Ashes of Roses

by Melissa R. L. Simonin

  “We were on our way to the ball when Anika’s Mom called to tell us what they learned, and they began sending the evidence to prove it. There’s no question, that it’s the truth.”

  Sir Edmund looked stunned.

  “But... this would mean, what? The manor isn’t ours, after all?”

  “Although Evie did not take possession, the manor transferred to her after her father’s death,” Miles replied. “According to the terms of the will, it then transferred to her son, then to his daughter, and so on.”

  “Then—Bannerman manor belongs to someone else,” Sir Edmund tried to wrap his mind around that. “Does anyone else know of this?”

  “The knowledge extends no further than Anika’s family, our friends, and the occupants of this room,” Miles answered.

  There was silence as the rest of the room’s occupants attempted to absorb this latest bombshell.

  And then… Lady Carlisle began to laugh. She laughed, and laughed, and kept right on laughing. Because she didn’t believe it? She didn’t want to believe it? This, on top of everything else, was too much? Tears poured down her face, but still she laughed. I glanced at Miles, he glanced at Sir Edmund, and Sir Edmund glanced at Ashley. None of us knew what to do. Though Ashley did retrieve a box of tissues, and set them on the end table beside Lady Carlisle. She snatched out a handful and mopped at her face, laughing all the while.

  “Mother… are you quite alright?” Sir Edmund finally asked, but his expression of concern was met with a fresh volley of laughter.

  I felt kind of bad. Everything we said was true, but not all truths set people free. I began to wonder if this revelation would result in Lady Carlisle being confined to a padded room.

  At last, the laughter subsided. She mopped up the last of the tears, and took a deep breath. Much to my surprise, she appeared as though a weight had been lifted.

  “The manor, caring for it, living up to the responsibility I believed to be mine, it was exhausting,” Lady Carlisle declared, much to our astonishment. “So tell me, what is ours? Surely Douglas did not come to the marriage penniless.”

  “I would suggest that you contact an attorney specializing in inheritance disputes to officially determine that, but no, Douglas was not empty-handed when he married Helen,” Miles replied.

  Lady Carlisle appeared satisfied with that, and Sir Edmund looked more shocked than anything else, but Ashley’s expression was one of dismay.

  “But this can’t be right,” she protested. “This is the Carlisles’ home. It’s been in their family for more than a century. Surely, whoever it belongs to wouldn’t just turn them out!”

  “Well, that’s up to you,” I said.

  Ashley’s eyebrows knit. The Carlisles didn’t seem to get it, either.

  “Miles’ DNA testing didn’t link his family to the Carlisles,” I recapped. “However, another link was found. Along with the diary entries and the letters from Evie, it confirmed that the identity of the inheritor, is none other than our very own Ashley Fairgrave.”

  And now, there was silence.

  “So… Ashley, meet your long lost cousin, Miles,” I said, and he smiled and waved.

  Wide eyes, and silence. I was about to decide that’s all we were getting from these people.

  Sir Edmund suddenly slapped his leg, and laughed.

  “I should think you were making the whole thing up, if I didn’t believe you!” he declared, which was kind of redundant, but after having his mind blown a few too many times over the past few days, it wasn’t fair to expect much.

  “How can this be possible,” Ashley said helplessly. The shock was still strong, with that one.

  “Your mother was a direct descendant of your great-great-grandparents, Joseph and Evie O’Connell,” Miles explained.

  “My great-grandparents were named O’Connell,” she said in surprise.

  “So were your great-great grandparents,” I reminded her. “There’s an abundance of evidence to prove all of this, so… how do you feel?”

  “How do I feel? I hardly know! This—it’s so unreal. But even if the manor truly belonged to me, I would never take away your home!” she promised the Carlisles, but Lady Carlisle waved away her assurances.

  “It ceased to be home long ago,” she said. “I suppose you cannot imagine my relief at learning the responsibility is not mine, after all. I would not dishonor my husband by abandoning his ancestral home, but as it is not, I am frankly glad to be rid of it.”

