Page 70 of Sebastian.

She hesitates, looking me up and down, but finally gives a single nod. “Of course. Let’s take this inside, shall we?”

Lilian passes me, moving to the backdoor and opening it with her maid following close behind. The older woman speaks quickly to the younger maid, low enough that I can’t hear, and the maid departs quickly.

“Tea?” Lilian asks as I enter the charming kitchen with her. There are famed pictures of her and Karl on the wall, but no one else appears in the photos.

“Ah, yes,” I tell her after a second, as I remain standing by the doorway. “You have a nice home.”

She inclines her head, a small smile forming at the corner of her lips. “Thank you, dear. Karl bought it for me a little over twenty-two years ago.”

Politeness sours in me, and I can’t help but say, “I know. Our father gave him a big fat bonus.”

Lilian putters about the kitchen, heating the tea kettle and pouring the steaming water into two large, white mugs. “Ah, so I assume you know all about the deal I made with Johannes?” She doesn’t bother looking at me as she speaks. I’m not the only one who is already running out of social decorum, it seems. Given how silent I remain, she gives me a quick glance over her shoulder before returning to her tea preparation. “You look quite a bit like him, you know. Much more than Karl.”

“Fitting since I’m his heir,” I drone, unamused by the veiled compliment. “And yes, I know about the deal. I’m sure that Karl does, too. My only question is, how long has he known?”

Lilian stiffens, but she doesn’t stop working, keeping her hands busy. I keep my distance for now, hovering in the doorway still.

“I’m afraid that it’s none of your business,” the older woman sniffs, still busying herself by the kitchen counter.

“Well, I’m afraid itismy business.” Now I approach her, and I know she can hear my footsteps on the polished wood floor. It’s clear her posture stiffens ever so slightly. “As I’m sure you’ve seen on television, the prosecutor has pressed charges against your son and he might go to jail for a long, long time.”

I watch a shudder roll over her shoulders, but her tone is just as cool as before. “Karl told me that he had a way to get out of facing any jail time and––”

I take her shoulder in my hand, feeling her bird like bones and being gentle yet firm as I force her to turn. To Lilian’s credit, she doesn’t look frightened of me. Instead, I see worry for her son on her face.

“We also have evidence that he was the one who killed my family,” I tell her, letting no anger or accusation filter through my voice. I want her to hear nothing but the cold, hard truth of it all.

Her hand flies to her chest as she gasps, “What? I beg your pardon!?”

“I think you heard me loud and clear, Ms. Townsend.”

“My son is not a murderer!” she insists, a flush coming to her cheeks as she takes a step back, releasing herself from my grip.

“I’m afraid that you’re wrong on that front.” I give one step in her direction, observing attentively her expression as it falls. I know I have her full attention now, and that she won’t turn away again.

She takes her mug in her hand, clicking her long, petal pink nails on the ceramic. Maybe to hide the fact that she’s shaking now, and I can hear the clink of one of her gold rings on the cup, too. Lilian ponders what I’ve just told her, keeping her lips pursed in a thin line, but offering me nothing. She dunks the teabag in the water and sips immediately, not even waiting long enough for the tea to permeate.

Knowing that she’s ready to listen, I continue, “The prosecutor can get him twenty years for the homicide of my family. It all depends on if you want to cooperate with me or not.”

She makes a clicking sound with her tongue, waving a quivering hand dismissively. “What do I have anything to do with that? Why me? Why don’t you just talk to him?”

“That’s simple,” I tell her, taking my own tea mug in my hands. “Karl is in trouble and can’t see the forest for the trees. I think we both know that he is an intelligent man, but can make rash decisions. His anger has blinded him. I’m hoping his mom might be a little wiser.”

Sighing softly, she leans her weight on the counter behind her, sipping her tea once more. “About that, you’re not wrong.” Lilian thinks, and I give her time, walking the perimeter of the kitchen and looking at the pictures on the walls once more. There’s one picture of Karl as a boy, taken from a distance, that reminds me of Andries, and I turn away from it quickly. Family resemblance is not something I want to consider right now.

Finally, she speaks up, her voice almost quivering. “What do you want from me?”

“The truth. That’s all, Ms. Townsend.” She looks confused, so I clarify, “When did you tell your son the identity of his father?”

Lilian ponders a bit further, visibly undecided. “If I tell you, will you promise to keep Karl out of trouble?”

“I will,” I lie, but I keep my face just as stoic and she seems to believe it.

“Goodness, it’s so odd even talking about this out loud. It’s been a lifetime ago, you understand, so bear with me.” Lilian looks pale, and her free hand hovers nervously around her throat, but she tells me what I need to know. “I didn’t tell him. I never planned on doing so, whether you believe me or not. Karl found the agreement I signed with Johannes. I don’t know why he went to my room, or when, but he found those papers along with the paternity test we had done when he was a baby. Is that all?”

“When did he confront you about it, then?” Lilian turns her face away, clearly not wanting to answer. I grind my teeth, annoyed at her reluctance, but I have to remind myself that she’s an elderly woman who probably thought she’d never have to talk about these things again. I give her time, but seconds drag into minutes and my patience runs thin. I don’t mean to raise my voice, but I do. “Lilian, when!?”

“No need to yell.” She swallows, blowing out a breath. “Twenty-two years ago, right around the time when he gifted me this house. But he promised me that he would never tell you that he knew, and that he would never go after your fortune. That was all part of the agreement I signed with Johannes and his attorney and we’ve always honored it.”

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