Chapter Five #2
Mrs Wilmott’s eyes flashed with anger. He was quite sure she would have set him alight if she could, but she could not come in here making these outrageous claims and not expect him to point out the very obvious holes in her story.
‘I have my reasons for not being with Charlotte. But do not think, for one moment, that my heart has not hurt every single day with the loss of her.’
Grown men quailed when he glared at them, but Mrs Wilmott tilted her chin in his direction, as if she were a queen and he was less than a peasant.
His own fury flared beneath his ribs. She couldn’t just turn up here and demand to be taken seriously, and if what she said was true, then he and his family would have to take her as a threat to Charlotte’s safety.
‘And we are to take your word that you are who you claim?’
A slight dip of her head, but her eyes still held his. ‘Not at all.’
‘Then you have some way of proving it all? Because I find it highly suspicious that the woman who tried to drown me two days ago is sitting in my home telling me that she is related to my brother.’
‘As I told you before, you pompous clodpate, I was saving you.’
Tobias ignored the gasps from around the room. ‘So you do have proof?’
She hesitated and a flare of triumph surged through him before he was hit with a sharp pang of disappointment.
‘The situation is delicate,’ she said slowly, her shoulders slumping. ‘I never thought I would need to confirm who I am.’
Over the course of his life, many people had come to Tobias wanting something.
Some were subtle, some blatant. But claiming to be his dead brother’s sister-in-law was a new one.
As he had no expectations with regard to her, the lead weight of disillusionment was surprising.
‘What is it that you want from us, Mrs Wilmott?’
The spark in her eyes flared back to life.
‘I want nothing from you.’ She turned so that she was facing his brothers, effectively dismissing him from the conversation, which did nothing to ease his simmering anger.
‘I have some of Sebastian’s personal belongings.
He would want you to have them. I also have some of my sister’s things for Charlotte, but I was hoping to hold on to those until she is older so that I might explain their significance. ’
Tobias had assumed everything personal of his brother’s had been lost, aside from Charlotte and her fortune. The idea that there were things out there, things his brother had touched, was almost too much to bear and yet he still did not truly believe her.
‘What do you have of Sebastian’s?’
Although he had asked the question, she addressed the answer to everyone else.
‘There is a chest, around this size.’ She held out her arms to demonstrate the length and width.
Bigger than a small portmanteau but not as large as a desk.
‘It contains some ledgers, possibly a diary, although he did not strike me as someone who would keep one, and some unfinished letters.’
‘What do these letters say?’ Tobias was still asking the questions, but the stubborn miss was still not turning towards him.
‘I did not read them. They were personal and I am not in the habit of invading people’s personal lives.
’ The implication was that he did just that.
But as he never had and never intended to do so, he recognised that it was a general jab at his ungentlemanly behaviour.
Although he did not like to admit to being in the wrong, he wasn’t behaving at his best. If she was genuine, then he was being impossibly rude.
In his defence, she was exceptionally provoking.
‘I can arrange for them to be delivered here at your earliest convenience.’
‘I will come with you now and collect them myself.’
At that, she turned to glare at him. ‘I understand that a man to whom I am not married, coming into my house, would cause an almighty scandal. I shall not subject myself to that.’
‘Quite right,’ said Emily, jumping into the conversation. ‘If it is acceptable to you, Kate, Sophia and I shall accompany you to your home and collect these belongings.’
‘Of course. I am ready to leave as soon as you are.’
‘And I quite agree that it should be you who gives Charlotte your sister’s artifacts,’ Emily continued.
As Mrs Wilmott had not taken her gaze from his, he saw the sheen of tears appear in her eyes at Emily’s words. ‘Thank you, Emily. You have been very kind.’
The implication being that he had not been—which was true. He would be a lot worse if it turned out this woman was playing them for fools.
‘There is no time like the present,’ said Emily. ‘Unless I can interest you in some refreshments.’
Tobias glanced at the table, which was covered in untouched sandwiches.
‘I do apologise,’ said Mrs Wilmott, pressing a hand to her stomach. ‘I do not feel as if I could eat at present.’
‘Indeed,’ said Emily. ‘It has been a trying afternoon. Freddie, be a dear and take Arabella.’ She handed her daughter to her husband, the ribbons of a pretty hat clutched tightly in her hands. ‘Let us go and find you a replacement bonnet, Mrs Wilmott, and then we can be on our way.’
The women all stood, which meant the gentlemen did too. Mrs Wilmott did not look in Tobias’ direction again, although she was all smiles when she took her leave of baby Arabella. Tobias could not pinpoint exactly what he found so annoying about that.