  “Wow,” I said, because her attitude was a bigger surprise than all the rest. “Then I guess this works out nicely for everyone. So, Ashley… any big plans, now that the manor you’ve always been drawn to, is yours?”

  “I still feel rather overwhelmed,” she replied. “Though… I have dreamed of taking steps to share more of it with others. Weddings, banquets, receptions, lodging and dining… if done right, it could go a long way toward paying for its own upkeep.”

  “It’s a rotten shame Delacroix did such a bang up job destroying the first floor east,” Sir Edmund frowned, and Ashley looked worried.

  “As I recall, he planned to pay to repair, himself,” Lady Carlisle replied.

  “That’s right,” I confirmed. “He wanted a controlling interest in the manor, and thought stepping in and mitigating the crisis, would give him that.”

  “How beautifully wrong he turned out to be,” Sir Edmund said with satisfaction.

  “He shall pay for the repairs regardless,” Lady Carlisle said firmly. “The injury is personal, and I intend to see that he is held liable.”

  “There’s evidence enough,” Miles said. “Any attorney worth their salt will have no trouble finding against him.”

  “That would be wonderful,” Ashley said in relief. “Once complete, the rooms will do nicely to lodge paying guests.”

  “They really will,” I agreed. “You’re more likely to draw people in, if they don’t have to share a communal bathroom.”

  “Yes of course,” Ashley said. “There are a number of other changes I’d like to make, as well as a few additions, not to mention the necessary improvements for such an endeavor...”

  Her voice trailed off as she became lost in thought, worried thoughts, judging by her expression. She was starting to look overwhelmed.

  “I do not imagine the entire Bannerman estate consisted of nothing more than the manor,” Lady Carlisle said generously. “Regardless, I am always open to the right investment, and who better to invest in, than the young woman brave enough to risk her life to save ours. Write a proposal, and we’ll work something out. I should like to see what you do with the place, given the means.”

  “Thank you, Lady Carlisle,” Ashley responded. She looked more than a little overcome. “Your support means a good deal to me.”

  Regret filled Lady Carlisle’s eyes, as she looked back at her.

  “I cannot see why, after how abominably I treated you. I am terribly sorry for that. As I tried to live up to my position, it changed me. I realized these past few days that I did not at all care for the woman I’d become. Perhaps now you can better understand why I am glad to leave her behind, and remember who I once was.”

  “I suppose I do,” Ashley said, as the two women hugged. “Only know that you are always welcome, and I do hope to see you from time to time.”

  “I suppose I can manage that much,” Lady Carlisle smiled.

  Chapter 29

  “Welcome home!” Jenny said, as she hugged me on her way into our suite.

  “Thanks, it’s great to be back,” I said, as I hugged Annette.

  “So how was the beach, man?” Xander asked, as he and John made their way around us.

  “It was great,” Miles smiled.

  “You look good,” Jenny said, as she studied us critically on our way to the table, where our room service dinner awaited.

  “You do,” Annette agreed. “Really good.”

  She sounded kind of relieved.

  “What are you saying?” I replied. �
��That we didn’t, before?”

  “I don’t suppose anyone would, if they had as little sleep as we did the week we were abroad,” Miles said. “It’s a pity Ashley insisted on providing a car and driver. We would’ve rather spent the six hour trip it took to reach the airport, right here.”

  “The majority of the flight, too,” I said. “But you looked great, even though you were severely sleep deficient. You were just as gorgeous as ever.”

  “You too,” Miles smiled.

  “How would you know?” Xander snorted. “You guys were practically comatose when you picked up your kids, then took the Trixie express to your island. We hardly got a word out of you.”

  “If Trix landed us on the beach instead of inside, I have a feeling we’d be burned to a crisp right now, instead of well rested,” Miles said. “We didn’t do much but sleep for the first couple of days.”

  “Even though we had the fortress, and a whole island to explore,” I said. “Oh my goodness, the pygmy tyrants are adorable! I have pictures, I’ll show you later.”

