Page 72 of An Earl's Christmas Seduction
Amelia was still confused. She could hardly take it in, nor did she know what the implications of what was now revealed would be. With Constance gone, the way was open for what had passed between her and Nicholas to be revealed, but would he have the courage to do so?
“Do you really mean it?” she asked, and he nodded, slipping his hand into hers.
“I do, Amelia,” he said.
“But then is the mystery about your mother resolved? Did the letters reveal the truth?” Amelia asked.
There was still a great deal she did not know, and many questions remained unanswered. Nicholas nodded.
“My father had an affair with a woman known simply as “Madam,” and wrote many letters to Constance’s father about it all that affair caused.” I don’t need to know anything more,” he said, shaking his head.
But Amelia was not satisfied with this explanation. There was still so much to learn, and so many questions left unanswered. The mystery of her mother’s words, and those of Sir Samuel, too. Who was the mysterious child? Nicholas’ explanation seemed almost trite: an affair and a baby born out of wedlock. That was it, and it seemed none of those gathered there had anything to do with it at all.
“But that can’t be all there is to it?” Amelia exclaimed, even as Nicholas shook his head.
“Alas, I don’t think I’ll ever know anything more. “Madam” is probably long dead, or far away on the continent, not giving a second thought to the child she left behind in Devonshire,” Nicholas replied.
Amelia was about to reply, but to her astonishment, it was her mother who now spoke.
“Sheisdead, yes,” she said. Amelia and Nicholas stared at her in surprise.
“Beryl, are you sure you want to do this?” Lady Turner said, and Amelia’s mother nodded.
“Isn’t it time we told the truth, Margaret? There’ve been too many lies and too many secrets. Poor Amelia. If it wasn’t for lies and secrets, she wouldn’t be lying here right now. Lies and secrets only lead to trouble. I want to tell them the truth,” she said, taking a deep breath.
Chapter 23
Amelia stared at her mother in astonishment. She knew there was something else! But she was oblivious to the details. Nicholas stared at the baroness in amazement, and all eyes in the room were turned to her.
“Beryl? Is this the right thing to do? It’s not just Amelia…” Lady Thornton began, but Amelia’s mother interrupted her.
“She was my friend, Fiona, and Amelia’s godmother. I want to tell the truth,” She said.
At these words, Amelia let out a cry of astonishment. Her Godmother, Caroline, was dead. Amelia had never really known her. She knew only what she had been told about her over the years. She died when Amelia was very young, but her mother often mentioned her. They had been like sisters.
“But Mother, what’s the meaning of all this?” Amelia exclaimed.
“Let me explain, Amelia. I know it won’t be easy for any of us, but we can’t keep these secrets forever. Nicholas has a right to know. Caroline, your godmother, was the “Madam” the letters refer to. I wasn’t telling the truth when I told you we knew nothing of the Fairchilds. Nicholas’ father was a friend of ours,” she said.
At these words, Nicholas let out a cry of astonishment, his eyes wide, staring at Amelia’s mother in disbelief. The others, too, glanced at once another.
“Then it’s this Caroline who…” Isobel said, but Amelia’s mother interrupted her.
“Let me finish. I knew Caroline had fallen in love, but I didn’t know it was with your father, Nicholas. She wouldn’t tell me at first, but then she discovered she was with child. She knew the scandal would have been immense. Caroline’s father was the Earl of Strachan, a prominent figure at court.
They had to hide what was happening. The baby, you Nicholas, was born in secret. But at the same time, Lady Eleanor was with child. At first, it was thought you’d have to be sent away, but then Lady Eleanor died, close to the moment of her giving birth. It was terrible, but…” she said, and now Nicholas sighed.
“But my father gave rise to the rumor the child was born,” Nicholas said, shaking his head.
“That’s right. Caroline came here to Ashworth House to act as a nanny. It was perfectly respectable. Her father was pleased about it. He didn’t know what to do with her, and she pled with him to be allowed to go. No one suspected a thing, and if they did, it was never spoken of. Whether Lady Eleanor ever knew the truth or not, I don’t know,” she said.
Amelia did not know what to think. Even though there was no reason her mother should ever have told her the truth to this remarkable set of events. It seemed the matter was kept quiet, known only to a few. Constance had discovered only a small part of it. The glaring question remained…what had become of Caroline?
“The poor woman,” Isobel said, shaking her head.
Nicholas glanced at Amelia, as though thinking the same as she did.
“But… what became of Caroline? What happened to the “Madam” the letters spoke of? They said nothing about where she was or what happened next,” Nicholas replied.
