Catherine felt a chill run over her.
"Of course there were rumors, but then there are always rumors in a manor household. Some even talked of the woman Elliot Darcmoor kept two villages over." Lorna lowered her voice to a whisper. "There was even talk that the earl had fathered a child by his mistress."
Lorna took another bite from her scone and followed it with a sip of tea. "Lucian grew into a fine young man, he did. A bit wild and fancy-free, but a fine, handsome man. He treated his mother royally and she loved him as only a mother could. Her heart broke when all the trouble started. Downright dirty business and unfair. Lucian may have got himself into some debt from time to time but he always paid off his debtors. There was no reason, no reason at all he should have been sold into servitude. His mother cried for weeks and then took ill. After that, Charles Darcmoor, a distant cousin, began to visit and soon the earl fired all the old servants. I moved on to Moulton Manor and heard of Lady Brynwood's passing while working there. I don't think she ever recovered from losing her son."
Catherine listened to Lorna's story carefully. She asked the woman a few more questions, offered her another scone and more tea, and an hour later, bid her farewell and extended a special thank-you for all her help.
"Dulcie," she said when the young woman came to clear away the tea tray. "Please tell Dunwith I wish to speak with him."
Dulcie nodded and took herself and the tray off.
Dunwith had been with her father since his youth. Which meant he would have knowledge of the incident at Brynwood and possibly the reason her father had signed that horrible paper. She should have considered this possibility sooner, but then perhaps she wouldn't have been prepared to confront Dunwith before now.
"You wished to see me?" Dunwith asked, entering the room.
"Close the door, Dunwith. I wish to speak with you."
If her order disturbed him, he didn't show it. He did as directed and then came to stand in front of her.
"Please be seated."
He looked at Catherine as though she had lost her mind.
"Be seated, Dunwith, that's an order,” she said sternly, reminding herself of Lucian and his authoritative tone.
Dunwith complied and sat on the settee, stiff and proper.
"I need answers, Dunwith. My father refuses to give them to me. Lucian is filled with anger and I fear a confrontation between him and my father is imminent. I need to know what happened in the past that caused the problem we all now face today."
Dunwith remained silent.
Catherine sighed. "I feared you would not cooperate with me. I know how loyal you are to my father and I admire that loyalty. I too sought to protect my father. Shall I detail the cost of that protection to you?"
For the first time in all the years Catherine had known Dunwith his stoic expression faltered and he stared at her with wide eyes. "It isn't necessary, my lady."
"But it is necessary if you persist in refusing to discuss this matter with me," she insisted.
"It is not my place."
"I understand how you feel, but please understand my predicament. I carry Lucian Darcmoor's child."
Dunwith blushed.
"Lucian is the pirate Lucifer and he seeks revenge against my father. I need to know the reason behind this hatred and only you can provide the missing information that will unlock the secret and allow me to understand how this whole mess began. Then possibly more hurt and suffering can be averted and everyone can begin to heal."
Dunwith stared at her with what Catherine could have sworn was admiration.
"Help me, Dunwith. Please."
Dunwith thought a moment, nodded, and slowly unraveled a tale that brought tears to Catherine' eyes and understanding to her heart.
"M’ lady, excuse me," Dulcie said peeking her head into the room thirty minutes later. "Here's a package for you from the Earl of Brynwood. It was left for you with an urgent message that you open it immediately."
Dunwith stood.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He nodded and took the package from Dulcie as she approached, then handed it to Catherine. "Would you prefer I open it?"
She shook her head, unwrapping the plain brown paper to reveal a black velvet box. She lifted the lid with a shaky hand, stopping a moment to take a deep breath.
What had Lucian sent her and why? Her trembling hand proceeded to open the lid farther and when her eyes caught sight of the contents, she gasped.
She dropped the box to her lap as she lifted the long strand of pearls from inside, letting them wrap around her fingers and fall over her wrist and down her arm.
"He's coming for me," she whispered. "Lucifer is coming for me."
Chapter Twenty-eight