by Aria Norton
It took less than ten minutes before he made his way to the drawing room. George found his friend sipping his tea while leafing through a botanical book.
“Tomas! It’s good to see you, my friend. I didn’t expect you.”
The count looked up, smiling. “George!” Putting down his cup, Tomas stretched out his hand to him. “How are you?”
George grasped it with his own. “As well as can be. Please, sit, sit. I assume you got my letter yesterday?”
“Yes,” the man said nodding. “I was pleasantly surprised. Do you know that I met your daughter and her husband some days ago? They were supposed to call on me for some lunch, but they sent their regrets and said they had something else to do. I was rather disappointed, but seeing you has made it better. How are you, old friend?”
Aurora had said that she had met the count at the ball but had not known then he was Carlos’ father. I wonder what he’ll say once he knows the truth? Needless to say, Alba would be in trouble.
“Well, thank you. Were you in the area that you decided to come and see me? I see you did not come with Alba.”
A pained expression came over the count’s face. What is all that about? Was there trouble between Tomas and Alba?
“No, she has gone shopping. She left early this morning, and I decided to get out of the house. ’Tis rather boring sitting at home the whole day, so I decided to pay you a personal visit. Have I intruded? Do you have somewhere else to go?”
Thank goodness, that diabolical woman is not here. “No, not at all. I was merely surprised, that is all.”
How do I broach this subject with him? The sooner I tell him, the better.
“What is troubling you, George?” Tomas asked. “You appear disturbed.”
George decided that being straightforward was the way to go. “I have a letter for you.”
The count’s eyebrows gathered in the middle. “A letter? From who?”
“Once you read it, everything will become clear to you.”
George took the envelope out of his pocket and handed it to Tomas. The count was surprised as he took it, turning it over in his hand.
“’Tis not only a letter in here.”
“Yes,” George agreed. “Please read the letter before you look at the items.”
Tomas nodded, opening the envelope and taking the carefully written letter out. The man’s face was expressionless at first, but a frown soon formed. George watched as the count’s face paled at first and then turned red, his knuckles whitening. Finally, the man looked up.
“Is this all true? Your daughter speaks the truth?”
“I’m afraid so. As is stated in the note, Aurora overheard your wife admit to everything. It was confirmed by Carlos hours later.”
A stricken look washed over the man as his hand trembled. His body seemed to grow slack as he dropped the envelope to the floor, its contents spilling out. George bent to pick them up and put them back inside, worried about his friend’s frame of mind.
“I don’t understand,” the count muttered under his breath. “How can this be true? Oh, Maria! My son!” Tomas looked at him sharply. “Your daughter says that she has the proof. Where is it?”
George gave him the envelope. “She included it with the letter.”
The count snatched it out of his hand, emptying the contents onto the palm of his hand. He stared at them for some time, saying nothing. When Tomas finally looked up, George could see tears in his eyes.
“Please, I want to see the drawing of the birthmark. Anyone can steal these items, but the birthmark is a different story. Only those closest to us know about it. I have it, and my father had it, and his father had it, and so forth. It has been passed down only through the male members of the Ortez family. If the drawing is accurate, then I will have no more doubts.”
George had kept the drawing in his breast pocket as the envelope had been unable to hold any more items. He had almost forgotten about it and was glad that it had not fallen out during his journey to London. He handed it over, growing uncomfortable when the man burst out crying upon seeing it. What now? Do I comfort him? Pat his back? George had never been good at the wishy-washy things that emotions were. Fortunately, he was saved the trouble when Tomas stood up.
“My son must be on his way to Scotland, or perhaps he has arrived there already. I will spare nothing in finding him.”
“And your wife? What will you do about her?”
The count’s eyes darkened. “I will deal with her later. She will pay for all she has done.”
George bid the man farewell, glad that his part of the plan was over. Now, it was up to the count to find his Carlos, restore everything that was lost to his son, and get justice for his wife’s death.
“He has been married to Alba for twenty-eight years, and they have five daughters together. I doubt it will be easy to punish her. Better him than me.”
George was more concerned about his own daughter. What would become of her now? It was evident that Carlos did not want anything to do with her.
“If that man were right here in front of him, I would challenge him to a duel. How dare he use and discard my daughter like a piece of soiled cloth?”
