Page 58 of The Remarkable Myth of a Nameless Lady
Hold on, Jacob… we’re coming.
Chapter 39
Jacob stormed back into the house, using the walk to try and calm his sensibilities. If he was going to assert himself, he needed to appear rational. If he revealed the depth of his anger, he knew he might lose the higher ground in any ensuing argument with his brother.
For a manor house that was usually so busy, with hardly anyone seeming to sleep, there was not a soul about as he made his way through the gloomy corridors. He was grateful for that. He could not have borne another patronizing comment or a slight against his position.
My position…Owen had thrown that into turmoil, as well as everything else. Jacob did not know what lengths his brother might go to, in order to take his place. Would he really stoop so low as to bring their mother’s reputation into disarray? It would be a scandal that she would never recover from, and as cold as Owen behaved toward Jacob, he could not believe that his brother could lash out at their mother. Owen loved his mother.
Jacob had not given himself much chance to dwell on his true heritage, but he thought on it now, as he continued on through the labyrinth of the house. All his life, he had thought himself to be the heir to the Woodworth dynasty. To find out that he was not… it left him with the sensation of being lost at sea, and helplessly treading water.
Father protected me… can I even call him ‘Father’ anymore?Jacob bit his lip to stop his emotions from spilling over. He had to admire the former Duke for that—for not casting he and his mother out, as he might have done. True, he had acted despicably in tricking Mr. Price out of his home, but perhaps he would not have done so if his wife had not urged him. It sounded as though the Duke had resisted it for a time. There had to be some merit in that.
Nevertheless, from a personal perspective, Jacob felt a glimmer of warmth toward the man he had called ‘Father.’ He had not known the old Duke too well, having been away from home since childhood. They had not shared a close bond, but they had always exchanged letters which held a great deal of fondness. There had never been any indication, within those letters, that Jacob was anyone other than who he thought he was.
His gut twisted with remorse, for he wished he might have been here to say farewell to his father. Even if that man had not been his father by blood, he had certainly proven his worth as a father by making sure he was given every opportunity in life, and not taking away his inheritance, simply because he was not born of his blood. He could have done so, at any moment.
Maybe he could not confirm the suspicion in his mind, at least not enough to cast Mother and I out. Perhaps he only discovered the truth when it was too late—after Owen had already been born.Either way, the old Duke had chosen to keep Jacob and his mother as part of the family. And perhaps, that said more to the old Duke’s credit than anything a true father could have offered.
He already felt less rage by the time he reached the open hall where his study lay. He did not think his brother would still be there, but a small sound prompted him to pause. A quiet snuffling, coming from within his study, drifting out through the partially open door.
Curious, Jacob went to the door and pushed it wide. His mother sat where he had left her, holding her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking violently as she wept. It could not have been for show, as there was nobody else here to have heard her or seen her. This was simply a raw display of a broken woman, whose secrets had all been torn out and thrown into the cold light of day.
“Mother?” he said softly. He may have been angry with her, for keeping that sort of secret from him, but he could not stand the sight of her in such misery.
The Duchess turned slowly, before hurrying to wipe her eyes. “Jacob… I thought you might have gone from this place. I-I did not know if you would come back.”
“I am made of sterner resolve than you would think,” he replied. “If I were to flee this house, what would it gain? It would not change anything. It would only show that I was a coward, and I am no such thing.”
“I do not think you are cowardly.” Her mother sniffed, dabbing a handkerchief to her nose. “You have fought in wars, my darling. How could you ever be cowardly? I am the coward. I should have said something sooner, but I did not know how to.”
Jacob went to his mother and put his hands on her shoulders. “Owen should not have revealed the truth like that. It was not his place, but I do not think you have anything to fear. He will not ruin your reputation out of pride, or whatever emotion has incited his fury.”
“You do not know that,” his mother murmured.
“He loves you, as I love you. That means something to him. And, as I said to him, if he attempted to reveal the truth, it would be his word against ours.”
His mother blinked up at him. “Ours?”
“You must be silent on the matter once more, though I do not like to ask it of you. There is no proof to validate what he has said, is there?”
His mother shook her head. “No.”
“Then, as long as neither of us say a word of it, we will be well. Owen may not like that I am here to stay, but I am not about to let him chase me from your side, or this estate,” Jacob said firmly. “I did not realize how direly my arrival here had affected him, but he must learn that he cannot seize power, simply because he desires it. That is not the way the world works. I learnt that aboard the ships; there is always a hierarchy, even if we do not care for the captain in charge.”
“You are not cross with me?” His mother dabbed her lips, though it did not stop them from trembling.
He smiled wryly. “I am still rather cross, but there is no use in bearing grudges. It will not alter my heritage, nor the events that have brought us all here.”
“You must understand, I was not unfaithful to your father… the Duke, I mean.” Her lip trembled all the more, her eyes swimming with tears.
“What do you mean?”
“I was out walking alone, upon our first visit to see my husband’s sister here. It was a number of years before she gave birth to her twins, and I had yet to have children, though I had longed for them.” Her breath hitched in a hiccup. “I should not have walked alone, given the political climate, but the Duke and I had quarreled, and I did not want to be within the house. I sought fresh air, and there are a number of pleasant walks hereabout.”
Jacob stepped around to her side and crouched low, looking up into his mother’s dejected face. “Go on…” he urged.
“I was a mile or so away from the house when I noticed a group of young men a short distance from where I wandered. Naturally, I turned around to return to the manor, but the young men had already seen me. I did not get far before two of them caught up to me,” she continued, her voice shaking. “They harassed me for a time, but I remained quiet and stayed my course…” she trailed off, a sob gripping her.
