Page 60 of Secrets of Capell Manor
Marta sat and waited for her to continue. Kaylyn and Luella looked up from their dolls, and took a seat on the floor by her feet. Devlin leaned back in his chair; his arms crossed but his attention fully on Rosalind. Benton sat quietly; his weathered face unreadable.
“When we arrived at the palace, I was brought before the king the very next morning, just as expected. He had many questions about Uncle Edmond and what had happened that night. He was direct, and I could tell he wasn’t sure whether to believe me.”
Kaylyn’s eyes widened, and Luella leaned in closer, her face full of concern.
“What did you say to him?” Kaylyn asked.
“I told him the truth, of course. But he was skeptical. You see,” Rosalind continued, her voice lowering, “the king wasn’t just suspicious of Edmond. He suspected that I had played a part in his death.”
The children gasped, their little faces stricken with disbelief.
“But you didn’t, Lady Rosalind!” Ridley exclaimed.
“The king needed to be convinced. And I was petrified! I thought for sure the king would throw me into the Tower. And I must admit,” her voice grew softer, “at one point, it all became too much, and I fainted right there in front of him.”
The children stared at her in shock, and then Luella broke into a giggle. “You fainted, like in one of Alden’s stories?”
Rosalind laughed along with them, the tension lifting slightly. “Yes, Luella, you’ll have to tell me who fainted in Alden’s tales, but yes, just like in one of those stories.”
“But then what happened?” Ridley asked, still on edge.
Rosalind glanced at Devlin, who gave her an encouraging nod. “The most amazing thing happened. After I fainted, Sir Devlin carried me back to my chamber. And when I woke, the king had sent word that I was free to leave. He decided not to pursue the matter any further. Benton, may I ask you something?” she said softly, glancing at Devlin, who gave her a knowing look.
Benton, sitting near the fire, nodded solemnly. “Of course, milady. What is it that troubles you?”
“I believe the king suspected me, Benton. I fainted and wasn’t able to give him a full defense; I could feel his doubt. I was certain he would have me imprisoned. But my words didn’t convince him to let me go.” She paused, her eyes narrowing as she searched Benton’s face. “It was the ruby, the one you gave Devlin. When Devlin handed it to the king, everything changed. He recognized it, and after that, he set me free. Benton, what did that ruby mean? Why did it make the king change his mind?”
Benton sat silently for a moment; his eyes distant as if recalling a long-buried memory. The firelight flickered across his face, casting deep shadows in the lines of his weathered features.
“The ruby, milady, is more than just a gem. It is a symbol of a promise made many years ago, long before the king was a man.”
Rosalind leaned forward, captivated.
“When the king was just a boy—no more than eleven or twelve—he and your uncle, Edmond, were inseparable. Charles would often visit Capell Manor with his father, but like all younglads, he had a rebellious streak. One day, Edmond and Charles disobeyed their fathers and their nannies and left the castle grounds without telling anyone. The household staff searched the manor and the gardens, but no one found a trace of the boys. Charles’s father was furious and ordered every man and woman to keep looking and not stop until they were found. I was a younger man then and often tasked with tracking down Edmond. I knew where he liked to play and explore.”
He took a deep breath, his voice growing softer. “I found them by the river. It had rained heavily the night before, and the river was swollen and dangerous. The young prince—our king now—had slipped on the muddy bank and fallen into the current. Edmond struggled to pull him out, but the water was too strong.”
Rosalind gasped, her hand covering her mouth.
“I didn’t think twice,” Benton continued. “I dove in after them. The current was fierce, but I reached the prince and pulled him to safety. Edmond, too. We were all soaked and half-frozen but alive. The prince—our king—was grateful, of course. He gave me the ruby as a token of his thanks. The ruby was from his signet ring and he asked me to promise not to tell his father what had happened. He didn’t want anyone to know that he and Edmond had been so foolish.” Benton smiled slightly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “The ruby was a gift, but it was also a symbol of a secret we shared. And as I suspected, the king had not forgotten what had happened that day.”
Rosalind was silent for a moment. “So… he let me go because he remembered you saved him.”
Benton nodded slowly. “It’s not often a king owes his life to a simple butler. But that day, I saved him. And perhaps in his heart, he knew he could trust you because I trust you, or maybe he thought to pay his debt to me.”
Rosalind took Benton’s hand. “Thank you, Benton. For everything.”
Benton gave her a small, respectful bow of his head. “You’re welcome, milady. I’m just glad you’re home.”
****
The rest of the day passed in unusual, almost peaceful quiet as the odd assortment of people at Capell Manor—servants, orphans, two mercenaries for hire, and one fierce-looking but gentle dog—settled right back into their routines.
The shift in the mood of the household was palpable. It was as if the manor itself breathed a sigh of relief. Where there were once shadows and darkness, now there was a home filled with laughter, warmth, and hope.
Even Benton, who was usually slow and intentional, moved with a lightness in his steps, and Marta hummed softly to herself as she bustled about the kitchen. Devlin spent the day watching them but didn’t want to leave. He had never had a family, not one like this, anyway. But he knew this was not his world.
As the afternoon faded into twilight, Devlin could no longer delay the inevitable. He stood by the fire, his back to the room, and stared into the flames. “I have to leave tonight,” he finally announced, his voice heavy with the weight of the decision.