George knew that he was as much to blame as Carlos. He had agreed to the marriage instead of finding out more about the man before allowing him to marry Aurora. Carlos had hurt her – George had seen it in her eyes when she had spoken to him.
“But she didn’t let that stand in the way of doing good. She ensured that her husband got the justice he deserved, but who will give her what she deserves?”
His daughter was pure kindness. To think that he had once believed her to be bothersome! Stubborn, yes, but he could claim that trait as his own.
“If she wishes it, I will ensure that Parliament gives her a divorce. Never again will I force a marriage on her.”
Once he returned home, George decided to contact his lawyer about giving his daughter an inheritance to match her brothers. The house would definitely be hers, and he would make sure that she had enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life. Pleased with his way of thinking, George poured himself some tea, not concerned that it had grown cold.
Chapter 26
On top of having to leave Aurora behind, Lydia was not speaking to him. Carlos sighed inwardly, not wanting his mother to pick up on his bleak mood. My mother believes that I am the one at fault, the one who drove my wife away. That is anything but the truth. I wish I could tell her everything, but she might decide to do something stupid like go after Alba herself.
Carlos had been happier when Lydia had been scared of Alba and didn’t want to be anywhere near her. Ever since Aurora came into their lives, Lydia had changed into a lioness. Truthfully, Aurora had also made Carlos feel that he could take on the world for her, but today he was helpless.
Attempting conversation, he pasted on a smile. “Did you enjoy the inn?”
His mother briefly looked at him, returning to her knitting soon after. Carlos had no idea what Lydia was knitting, but it was definitely for a woman judging by the pink colour. I would bet my last pound that it’s for Aurora. Perhaps she feels that I’ll come to my senses and reunite with Aurora. Doing so would put his wife’s life in danger, something Carlos wasn’t willing to do.
“I enjoyed the food,” he continued. “Although I do not think that I will grow used to black pudding. Perhaps if I got over the knowledge that ’tis pig’s blood and spices, I might feel better about it.”
“Then simply do not eat it or throw it away.” Lydia shrugged. “You have a habit of giving up easily and discarding things of no use to you.”
Carlos winced. At least she is talking to me. “That is not fair. Have I ever given up on anything in the past?”
“Nothing that mattered,” she responded.
“We’re going around in a circle again, aren’t we, Mother? Aurora is happier where she is, and it’s time we move on with our lives. What is the point of bringing her up?”
/> Lydia raised her eyebrows. “I didn’t say that I was talking about Aurora. You brought her up.”
He bit back a laugh. “You know full well that you are talking about my marriage to Aurora. There are plenty of other women to fall in love with, Mother. I am confident that you’ll find a sweet Scottish lass to pour your love on since you don’t seem to think that I’m worthy anymore.”
“Pity does not become you, hijo. I have given you plenty of love, and I continue to do so. It is with love that I tell you that you are foolish for letting Aurora go. That woman was perfect for you in every way, but you could not see that through your obsession with speaking to your father.”
Lydia was wrong there. Carlos knew with every fibre of his being that Aurora was the right woman for him and had likely known it for a long time. It had been his own pride and stubbornness that had kept him from seeing the truth. It had taken the kidnapping to finally understand that Aurora was his life.
“It is not an obsession. I seek justice and my rights – how can that be wrong?”
Lydia snorted. “You used your wife – that is wrong enough.”
I am not going to win this conversation. “Very well, I am wrong, and you are right.”
“There is no point in telling me that I am right, Carlos. I know that I am right, but the question is if you realise you are wrong. Do you feel in your heart that you have behaved unfairly with her?”
Carlos felt it every day. “I see that you do not understand my reasoning.”
“I raised you. Of course, I understand you. I likely know better than you what is best for you. Sometimes it takes someone’s objective opinion to shed light and perspective on a situation. I watched you grow closer to Aurora, as she did with you. To see your marriage fall apart simply breaks my heart.”
This time, Carlos sighed loudly. His mother telling him that Aurora also had feelings for him was not doing his resolve to stay away any good. Carlos had never seen any evidence of these feelings, but he trusted his mother’s judgement. I never admitted to having a tendre for Aurora, but Lydia could see right through me. She saw my feelings before I had even acknowledged them! It stood to reason that Lydia had also witnessed Aurora’s feelings for him. I would turn back right now and beg her for forgiveness, but my hands are tied. Alba was a dangerous woman and would feel no remorse in killing another woman.
