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“She may have said something to the effect a time or two.” Or fifty.

“She spoke of him?”

Anna smiled sadly. “No. She merely proffered her opinion regarding nobility as a whole. Mother had strong opinions about many things.”

“She could be a force.” A faint, fond smile accompanied the statement.

“In this instance, she had good reason for her staunch belief. Her father, the duke, arranged what he believed was a good marriage for Emmaline. A nobleman from an old established family. She did not outright agree to the match, but she did concede to consider allowing the man to court her. To that end, he visited our estate in NorthUmberland where he stayed one month’s time .

“After several weeks, Emmaline was less than keen on the idea of marriage to him.”

She drew in a deep breath and continued with her tale.

“The morning of his departure, Emmaline came to us distraught. Apparently in a private conversation with the man, she expressed her intention not to wed him. She claimed this nobleman, a man highly esteemed for his rank and wealth, became enraged and attacked her.”

“And? What did the duke do? Did he call the man out?”

She pressed her lips together briefly. “No. He told her to grow up. Said it made no difference in the scheme of things. I’m not sure he even believed her. He said she did not have to like him in order to wed him.”

A sick feeling rolled through Anna. “And you? What did you say?”

She fisted her gloved hands on her lap. “The man was handsome, charming, rich. I couldn’t imagine him doing anything so barbaric as attacking our daughter in our own home.

I decided she must have embellished the truth.

When I said as much, she did not argue. She informed us of her intent never to see the man again and clammed up tight.

Wentworth was furious. A silent war ensued.

And then…she turned out to be with child. ”

Anna’s hand went to her throat. She couldn’t breath.

“Pragmatic as always, Wentworth determined that the two of them should marry as soon as the license could be obtained. Emmaline took his decision surprisingly well. Indeed, she made not a peep of protest.”

“What happened?”

“The morning her wedding was to take place, we woke to find her gone. I thought Wentworth would have an apoplexy. Even so, I argued—too little, too late—that we hadn’t done right by her.

Not only should we not force her to marry the blackguard, but we should beg for her forgiveness and…

” Her cheeks flushed an angry red. “… murder the bastard who’d hurt our daughter. ”

Anna nodded her agreement in vigorous accord.

Lady Wentworth’s eyes grew haunted. “Wentworth said any daughter who would disrespect him like that was no daughter of his. He said I must choose where my loyalties lie—with her or him. And I…” One tear coursed down her lined cheek.

“You chose him.”

“I did. But…I couldn’t live with my decision.

I grew to despise him—and myself. Nothing was worth the loss of my one and only daughter.

” She shifted in her seat and gazed out the window.

“Unbeknownst to him, I hired a runner. It took some time.

Years, in fact. But eventually the runner found her. Found you all, here, in Derbyshire.

“So to Derbyshire I traveled. I told Wentworth I wished to visit London for a shopping expedition, which brought me through Derbyshire. Nothing out of the ordinary for Claybourne, a peer of my husband’s, to put me up for a few days respite from the road.”

“So that’s how he recognized you—and somehow noted a resemblance when no one else did.”

Lady Wentworth arched a brow. “I wouldn’t say no one else. But, in Claybourne’s case, he did meet me when I was much younger. Perhaps I looked more like you, then.” She smiled faintly.

Anna could not help the slight, answering smile. She had a grandmother.

“I arrived in Derby full of hope—to visit with Emmaline, to make amends.” She sent Anna a watery smile. “That was the first time I laid eyes on you. You were such a beautiful child.”

Anna frowned. “I don’t recall meeting you.”

“Because you never did. Emmaline refused to see me. Nor would she permit me anywhere near you. That didn’t stop me from spying on you every chance I got. As for your mother, I gathered from your father, who I did meet with, briefly, that she was content with her life.”

Anna wrapped her arms around herself. “You say she was pregnant when she left home.”

Lady Wentworth nodded.

“With me?” Her voice was a mere whisper.

She nodded again.

“So, the man who raised me? The one I called father?”

“Was your father in all the ways that mattered. I met him only the once, but I could tell he would protect both of you with his life. Unlike Emmaline’s own parents.”

“How did they meet? Do you know?”

