Chapter 68
“You’re really okay with this party?” Harper asked for the hundredth time.
Lady Bell grinned. “More than okay. We’ve spent the greater part of this year rebuilding.
Those Army Corps of Engineers fellows, cute as they are, are finally ready to leave; people are finally back in the village …
we’re overdue for a party. Besides, I’m dying to meet Carli.
She’s been emailing me ever since you broke the news.
She wants a séance; I told her that’s not really my bag. ”
Harper snorted. “That sounds like something she’d ask. Carli will be fully satiated to sit at Nora Grey’s table and listen to Nigel’s stories.” She sipped her gin and tonic.
Lady Bell paused. “Not to begrudge a tough topic, I have to ask, Harper. I know we’ve talked about it over the course of the past year, but your parents.”
“My parents,” Harper said softly. “I think grief is like a wave. I thought I’d gotten far enough out to sea, but I still get pulled under at times. This grief feels new again.” She looked at Lady Bell. “I’m healing. I can feel it. This wound won’t always be quite so raw.”
“There’s a lot I don’t know, but I am certain that your parents are watching from The Great Whatever Comes Next.” Lady Bell smiled, her expression thoughtful. “It’s been a year.”
“It’s been a year and you still haven’t told me how you came to be Lady Loreana Bell.” Harper watched Lady Bell’s eyes catch the firelight as the light reflected off the books in the library of Bell Manor. “You’ve promised, but you never have.”
Lady Bell looked over at her, a drink in her hand, and she chuckled. “Won’t Anna be missing you?”
Harper shook her head. “She’s fast asleep. They’re raising the new community library tomorrow—The Meg MacGruer Memorial Library—it has a nice ring to it, right?”
Lady Bell nodded. “It does. So does Lady Hafdóttir.”
“You’re not upset?” Harper asked with sincerity.
Lady Bell shook her head. “You have to make this mantle your own. The old ways don’t work forever.
The Bell name was never about blood, it’s made of sterner stuff than that.
No reason to keep up the facade. It’s a good example for the world to see, the idea that family means so much more than our Science can explain.
” She sipped her drink. “Besides, you can’t go changing your name now that you’ve finally become Dr. Hafdóttir. ”
Harper let the words settle. The fire crackled and spit, and she sipped her drink and let the gin sit on her tongue. “You are my family, and so are my mother and father, Anna, Hedy, Sven, Murph, Einar, Carli.” She narrowed her gaze. “But you’re stalling. How did you become who you are?”
Lady Bell gave Harper a crooked smile. “Alright. Sit back, it’s a helluva story.”