“Let’s just focus on the future, please,” he begged her. “Scotland is a beautiful country, and you can decide where we will call home. Perhaps you can–”
Lydia lifted her hand. “Please, I do not wish to discuss finding another home. England has become my home because Aurora is here. She is my daughter-in-law, and will always be my daughter-in-law. Nothing you say or do will change that. You know that I love you, hijo, but you are a fool. Now, allow me to knit in peace.”
His mother was as stubborn as Aurora! Shaking his head, Carlos returned to reading the newspaper he had bought from a paperboy near the inn. It had the usual London Season news, business forecast, a bit of international news, and some scandal.
“England wouldn’t be England without some kind of scandal,” he muttered.
Once people found out that he had left the country and his wife behind, they would probably take to gossiping about Aurora once more. It pained him to know that they would attack her character and likely blame her for their marriage breakdown. Carlos was the one to blame, but revealing that would put his wife’s life in danger. She has dealt with scandal before, and she will deal with it again. At least she will still have her life. It wasn’t fair, but it was necessary.
“I hope she has arrived home safely,” he whispered.
Lydia’s head jerked up, narrowing her eyes at him for a moment before looking down again. Had he said that out loud? Perhaps I am losing my mind.
Folding his newspaper, Carlos looked out of the window. Had his men managed to find her yet? Alba was not the only one who had henchmen. Carlos had them as well, and he had ordered them to look for Aurora and make sure that she got home unharmed. He didn’t trust Alba one bit. Look at how she had gone back on her word about Aurora being at the abandoned building?
“What else can I expect from a murderer?” he said under his breath.
His mother looked up again, but this time Carlos was confident that she had not heard him. Lydia took up her knitting once again, muttering to herself. He caught the words ‘fool’ and ‘Aurora’, but not much else. It didn’t take a scientist or mathematician to figure out what she was saying. Yes, Carlos was a fool and more, but at least he knew that Aurora would be safe with his informants there to protect her. They would remain in the shadows and follow her everywhere, regularly updating him about her life. Carlos wanted to know everything; it was the only way he could keep her in his life without jeopardising hers.
Quite out of nowhere, the carriage jerked as two carriages sped past on either side of them and stopped in front, barring their way.
“What the devil–!”
Had Alba decided to do away with him after all? Carlos had his hand on the pistol concealed under his clothing, waiting for the carriage to stabilise before he could step out.
“Mother, are you hurt?”
Lydia fixed her bonnet, smoothing her dress. “I am fine, but what on earth happened? Why have those carriages stopped in front of us?”
“That is what I am going to find out. I need you to remain in the carriage at all times, do you hear me?”
Lydia’s eyes widened. “You think it is Alba, yes? That is just as well because I have some things to say to her!”
“No!” Carlos yelled. “You will do no such thing, you hear? I have already lost Aurora; I will not lose you as well.”
Carlos watched the colour drain out of his mother’s face. “What do you mean that you have lost Aurora? You said that she was at home, and you parted amicably. Were you lying to me?”
Palming his face, Carlos groaned. Fool! Why did he have to go and say that? “No, that is not what I meant. Can you please just listen to me and stay in the carriage?”
Lydia didn’t look happy about it, but she nodded. “Very well, but you will explain yourself when you come back, and no more lies.”
Carlos said nothing, only giving her a quick peck on the cheek before stepping down. He hardly had time to look at the carriages properly before one of their doors swung open and his father stepped out. Stunned, Carlos dropped his pistol hand to his side. He vaguely realised that he was exposing himself, but Carlos didn’t think that he was in danger.
“Carlos!” his father shouted, tears in his eyes.
Why was the count crying? The man ran towards Carlos, stopping an arm’s length in front of him.
“My Lord?” he said, not sure of what else he should say.
“I know everything,” the count informed him.
What is he talking about? “I am sorry, My Lord, but I do not follow.”
“You’re my son, Carlos. I know that now. I know everything! I am so sorry, son, so sorry. I could never have guessed that the woman I call Wife could have killed your mother and attempted to kill you. I was so distraught with grief after your mother died that I could hardly think. And suddenly, Alba was there, and circumstances forced me to marry her. I never wanted to, you must understand.”
The count’s tears ran down his face and into his open mouth as he continued to speak, pouring out whatever the man had in his heart. Finally, he stopped and simply clasped Carlos to him.