone after her, of course. I would have told you, Alvin. But I did not. And then, your father died, and the pain of his secret was buried with him.”
Seraphina’s lips trembled, and she rose from her seat, and without saying anything, rushed out of the room.
The duke looked stricken. “I am terribly sorry.”
Arabella cleared her throat and rose as well. Edward watched her in amazement. She also looked pale, but she was not crying and did not even look at him. She was strong, powerful, and a woman who knew how to keep her family together.
“You were right to tell us, Your Grace. And this is happy news. Seraphina is our true sister, and we know now that our father is no murderer. Is that not right, Alvin? There can be no scandal, for we can collect proof of father’s marriage and show anyone who wishes to see it when Gregory goes on trial.”
Then, still not looking at Edward, Arabella left the room after her sister, and silence reigned.
Chapter 57
Arabella found Seraphina at the base of the stairs, leaning against the banister and crying softly. With a soft smile, she went to sit next to her, and she drew her into her arms, allowing Seraphina to put her head on her shoulder.
They sat like that for a few minutes, and Arabella finally felt at peace. She knew now why the men had been so at odds, and now that he was dead and gone, she could finally forgive her father for getting in the way of her running away with Edward.
She did not entirely understand it, but she knew that he had been trying to protect her from heartbreak in his own way when he had already had so much of his own. He had been living with it for years, for Seraphina was only a few years younger than herself. For so many years, he had mourned a secret love and a secret child.
“Are you all right?” Arabella asked. “We are now sisters in every way.”
Seraphina sniffled. “But you would have taken me in, even though I was not your legitimate sister at first. You have shown your kindness.”
Arabella chuckled.
“To me, we are sisters. It does not matter the scandal of our parentage. We share blood, and that was enough for me. I hope it is enough for you, even now that we know we are true sisters, and I hope you will stay with us in our home in London for as long as you wish.
It is your home and has been, without you even realising it. But of course, if you wish, Alvin will provide you with whatever you need, and you can live wherever you please. I know that, in many ways, we are strangers to you.”
