Chapter Eighteen #4
“Yes. It was all I could think to do.” Mary dissolved into quiet sobs, and Rose simply held her hands until the tears subsided.
“It’s over now,” Rose said softly. “For both of us. We can finally let it go.”
Mary nodded, dabbing at her eyes with her apron. “Thank you, my lady. I needed to hear that.”
After Mary left, Rose went to her dressing table and examined herself in the mirror. She saw a woman who had not only survived, but one who had been surrounded by love all along. Even in the darkest moments, people had tried to protect her the only way they knew how.
Her father was gone. He could no longer hurt any of the people she loved. For that she felt grateful.
*
That evening, Mr. Hale arrived just after supper.
Rose found him waiting for her in the drawing room in one of the wing-backed chairs, looking weary but calm.
The journey to London had clearly taken its toll.
His boots were dusty, his coat wrinkled, and his cravat loosened. She’d never seen him so disheveled.
“My lady.” He stood, greeting her with a nod. “Please excuse my appearance. I’ve not been to my cottage. I wanted to speak to you right away.”
Rose hurried to the chair opposite him, her hands trembling slightly. “I appreciate it. Please, what did you learn?”
Hale’s expression softened as he settled back into his seat. “Your father’s will was clear, Lady Rose. Wentworth Manor and all associated properties are yours.”
The words didn’t seem to register at first. Rose blinked, her mouth opening slightly. “Mine?”
“Entirely. Without condition.”
She stared at him, sure she heard him incorrectly. “But that cannot be. Why would Father do that?” Her voice caught. “He despised me.”
“Perhaps. But he also wanted to keep the estate intact.” Hale leaned forward, his voice gentle. “My instinct is that he intended to protect it from his illegal activities. For you.”
Rose’s hands gripped the arms of her chair. “What does that mean exactly?”
“The Crown will seize whatever money came from his smuggling. But the estate itself wasn’t used as collateral for his crimes.” Hale’s weathered face brightened. “You own it free and clear, my lady. The manor, the land, the farms—all of it.”
The room seemed to tilt around her. Rose pressed a hand to her chest, struggling to breathe. Everything she’d feared losing was all hers. Truly hers.
“I can scarcely believe it.” She stood abruptly, pacing to the window. Her reflection stared back, pale and wide-eyed. “No unknown heir will come to claim it?”
“None. No court can strip it from you.”
Rose turned back to him, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Relief and sorrow warred in her chest. Father had done this for her.
How strange, considering everything else.
But perhaps there was a part of him that felt guilty and had wanted to protect her.
Or, perhaps he’d just not gotten around to changing his will?
She would never know. However, she had a future now.
She could protect the staff. She could stay in the only home she’d ever known.
Hale watched her carefully. “You can do whatever you like with it. Sell it, lease it or remain here and rebuild.”
She sank back into her chair, her mind racing. “Is it possible to make the estate profitable? Without the smuggling, I mean?”
“If you’d like me to stay, we can turn it around together.” His confidence was reassuring. “Your father’s methods brought in vast sums, yes, but with proper management, we can sustain ourselves quite comfortably.”
“Do you want to stay?”
“If you’ll have me. I know this place better than anyone. The tenant farms, the ledgers, which servants can be trusted.” He paused. “Though I should ask—did you have any idea what your father was doing all these years?”
Rose shook her head. “I never thought about it at all. Isn’t that awful? It was Lady Arabella who first told me what everyone else seemed to suspect. I feel like a fool.”
“How were you to know, Lady Rose? He kept it all from you. And me, for that matter. I saw enough to know things weren’t right, but he was careful to keep his illegal dealings separate from the legitimate estate work.” Hale’s expression grew thoughtful. “That separation is what will save us now.”
She felt herself smiling for the first time in days. “This is wonderful news, though rather daunting.”
“You’re stronger than you know, Lady Rose. We’ll manage it together.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hale. For everything.” Her voice grew thick with emotion. “None of this would have happened without your courage. Teaming up with Sebastian. Going to the constable.”
He shifted uncomfortably. “When I learned of Stephens’s character, I felt it might be my chance to finally voice my suspicions. Though I’ll admit, I hedged my bets. If I’d been wrong and word had gotten back to your father?” He shuddered. “I might be the one in prison instead of him.”
“But you did it anyway.”
“Someone had to.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment before Rose’s thoughts turned inevitably to the one person missing from this conversation. “Mr. Hale, what of Sebastian? Where is he?”
