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CHAPTER NINETEEN

A nna’s stomach dropped at the news.

“What? How — how are we to believe what she says?”

Ellen looked just as distressed as her mistress, doing her best to calmly explain.

“She arrived and asked if we kept the child that had been left in a basket three months ago. She was pleased with Mr. Ernest to let her see her son and called him by his name. The housekeeper asked her what her son looked like and she described him down to the little birthmark he has on his left ankle.”

Anna felt as though the floor was falling apart from under her. She understood that her reactions were not ideal, considering that they had hoped they would find Nicholas’ parents, and now that they seemed to have attained their goal, she was so terrified by the idea of letting him go.

“Let us see this guest first,” Julian told her gently, handing Nicholas over to Ellen. “Get him dressed and comfortable in the meantime.”

Then gently, he took Anna’s hand and led her downstairs.

“I’m scared,” she admitted quietly. “I don’t know why but I am. And I don’t know what to do.”

Julian pulled her into a warm embrace, stroking her hair gently as he told her,

“You have done an excellent job with Nicholas in the time that you have known him. And your actions have given you the right to have a say in whatever happens to him moving forward. I still would like his parents to take responsibility for him, but if you wish to state a stance in the opposite direction, I will not stop you.”

It was far more than she could have asked for from Julian. With a whisper of gratitude, she burrowed deeper into his arms, inhaling the sweet, almost tart musk that clung to his skin, feeling herself relax in his arms.

“Let us get this done, once and for all.” Julian urged gently.

Anna nodded and let him continue to lead them down the rest of the stairs, inhaling sharply at the sight of a woman who was waiting for them in the foyer.

Julian was the one who spoke up, clearing his throat and asking,

“Can we help you?”

The woman turned around and Anna gasped, recognizing her at once as Marjorie Snowley.

Months ago, there had been rumors about her disappearance, and some people believed that she had eloped with a man her elite parents would not approve of and others thought that she had met an untimely end.

It would seem that neither of those speculations held the truth because Marjorie was standing before them, under unique circumstances.

“Your Grace,” she bowed her head as she curtsied.

“My apologies, for arriving without informing you beforehand. I was simply desperate to see my son and couldn’t think about much else other than him.

I understand that you are unlikely to trust me based on my mere words, but I am willing and prepared to tell you everything about my situation.

If you would just give me the chance to do so. ”

Anna, still unsure of what to say squeezed Julian’s hand, and her husband prompted, pointing in the direction of a drawing room.

“Perhaps we should discuss this matter in depth, then.”

Once they were all settled with some tea and scones served as refreshments, Anna quietly asked.

“Why did you abandon him like that? He could’ve gotten really hurt, had we not found him in time.”

Marjorie twisted her handkerchiefs nervously in her hands as she spoke up.

“I am sorry. I am truly so sorry. I thought that he would be safer here than anywhere else. The last three months without him were awful and I missed him immensely. I just… did not know what else I could do. I… met Lord Harrow over a year ago and despite the rumors about him, I fell in love with him. He was sweet, thoughtful, and kinder than most men who had tried to court me. And soon, we became lovers. I believed we would be together forever because he always acted as though he loved me, as much as I loved him. But then one day, he disappeared and I never heard from him again.”

“That blasted Seth,” Julian grunted, only to realize that he had spoken aloud. “My apologies. You may continue.”

Marjorie nodded slowly. “I was worried about him, but then I had heard that he was still roaming about, engaging in his usual rakish activities. I was devastated, especially when I discovered that I was with child, months after he abandoned me. My family was horrified by what I had done and they quickly sent me to the countryside to birth my child, while they worked hard to suppress any whisper of scandal surrounding my condition. I stayed there until I birthed Nicholas, and I’d hoped we’d be able to live a simple life together, just the two of us.

But my parents refused. They demanded that I give up my son again so that they might find me a suitor to marry.

I refused because I couldn’t bear to part with him.