“She sought him out, initially, to oversee her pregnancy and to deliver her baby when the time came—you. She offered to be his housekeeper in exchange for his services.” Lady Wentworth gave a sad chuckle.

“He must’ve loved her at first sight. Emmaline didn’t know the first thing about housekeeping when she left home. ”

“He did love her, very much.” Tears she could not hold back blurred her vision. “She told me many times the trick in life was to find a good man who loved you. She warned me to stay away from the nobility because with them, the title always came first. Now I understand.”

Lady Wentworth made no reply.

A large part of Anna wanted to reach out, to wrap the woman in her arms and offer comfort. With an effort of will, she pushed the feeling aside. Now was the time for answers. As her father always said— her father— when in doubt, focus on the facts.

“How did I wind up in your employ? I assume you arranged that?”

She inclined her head. “I kept watch over you for years, my only recourse since Emmaline never acceded to any of my pleas—to meet you, to finance your education, or clothing, or sponsor a come-out. I needed to do something. To enrich your life in any way.

“I hoped, after her death…but your father refused to dishonor her wishes. I did the only thing left me. I set an investigator on you, in case you should ever need me. I’d long ago set up a trust in your name, one which you would inherit at the age of twenty-four, or when you married, whichever came first.

“I never told your mother of the trust. I couldn’t risk her undoing the thing. My solicitor informed your father’s solicitor only after both your parents passed. I suppose that’s how word of it got to Bolton, for he indeed knew of it.”

“Angelique must have learned of my inheritance first. My father’s second wife,” she offered by way of explanation.

“She has some tie to Bolton, the basis of which I haven’t a clue.

The two of them colluded to force me to marry him.

At least their plotting makes sense now in light of the trust. But none of that explains how I ended up working in your household. ”

Lady Wentworth gave a one shoulder shrug.

“It’s a rather simple tale. The investigator had eyes on Lord Bolton’s home, watching for any sign of you.

His employees followed you when you left in the dark of night, overheard you hailing a hackney to convey you to a pawn shop, subsequently followed you there and sent word to my solicitor who soon-after arrived… ”

Anna’s lips twitched and a welcome flash of amusement flitted through her. Simple, eh?

“…and saw that you received a large overpayment for your items, which he then purchased on your behalf—”

She closed her eyes briefly. “It is my mother’s ruby you sent with me.”

“ Your ruby. ”

Anna swallowed over the hard lump lodged in her throat. “I thought I’d never see it again. I assumed it could not possibly be one and the same. I also couldn’t comprehend why you would give me such a precious stone, period.”

“Well, now you know. It was your mother's, and was always meant to be yours. Regardless of how we leave things today, the ruby belongs to you. May I continue?”

Anna nodded.

“I was not at all certain what to do next. My man-of-affairs notified me you’d registered with that perfectly dreadful agency in a seedy part of town.”

Anna opened her arms wide. “I chose it as the look of the agency told me the agents might not go to the trouble of verifying my falsified references.”

Lady Wentworth smiled her cunning smile. “You are nothing if not resourceful.” She spread her hands wide. “You know the rest. I conspired to hire you.”

“After you got me un-hired from another household.” Anna held up her hand when the older woman opened her mouth, presumably to defend her actions. “I understand. Clearly I inherited my resourcefulness from you.”

A brief, comfortable silence passed, until the momentousness of their conversation seemingly overtook both of them again.

Anna met the older lady’s eyes. “Why not simply tell me the truth? Why, after my father passed, did you not seek me out and introduce yourself? Surely that would have been easier than relying on investigators, solicitors, and agencies.”

Her shoulders rose and fell in a deep sigh. “I feared you would turn me away as your mother had for what I had done. I decided to settle for some relationship rather than risk your hatred and banishment. ”

Frowning, Anna rose and paced to the window. “I confess, what you’ve shared is almost more than I can take in.”

“I understand.” She rose. “I’ll take my leave now if that is what you wish, and stay out of your life.”

She turned to face her. “You think I mean to cut you from my life, now ? After all you’ve done for me and all you’ve gone through yourself? You suffered for the choice you made so many years ago, and, though your apologies fell on deaf ears, watched over me still.”

She gave a self-derisive snort. “I did a bang-up job, did I not? Allowing that horrid man to get his hooks in you.”