Page 69 of The Masked Baron
Ellis made an executive decisionto bring the ladies home before any search for Kerrigan and Mr. Lewis was to be made. The whole ride home he reveled in having his heart back. Eliana was finally in his life again, and Annie loved him. He still wondered if it could truly be possible.
First, he needed to fully reconcile things between him and his sister. Eliana’s confusion about his nature and feelings hurt him deeply. Then he needed to have a talk with Annie. It pained him to think of hurting her again. Why did it seem he was forever hurting everyone? But he couldn’t live with the secrets any longer. He would not let anything get in the way again of him telling her. He would plead for her forgiveness like she had on his sister’s behalf.
Ellis led the ladies into the corridor, where he watched as Mrs. Lewis went from shock to celebration and back to her role as housekeeper. She ushered them into the sitting room and hurried to take everyone’s cloaks. Feeling urgent to look for the others, Ellis made to excuse himself but was cut short when Miss Dubois emitted a sharp gasp.
Her jaw dropped, and she pointed accusingly at Annie. “The stone of Baltar!”
Annie’s brow furrowed in confusion, and Eliana’s hand flew to her mouth.
Ellis groaned inwardly.
“You are wearing my mother’s stone!”
Annie looked down at her necklace and touched it tenderly. “You are mistaken. This was my mother’s and was bestowed to me upon her death.”
Miss Dubois shook her head. “No, I would know it anywhere. I was eight when I saw it last. And as surely as I stand here, that is the stone of Baltar!”
Annie fingered the stone. “I don’t understand.” She looked to Ellis for help. He pressed his lips thin, contemplating how to respond. This was not how he had wanted Annie to find out. He needed to explain but didn’t know where to begin.
“You... you knew?” Despair laced Annie’s expression.
Ellis swallowed hard and nodded regretfully.
“But my mother never had any connection with the Dubois family!”
Ellis did not have to see all three women to know they were staring at him. He could feel their eyes boring into him, demanding an explanation.
He pulled at his cravat and sank into a chair. There was no escaping now. “Your mother was Sephira’s sister and apparently Miss Dubois’s aunt. You two are cousins. From what I gather, your grandmother was a shrewd businesswoman but not the most loving or compassionate toward her daughters. She practically sold her youngest daughter to the first man she could find—Annie’s father. Oh, she made sure the particulars were met. He was a gentleman and from a reputable family. But in order to marry your mother, he had to live in a remote location and never disclose her daughter’s surname. And he had to pay his mother-in-law a small fortune.”
He stood and stepped nearer to Annie. “It wasn’t your mother’s dowry keeping your family afloat; it was your father’s income, inherited from his own family. It was love at first sight for your father, and he gladly gave up his life to be married to your mother. Your none-too-generous grandmother disappeared and died shortly later. She is buried in a small cemetery not fifty miles from here.
“We can’t fault her altogether. I can see now she felt she was doing both of her girls a favor. She removed the stone from Sephira that seemed to bring on her mental spells. And she found a home where her younger daughter was loved and cherished by first your father and then you.”
The disbelief and hurt on Annie’s face caused his heart to sink.
“No... it couldn’t be,” she said, her cheeks absent of color.
“I should have told you sooner. I traced a few leads until I found your father. He was able to affirm the name and relation to your grandmother. I bought his wares as a trade for information. I had to ensure he was telling me everything, and that was where you came into the picture.
“I was fortunate your father was eager to find a suitable husband for you and that I was able to convince him of my financial backing and connections. It was an exchange completely to my benefit, though he seemed relieved you would have a chance to marry into a station more fitting to your birthright. Your father was and still is a mystery to me. I do not know why he would trust you to me. You are obviously his brightest treasure.”
Her eyes were far away, and he knew her mind was whirling like his had been after what Eliana had revealed.
She finally blinked and exhaled audibly. “When you discovered I knew nothing, why did you not throw me out?”
Ellis wanted to go to her. He wanted to put his arms around her and comfort her. But he could not. He felt his betrayal completely. He had used Annie; it was true. “I did not know then that your mother, aunt, and grandmother had all taken turns playing the witch. In my mind, your family were as much victims of the witch’s cruelty as my parents were. I felt sympathetic to your cause and was determined that making you my ward would right an evil. As far as what knowledge you could offer me, I discovered early on you were as innocent in your awareness of your parents’ true background as your father had said. But I was ever hopeful a story or a clue would reveal something to me.”
A tear trailed down her cheek, and Annie wiped it away in one hurried motion. “Our conversations—they were only to satisfy your obsession.” Annie seemed to break out of some trance. She turned as if noticing for the first time Eliana and Miss Dubois watching and listening silently beside her. “Excuse me, please. I need to be alone to think.” She reached up, unlatched her necklace, and shoved it into Ellis’s hands as she left the room, leaving a heavy feeling in the air behind her.
Ellis took a deep breath. He was no one’s favorite person right now. “I must search for the others before dark. Mrs. Lewis will see that you get dinner, baths, clothes—whatever you need. Please do not hesitate to make this your home again.”
Eliana and Miss Dubois nodded, but their expressions were as solemn as he felt. He was loath to leave, but there was nothing else to be done.
Somehow Ellis mounted his horse without realizing it. He smothered his heartache from hurting Annie and started using his head to find his friends.
Chapter 25
Andalin watched out her windowas Ellis rode off on his horse and disappeared into the forest. She was heartbroken. She had found love yesterday, and today it was as if it had never existed. When Ellis confessed his feelings at the waterfall, she thought happiness could never taste so sweet. Now the bitterness of his deception nearly choked her.