The older man’s expression grew cautious. “He’s returned to his brother in Brighton. He wanted to tell James what had transpired.”
A lump formed in Rose’s throat. Why hadn’t he come back to see her first? They had so much left unsaid. “Did he learn anything in London about his situation?”
“He’s begun his appeal to the Crown. I believe his title will be restored, likely with some compensation, but it may take months. Perhaps even a year.”
Warmth bloomed in her chest despite her confusion. “When will he know?”
“In the next several weeks, he hopes.”
Rose hesitated, then asked quietly, “Does he know about Father’s will? That I’ve inherited everything?”
Hale’s cheeks reddened slightly. “I’m afraid I was quite forthcoming. I was so relieved for you that I couldn’t contain myself.”
“Don’t apologize. I would have told him myself.” Her voice grew smaller. “Had he come back to me.”
“May I speak plainly, my lady?”
She nodded, bracing herself.
“Sebastian believes you don’t share his feelings. He wanted to give you peace, so he decided to step aside and fight the rest of his battles with his family.”
Rose stared at him, shocked. “That’s what he thinks? That I don’t care for him?”
“He said you hadn’t confessed otherwise.” Hale’s tone was carefully neutral. “Is he wrong?”
She almost laughed at the optimism in his question.
Sebastian had clearly won over the estate manager just as thoroughly as he had her.
“When we thought I’d have to marry Baron White, Sebastian said we could run away together.
Be poor but free. I was so overwhelmed, so frightened, that I didn’t know what to say.
Then Baron White arrived, having heard it all.
And you know the rest.” She spread her hands helplessly.
“Understandable. But your hesitation made him uncertain.”
Rose stared down at her hands. “I fought my feelings, Mr. Hale. But there’s something about him that moves me.
He touches my heart in ways I didn’t know were possible.
I think of him every moment of the day. I couldn’t stay away from him despite knowing how dangerous it was.
” She looked up, tears shimmering in her eyes.
“I’m in love with him. Devastatingly so. ”
Hale leaned forward, his expression earnest. “Despite everything between your families? The history?”
“My father destroyed his family out of greed and jealousy. Should Sebastian and I deny ourselves love because of that?” Her voice grew stronger. “If I let disgust about our past dictate my future, then Father wins, even from his grave.”
A slow smile spread across Hale’s weathered face. “I couldn’t agree more. Sebastian Ashford’s a good man, Lady Rose. Courageous and honorable. Now that you can choose your own fate, I humbly suggest you choose love.”
Something in his tone made her study his face more carefully. “You speak as if from experience.”
His smile faltered. “I would choose love again, if it were ever offered to me. After what happened to Lizzie, I didn’t think I’d ever be open to the idea.
However, now that so much time has passed, I find myself longing for a love of my own.
” He trailed off, pain flickering across his features.
“I think she would want me to find love again. If Hargrave is found and charged, I can finally move forward.”
Rose reached over and squeezed his hand. “I’m so sorry. We mustn’t give up on finding Hargrave.”
“Wherever that devil is hiding, his luck will run out eventually.”
“The constable won’t rest until he’s found.”
“I know. And when he is, I’ll finally have peace.”
“May I speak plainly, Mr. Hale, as you have done to me?”
“Please.”
“There’s a certain housekeeper who looks at you with a glimmer in her eyes. Have you noticed?”
He looked genuinely shocked. “Mrs. Blythe? Are you certain?”
“It’s mere conjecture on my part but I’ve known her a long time. I’m fairly certain.”
“I see.” He tugged on his ear, gazing behind her for a moment. “She is a fine person. We’ve been close friends for years. I don’t know why I’ve never considered it.”
“Perhaps it’s time?”
“Perhaps. And what of you and Sebastian? What do you plan to do?”
Rose drew in a deep breath, decision crystallizing in her mind. “I’m going to Brighton to see him. I must tell him how I feel.”
Hale studied her face, then nodded slowly. “Shall I have them prepare a carriage for tomorrow morning?”
“Yes.” Her voice wavered slightly. “I want him to come home to me. For good.”
“I’ll see to the arrangements. But I insist on accompanying you. A woman traveling alone isn’t safe, especially with your father’s associates still at large.”
Rose felt a surge of gratitude for this steady, loyal man. “Thank you. We’ll leave at first light.”
“And Lady Rose?” Hale’s eyes twinkled. “I have a feeling this story will have a much happier ending than either of you expects.”