Page 44 of The Viscount Needs a Wife (All for Love #2)

“Emrys, is there any way there could be something hidden in this box? It was Mama’s, and she gifted it to me on her death. It’s where she kept the ring. I’m wondering if there might be something else in it? I can’t believe she wouldn’t tell me...”

He took the box from her and examined it, turning it this way and that, upside down. “Annis, bring that candle closer, will you?”

She picked up the beside candle and held it while he ran his fingers over the scratched and dulled surface of the box that must have once been highly polished.

He unlatched the clasp and opened the box removing its contents: a collection of papers her mother had left her, things from her childhood, the papers for the school, and her will.

He felt around inside the box and said, “Ah! I think—”

“What?”

“It has a false bottom, I think. See, it is much narrower and shallower on the inside than one would expect.”

“Why did I never notice that?”

“You weren’t looking for it. Now, how to release—” He frowned, running his fingers all over the inside of the box.

“This bit of wood here,” he muttered, pointing to a square of wood flush with the inside panel, near the lip at the front.

Using his nail, he prized it out and underneath revealed a catch.

Lifting it, the bottom of the box popped up.

Raising it up on its hinge, a space was revealed and sitting in it an envelope.

He drew it out and handed it to Annis, who took it with shaking fingers.

Her name was inscribed on it in her mother’s spidery writing.

She looked at him, and he smiled encouragingly, putting the box aside. “Open it.”

“I’m almost afraid to,” she said with a tremulous smile.

“I realize now, looking back, how afraid Mama was all the time, how protective she was of me. I didn’t realize it then.

I just accepted that Aunt had an anxious disposition.

But now I am sure it was because she was afraid.

I almost don’t want to know what is in this! ”

“Annis! I am going to expire of curiosity if you don’t open it!” he said, half joking to make her smile. “What’s the worst that could happen, love? At least you might know what really happened.”

She nodded and opened the envelope, spreading out the single sheet.

Her eyes scanned it briefly then she began to read out loud.

My dearest Annis,

If you are reading this, I am dead, and you have managed to figure out the box’s secret.

You will have found the ring, too, if I didn’t give it to you.

There is so much to tell you and so much you will need to forgive me for.

The ring contains the information you need to know to prove the legitimacy of your birth. I put it there for you to find.

I kept it all from you for your safety, I hope you will come to understand that with time. One will do anything to protect one’s child, and you, my precious baby, are my child.

You must know that I loved him, your father, and he loved me. Of that I am absolutely convinced. He left us to return home because his mother had died, but he always meant to come back to us. I discovered some time later that he had been in an accident, and I was told at the time he was dead.

He’d had a falling out with his family before we met. His father was a harsh man, and he knew he would not approve of our marriage. Your father impressed upon me the need for caution until he could make all right with his sire. I believed, for a while, he had not had that opportunity.

It was only sometime later that I discovered my mistake.

That was when his father, your grandfather, found me and threatened me.

Nicolas was truly dead by then. It broke my heart all over again to learn he hadn’t died in the accident, only two years later from a congestion of the lungs.

But the accident had robbed him of his memories of me and of you. That was why he didn’t come for us.

Your main question will be why I covered up the fact that we were married. It is because his father made me. He said he would “eliminate you” if I didn’t. Even now I hesitate to tell you all this, for I am afraid that with my death he may still find a way to hurt you.

I pray that the dear Lord will keep you safe, my baby girl, and I am so sorry to have kept the truth from you, but I did it to keep you safe. Please know that you were a much-loved daughter of both your parents, and you were prevented from claiming your birthright through no fault of either of us.

All my love,

Janet Adelaide Redmayne

Annis was sobbing by the end of the letter and Emrys took it gently from her and wrapped her in his arms. Kissing her hair and stroking her back. Her tears slowed and she sniffed. She reached for a handkerchief and blew her nose, wiping her eyes.

“Well, now we know the truth,” he said. “Quite romantic, really.”

“She must have loved him very much, I think,” she said softly.

“Hm. Not as much as I love you,” he said, his arms tightening round her.

Annis heart jerked and beat a rapid tattoo in her chest. “What did you say?”

He pulled back enough so he could see her face and said soberly, “I love you, Annis, so much it damned well hurts! The notion of anyone trying to do you harm tears me apart. I think I fell in love with you when I saw you sitting on your luggage in the rain by the side of the road, although I was more than halfway there before that. It’s just taken me a while to sort out all my feelings.

Can you forgive me for not knowing it sooner, love? ”

She stared at him, blinking back tears, and then hugged him tight. “Oh, Emrys, I adore you! You’re the perfect husband and father. I thought you were still in love with Caroline, and it was breaking my heart.”

“I thought I was, too,” he admitted. “I’ve suspected for a while that you cared for me, and I was worried I didn’t deserve it, that I couldn’t give you everything you deserve, that Caroline had wrecked me for anyone else.” He traced her cheek with a finger.

“I thought I was happy with Caroline, you see,” he continued.

“But I wasn’t. Though I didn’t realize that until you showed me the difference.

Caro and I were so young when we got married, and I have only recently come to understand that I never really knew her.

She kept parts of herself hidden from me and I never suspected.

I dare say I kept parts of myself from her, as well, without intending to.

I hurt her in lots of little ways that I never appreciated until much later.

When she left me, I was heartbroken and angry.

Then she died, and I was sad and angry and confused.

” He sighed out a deep breath. “And then there was you.” He smiled.

“Beautiful, loving, adorable, practical you.” He shook his head.

“I couldn’t keep my hands off you, and at the same time I was scared as hell I’d hurt you and lose you like I did Caroline.

I wanted to be absolutely sure I knew what I was doing before I declared how I felt, because I couldn’t bear to hurt you, love. ”

“Emrys!” She hugged him again. “How could I not love you when you’re so wonderful? So kind and affectionate, playful and considerate, so downright adorable.”

“I’m not handsome,” he objected.

“You are to me.”

He sighed contentedly, snuggling down the bed a bit.

“I need you, you know. That was why I was so high-handed in convincing you to marry me. It wasn’t because I couldn’t keep my hands off you—or not only because of that.

In truth, you fill up this hungry space inside me that I never knew I had.

And I felt it instinctively even then.” He stroked her back.

“When we were in Bath and I took you so roughly, that was the neediness taking over. I couldn’t get close enough to you.

I wanted to curl up in your arms and shut out the world.

Like a child,” he admitted, looking shamefaced and embarrassed.

“Emrys, that is the most beautiful thing you’ve ever said to me,” she whispered softly. Pulling his head down onto her bosom she cradled him. “I’ll be your shield, as you are mine, my love,” she murmured.

He lifted his head. “Ah Annis, you are priceless. Is there anything you don’t understand?” He kissed her pressing her back into the pillows.

“Plenty of things, I’m sure, but we will figure them out together.”

“Yes, love, we will.” He kissed her again, and there was no more talk for a while.