Chapter 18 #2
Maria’s mouth fell open as she read the letter. It was difficult to describe the feeling that swept over her, for the claim was so utterly absurd that it seemed impossible.
“Hardly!” she gasped. “Listen to this!”
She began to read.
Your Grace,
I trust this missive finds you well and becoming accustomed to your new role as duchess and wife to my brother…
Maria looked up. “Brother!” she repeated.
“Yes, people do have siblings,” Evelina said, sounding confused.
“But Damien does not. At least, he believes he does not. His mother died at his father’s hands. By the way, that is one of the secrets this house holds and obviously should go no further than the four of us.”
The other ladies looked shocked.
“Murder?” Evelina asked, her face aghast. “I have never heard that.”
“Nor have I,” Anna said. “Of course, he is a duke. I am certain that—if it is true—the late Duke of Winterleigh would have some means of concealing his misdeeds. Men like that always do.”
“Indeed,” Theodora said. “But can it be true?”
They looked at Maria, who gave them a helpless shrug. “I do not know, but this is something I have not heard before.”
“Yes,” Evelina said, gazing intently at the letter. “Yes, a brother.”
“It is like something from a novel,” Theodora murmured. “All of it.”
“Indeed,” Anna said.
Maria read on.
I write to you in expectation and hope of a favorable reception.
I have conducted much research into the reputation of my brother—a stranger to me—and gleaned much of his character.
It has led me to reject the notion of communicating directly with him.
I do not wish my correspondence to be dismissed as a hoax.
I hope that, as a member of the fairer sex, my plea might be heard by you.
My name is Ezekiel Alaric. I am a brother, as mentioned, to Damien.
Our mother was driven out of Winterleigh in fear for her life before I was born.
I came into the world in Northumberland, where I have endeavored to build a life for myself.
I now feel that I am ready to meet my brother.
I am alone in the world without either parents or a wife.
I do not say this to elicit sympathy, simply as a statement of fact.
I would like very much to correspond with you and ultimately to meet you at some neutral location in London. That is where I am writing from. I look forward to your reply.
Master Ezekiel Alaric
“Well, what do you make of that?” Maria said, sitting heavily on a chaise like a puppet whose strings had been cut. “It is impossible!”
Even as she denied the possibility of Damien having a sibling previously unknown to him, she wondered if the letter might be truthful. Her husband was a man with many secrets.
Evelina put out her hand for the letter, and Maria handed it over.
“What a development! A long-lost brother that the duke does not know of!” Anna said, eyes shining with excitement.
“It seems to me, Maria, that this is your opportunity to overcome the barriers you described the duke as maintaining. If you were to be the architect of a reunion, or to be more precise, a union, as it sounds like they have never met, surely the duke would look favorably on you?”
“Hold now, Theo,” Evelina said, putting the letter down. “Do we know how the duke will react to this letter? His brother is so wary of being suspected that he has not written to the duke directly, but to our friend Maria,” she looked directly at Maria. “How do you think he will react?”
Maria took up the letter again, pacing the room and chewing her lip.
“I do not know. Actually, that is not true. He will take it as interference, and his immediate reaction will be suspicion, even paranoia. The question is not how will he react, but will this be good for him? For both of them.”
“You know him better than we do,” Anna said.
“Which is hardly at all,” Maria replied.
“But I think that, regardless of his reaction, it must be a good thing to know you have a brother. To know that you are not alone. It has shaped Damien in so many ways. I must take this opportunity. To bring together two brothers who have no other family among the living. That is a good thing, is it not?”
Besides, it was not as if a younger son would have any claim to Damien’s title or estate. It seemed to her as though Ezekiel Alaric was entirely sincere and only wanted to meet his sibling, as she imagined most people would wish to do.
She looked around the room for support. Anna nodded vigorously. Theodora nodded more slowly. Evelina looked at Maria with concern in her eyes.
“Are you certain?” Evelina asked. “This might upset whatever delicate balance you have struck with your husband.”
Maria threw up her hands in exasperation. “Balance? What balance? He gives and then he takes away. He takes, and then runs away. I do not know if I am coming or going. The house frightens me and… and… I must do something!”
Evelina finally nodded. “Very well. Write back to this man and arrange to meet him. At least one of us will be with you, of course.”
Maria smiled gratefully.
I hope that Evelina is not proved right. I hope that this does not precipitate Damien deciding that he is better off without me for interfering…