But they did not relent, constantly belittling me and saying such foul things about my dear, sweet child.

I didn’t want him to have a difficult life, so I left him here in hopes that Seth would realize what had happened and would look for me.

But… I’ve heard nothing from him. He has not written to me or tried to find me, and I have begun to lose hope. Perhaps it wasn’t meant to be.”

Anna felt her heart break for the other woman. It was obvious that she had been through so much and endured many more in the name of love and they had been so wrong about her and her reasons for leaving Nicholas to them.

“Marjorie, Seth doesn’t live here. My wife was the only one inhabiting this estate along with the staff at the time that you had left him here.

If she had not brought Nicholas’ arrival to my knowledge, I would never have even put the pieces together to convey to him that he has a child.

You should’ve written to him.” Julian told her patiently.

“I was scared he would prove to be everything everyone had said about him. I felt discarded already when he did began to avoid me and I was not brave enough to put myself before him again. But… my parents have found me a husband and I am to be wed next week. I know it is foolish and perhaps I should simply give up but I wanted to see Seth one last time and hear from his lips that he doesn’t want anything to do with me or our child.

I need to know. I cannot simply leave my son like this, letting him grow up believing that he was abandoned by both his parents. ”

At this point, she was crying, wiping her tears away with the handkerchief in her hand.

“Do not worry, Miss Snowley. I will send for my brother immediately and we will have this situation sorted out as best as we can. In the meantime, perhaps you would like to see your son?” Julian offered looking at Anna.

The duchess nodded, rising to her feet and holding her hands out to the other woman.

“Oh, can I really?” she gasped, looking as though she was reluctant to hope.

“Of course. Let me take you to him.”

Marjorie took her hand gratefully and Anna led her to Nicholas’ nursery.

“You gave us quite a fright,” Anna teased lightly.

“We were all so stunned to find a little child in a basket. But we adapted rather quickly to his presence. All my maids have fallen hopelessly in love with him. He has been remarkably cared for since his arrival here, so you can be rest assured that he is in good health.”

Marjorie nodded, gasping when the duchess opened a door to reveal a maid cradling Nicholas in her arms. The boy turned at the sound, his eyes immediately falling on his mother. Anna had always wondered how he would react to seeing her if they were ever reunited, unsure if he would recognize her.

Nicholas stared at the women approaching him and he began to make a fuss, reaching for Marjorie with a whine.

“Oh, my little berry bundle,” Marjorie whispered, her voice choked up with tears as she lifted her son into her arms.

Anna and the maid stood back to watch the tearful reunion with a few tears of their own.

Looking at how emotional she was, Anna could tell how difficult the separation had been for her.

She understood that Marjorie had truly thought it would be best for Seth to care for their child, as he had the resources to do so, and she even understood Julian’s speeches about responsibility now.

“You have gotten so big, my darling boy. I am so sorry to have missed all that time with you. I was worried to the brink of insanity but I prayed every day that you would be safe and cared for. And you were,” Marjorie said to him softly, gently running a hand over his clothed limbs.

She turned to Anna after she had gotten her fill of her son for that moment and said earnestly,

“I am so grateful. Thank you so much for looking after him. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been. He is quite a fussy eater.”

Anna agreed immediately. “That he is. He is quite fond of berries though. Anything our cook prepares for him is acceptable, as long as it contains enough berries for this little prince.”

She reached for his hand, smiling tearfully when he clutched one of her fingers in his hand and would not let her go.

“He absolutely loves berries. That is why I call him Berry Bundle. I believe he got the trait from his father. Seth might seem like a sour man, but he really does have quite the sweet tooth and a fondness for berry tarts.” Marjorie sighed wistfully.

“I am scared to face him. I fear that I deluded myself into believing that he loved me too and only disappointment awaits. What if he truly wants nothing more to do with me because of Nicholas?”

Anna shook her head and wrapped an arm around the young woman, gently patting Nicholas’ hair with the other.