  John and Xander looked kind of stunned.

  “Anika is referring to a type of small bird, not a tribe of tyrannical pygmies,” Miles smiled. We girls laughed, since we already knew.

  “Yeah, you had me wondering,” Xander admitted. “Only you guys would be able to sleep, if that’s what populated your island, I don’t care how tired they were!”

  “A tired pygmy tyrant would likely be less trouble than one that was wide awake,” I replied, and Xander rolled his eyes.

  “It stands to reason,” John agreed.

  “You’re right about Miles’ abilities, though,” I said. “Some of the wildlife on the island is really dangerous. I wouldn’t stay asleep there, or at all, without his forcefields.”

  Jenny shivered as she imagined it.

  “I’d be tempted to at least re-home the panthers and javelinas,” she commented.

  “There’s a delicate balance though,” I reminded her. “Take one species away, or add another, and the whole ecosystem crumbles.”

  “Speaking of taking away and crumbling, sort of, do you have any manor-related updates?” Annette asked.

  “Yes!” I replied. “Although I’m not all that sure what we already told you. I can’t remember.”

  “That’s because you told us nothing, man!” Xander complained. “You were in and out, and that was it.”

  “Thanks for that,” I scowled a little, as every word we actually said, and everything we did, ran through my mind.

  “Oh. Sorry,” Xander winced.

  “At least that’s the truth,” I confirmed.

  “Delacroix is in custody, and awaiting trial for his many crimes,” Miles answered the question. “The Carlisles’ lawsuit seeking damages for the destruction done to the manor, is also underway. Lady Carlisle herself, is doing some traveling. Ashley stayed at the manor, and is in the process of fleshing out plans to develop it as a destination location. The history Anika and I witnessed, and which you helped to substantiate, should prove useful when it comes to marketing.”

  “Since Douglas and Daniel were instrumental in Evie’s escape, the Carlisles are fine with sharing it,” I said. “It’s a great story, too.”

  “The ghost sighting, they’re not so sure about,” Miles remarked, and I managed not to laugh.

  “Ghost sighting?” Jenny frowned in concern.

  “That’s right,” Miles replied seriously, but there was a gleam of laughter in his hazel eyes. “There was only the one, so they hope the story will quickly extinguish.”

  “I’m not that optimistic,” I said ominously, and our friends looked concerned. “It’s too odd, to be forgettable.”

  “It’s not your typical ghost sighting, that’s for sure,” Miles said.

  “I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t become an urban legend,” I added, and Miles nodded.

  “I think you’re right. After all, whoever heard of a screaming surfer-dude, and a golden retriever haunting an English country house?”

  Xander’s eyes widened, and he grabbed his hair in his hands, as the rest of our friends burst out laughing.

  “No way! Aw, man! You’re serious? You’re not kidding me?” he exclaimed in excitement.

  “I’m not kidding, and neither is Anika,” Miles smiled.

  “Aw, dude! That’s all I need to die happy,” Xander declared. “Marry Jenny, and start an urban legend!”

  “At least you have your priorities in order,” Jenny rolled her eyes, but she laughed along with the rest of us.

  “So Ashley is staying at the manor, and Lady Carlisle is traveling, but what about Sir Edmund?” Annette questioned.

  “He moved to a flat in Camden, and his job starts Monday,” Miles answered.

  “He did,” Jenny said in surprise.

  “He was tempted at first to try and convince Ashley to pick up where they left off, but Miles talked him out of it,” I said.

  “That’s good, because Lady Carlisle’s attitude wasn’t the real problem,” Annette reflected.

  “It wasn’t,” I agreed. “But he wants to do better. He isn’t satisfied with being dependent on his mother, or anyone else.”

  “He has more respect for himself now, and as a result, he has more respect for Ashley and others,” Miles added.

  “So what does that mean, then?” Annette wondered.

  “They’re friends, for now,” I replied. “I’ll be surprised if they don’t end up together, but it won’t be until they’re on the same page in all the ways that matter.”

