Page 126 of If the Slipper Fits
“You chose him.”
“I did. But…I couldn’t live with my decision. I grew to despise him—and myself. Nothing was worth the loss of my one and only daughter.” She shifted in her seat and gazed out the window. “Unbeknownst to him, I hired a runner. It took some time. Years, in fact. But eventually the runner found her. Found you all, here, in Derbyshire.
“So to Derbyshire I traveled. I told Wentworth I wished to visit London for a shopping expedition, which brought me through Derbyshire. Nothing out of the ordinary for Claybourne, a peer of my husband’s, to put me up for a few days respite from the road.”
“So that’s how he recognized you—and somehow noted a resemblance when no one else did.”
Lady Wentworth arched a brow. “I wouldn’t say no one else. But, in Claybourne’s case, he did meet me when I was much younger. Perhaps I looked more like you, then.” She smiled faintly.
Anna could not help the slight, answering smile. She had a grandmother.
“I arrived in Derby full of hope—to visit with Emmaline, to make amends.” She sent Anna a watery smile. “That was the first time I laid eyes on you. You were such a beautiful child.”
Anna frowned. “I don’t recall meeting you.”
“Because you never did. Emmaline refused to see me. Nor would she permit me anywhere near you. That didn’t stop me from spyingon you every chance I got. As for your mother, I gathered from your father, who I did meet with, briefly, that she was content with her life.”
Anna wrapped her arms around herself. “You say she was pregnant when she left home.”
Lady Wentworth nodded.
“With me?” Her voice was a mere whisper.
She nodded again.
“So, the man who raised me? The one I called father?”
“Was your father in all the ways that mattered. I met him only the once, but I could tell he would protect both of you with his life. Unlike Emmaline’s own parents.”
“How did they meet? Do you know?”
“She sought him out, initially, to oversee her pregnancy and to deliver her baby when the time came—you. She offered to be his housekeeper in exchange for his services.” Lady Wentworth gave a sad chuckle. “He must’ve loved her at first sight. Emmaline didn’t know the first thing about housekeeping when she left home.”
“He did love her, very much.” Tears she could not hold back blurred her vision. “She told me many times the trick in life was to find a good man who loved you. She warned me to stay away from the nobility because with them, the title always came first. Now I understand.”
Lady Wentworth made no reply.
A large part of Anna wanted to reach out, to wrap the woman in her arms and offer comfort. With an effort of will, she pushed the feeling aside. Now was the time for answers. As her father always said—her father—when in doubt,focus on the facts.
“How did I wind up in your employ? I assume you arranged that?”
She inclined her head. “I kept watch over you for years, my only recourse since Emmaline never acceded to any of my pleas—to meetyou, to finance your education, or clothing, or sponsor a come-out. I needed to dosomething.To enrich your life in any way.
“I hoped, after her death…but your father refused to dishonor her wishes. I did the only thing left me. I set an investigator on you, in case you should ever need me. I’d long ago set up a trust in your name, one which you would inherit at the age of twenty-four, or when you married, whichever came first.
“I never told your mother of the trust. I couldn’t risk her undoing the thing. My solicitor informed your father’s solicitor only after both your parents passed. I suppose that’s how word of it got to Bolton, for he indeed knew of it.”
“Angelique must have learned of my inheritance first. My father’s second wife,” she offered by way of explanation. “She has some tie to Bolton, the basis of which I haven’t a clue. The two of them colluded to force me to marry him. At least their plotting makes sense now in light of the trust. But none of that explains how I ended up working in your household.”
Lady Wentworth gave a one shoulder shrug. “It’s a rather simple tale. The investigator had eyes on Lord Bolton’s home, watching for any sign of you. His employees followed you when you left in the dark of night, overheard you hailing a hackney to convey you to a pawn shop, subsequently followed you there and sent word to my solicitor who soon-after arrived…”
Anna’s lips twitched and a welcome flash of amusement flitted through her. Simple, eh?
“…and saw that you received a large overpayment for your items, which he then purchased on your behalf—”
She closed her eyes briefly. “Itismy mother’s ruby you sent with me.”
“Yourruby.”
