A Dark Secret #3
“I wanted to forget it,” Lady Lockhart sobbed suddenly, all anguish and pain bursting out of her, and she buried her face in her hands.
“My husband and I, we both knew that it was unlikely that he was the father. Sebastian had had trouble sleeping in the cabin, and he had clung to us rather tightly, leaving little chance for us to….” She broke off and forced in another breath.
“We knew this child would forever remind us of that night.” She lifted her head, her cheeks tear stained.
“I tried to…rid myself of the child, but…” she shrugged helplessly, “but it didn’t work. I tried but…”
Helplessness washed over Juliet as she looked into her future mother-in-law’s anguished face. After suffering such an atrocity, she had been at the end of her tether, all hope to ever recover from this nightmare gone.
And then there was Christopher, who had lived his whole life with this shadow over his head, not knowing why his parents had never been able to love him, always doubting himself.
Inhaling deeply, Juliet pulled Lady Lockhart into her arms, holding her tightly.
“I’m so sorry for what happened to you, for what you had to go through,” she said gently, well-aware that words were frighteningly insignificant in moments like these.
“You confided in me, and I wish to tell you something as well.” She could feel her future mother-in-law still.
“I hope I’m not betraying my sister’s confidence, but I think if she were here right now, she would not hesitate to share her own story.
” She swallowed. “A little more than a year ago, Leonora was attacked at a masked ball. It haunted her, and in the weeks and months after, she retreated from the world, convinced she would never heal.”
Lady Lockhart sat up. “I’m sorry to hear it,” she said in a hoarse voice before a hint of confusion darkened her face. “Was she not recently married?”
Nodding, Juliet smiled at her. “She was. In fact, the way Leo tells it, it was her husband who helped her face that night, face those fears and lingering memories. She finally spoke to us, told us what happened, and I think that helped her feel like herself again.” She met Lady Lockhart’s gaze.
“You’ve kept this a secret for far too long; I understand why, but it kept you from truly moving forward.
” She grasped the older woman’s hands. “You were brave to tell me. Be brave again and tell Nora, tell Christopher.”
Lady Lockhart’s eyes went wide. “I cannot! I—”
“They will understand,” Juliet exclaimed with vehemence. “They will. I promise. They will not blame you. They will finally understand, and they will help you. It will bring you all closer.”
Lady Lockhart’s lips pressed tightly together, doubt and fear darkening her pale eyes. “He will never forgive me,” she choked out. “I know he won’t. I don’t deserve it.”
Juliet knew without a doubt that she was speaking of Christopher. “Do you want him to?”
After a moment of hesitation, Lady Lockhart nodded. “I never let myself realize it, but, yes, I know I did wrong by him. I failed him. He deserved better.”
“It is not too late,” Juliet urged her. “Christopher is a kind and compassionate man. He went against everyone to do right by his son.”
A small smile tugged upon Lady Lockhart’s lips. “You mean, he went against me.”
Juliet nodded. “Yes, he did what he thought right. He is a good man. Whoever his father was does not matter. He is not him. He is himself.”
A deep sigh left Lady Lockhart’s lips, and she nodded. “I know. He’s always been such a sweet boy,” she mumbled wistfully, yet her hands were clamped tightly together. “I would look at him and see how much he wanted me to love him. I could see it in his eyes. I…”
“He still does,” Juliet whispered as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. Never in her life had she felt such turmoil, such anguish. “Give us all a chance. Please.”
Lady Lockhart turned to look at her. “Will you not forever see the boy’s mother when you look at the child?” She sighed. “Sebastian.” A soft smile touched her lips. “He truly named him Sebastian?”
Juliet nodded. “He did because he loved his brother very much. And I admit I wondered if I’d be able to love him.” Smiling, she shook her head. “Yet somehow all doubts are gone now. In a way, even though I’ve yet to even lay eyes on him, I already do.”
“Good,” Lady Lockhart mumbled despite the spark of disbelief that remained in her eyes. “I’m glad he found you.” She patted Juliet’s hand. “You’ll be good for him, for them both.”
Juliet smiled at her future mother-in-law. “What will you do?” she asked then, raising a questioning brow. “Will you continue to run? Or will you stand and fight to reclaim your life?”
A soft chuckle left the other woman’s lips. “You’re not one to give up easily, are you?”
“Never,” Juliet exclaimed with a laugh. “We Whickertons don’t even know the meaning of that word. We’re stubborn and mule-headed and we do what we must to protect those we love.” She squeezed her mother-in-law’s hand. “And that includes you.”
A spark of hope lit up Lady Lockhart’s eyes, and Juliet rejoiced inwardly, knowing that somewhere down the line, their family would be whole again.