  “That’s good,” Jenny said, but she sounded doubtful.

  “He’s changed a lot,” I felt the need to defend him. “He and Miles are staying in touch, which is really good. They aren’t related like they thought, but if you go back far enough, they’re still related. We all are. So they’re maintaining that relationship.”

  “I understand him better than he realizes, given my own background,” Miles said. “Even though my brother chose to challenge my parents on most things, and our father never considered disowning him.”

  “It’s a good thing,” I said shortly. “Because then they would’ve turned their attention to setting you up with the wrong wife!”

  “Instead, everything turned out just as it should,” Miles said soothingly, as he gave me a one-armed hug. It was the best he could do, seated at the table.

  “It was no accident, either,” Jenny reminded.

  “It was preordained, and divinely arranged,” Annette added.

  “Yeah, it was,” I said, and I felt better.

  “Do Ashley and Finn know they’re related, yet?” John wondered.

  “They do now,” Miles said. “After Finn learned of the connection, he was willing to communicate with Ashley.”

  “So then we told her,” I said. “She was really surprised.”

  “Almost as surprised as he was, to find that she’s the rightful owner of the manor,” Miles said.

  “However, it did fit family legend that there was a distant connection between the O’Connells and Bannermans,” I added. “But, since he didn’t know she was a Bannerman any more than she did, yeah, he was really surprised. So was the rest of his family.”

  “The legend was what sparked his interest in the manor in the first place,” Miles said. “The magazine we discovered in the cottage had an article about the house and grounds, and the advertisement for a gardener specializing in roses.”

  “It praised the location as the ideal spot to grow them, which also interested him,” I said. “He started missing that more temperate climate, pretty much right after he left.”

  “Lady Carlisle has no interest in prosecuting Finn for destroying the hybrids planted on the grounds,” Miles said. “Neither does Ashley, although in the contract they both signed, he agreed never to do so again. In return, his roses will never be sold, and will remain exclusively at the manor.”

  “The exception is weddings and other events held at the manor,” I said. “It
’ll be a while before all the hybrids are replaced and producing, but it’ll be a huge drawing point, once they are.”

  “Yeah it will,” Jenny agreed. She and Annette, at least, were impressed with that.

  “So what about Bob?” Xander wondered. “Is there any news on him?”

  “He’s back home, and so is Mr. Roly Poly,” I said, and almost laughed at the disdainful sniff Trixie gave. Apparently she wasn’t above holding a grudge.

  “Grandma Polly is willing to puppy-sit again if need be,” Miles said. “However, since Bob came forward, forensics corroborates his story, he’s not being accused of trespassing, Harry Price had a record of criminal activity which included assaulting Anika in our suite shortly before his death, and Bob is instrumental in the case against Delacroix, he stands a good chance at avoiding jail time.”

  “We’re hopeful, because that isn’t where he belongs,” I said. “Since we spent our last three days at the manor serving as mediators between one group and another, we’ve had almost no time to look at all the evidence you guys came up with. So what I want to know is why Joseph left the manor in the first place, and where they went when they got to Ireland.”

  “Joseph’s uncle was wealthy by some standards, and had no son,” Annette reported.

  “The guy had a bunch of horses, and knew Joseph was good with them,” Xander added.

  “So he’s who the uncle thought of when he needed both an heir, and a trainer,” Jenny said.

  “It worked out very conveniently,” John remarked.

  “Especially since Joseph needed somewhere else to go,” Annette interjected. “He loved Evie since they were kids, but she was as unreachable as the moon, and he knew it. That didn’t make it easy, and he didn’t want to stay and see her married to someone else.”

  “His plans were in place before he saw how Douglas spoke to Evie that morning,” Jenny said. “Which was actually just hours before Joseph married her! How crazy is that.”

  “It’s crazy awesome,” Xander said with satisfaction. “I would’ve liked to see their parents’ faces, when their plans to make their kids miserable, backfired.”