Chapter 6
Sebastian had sabotaged the fake photographs.
Not visibly.
Subtly.
He insisted on wearing a ring he did not own fifteen years ago.
Used a watch released only last year.
Placed modern objects in the background.
If the pictures ever surfaced, someone looking carefully could prove they were staged.
“Why participate at all?”
I asked.
“Because Dominic was terrified.”
“Of what?”
“You.”
I stared.
Sebastian shrugged.
“Your family spent decades punishing embarrassment like betrayal.”
Fair.
My father did.
So did I sometimes.
Dominic believed confessing the old incident would make him look weak in front of men who only respected myths.
Sebastian thought he could contain the damage.
Let Isabetta produce useless evidence.
Return the real letters later.
No one gets hurt.
Except Rosamund’s memory.
Except me.
Except Celandine.
Except the actress dragged into it.
Except Isabetta herself.
Containment is another word adults use before consequences begin.
I looked at Sebastian.
“You kissed Maribel.”
“For the photograph.”
“Enjoyable?”
Maribel looked horrified.
Sebastian sighed.
“No.”
Good.
At least someone retained shame.
Then he handed me the letters.
I did not open them immediately.
Rosamund had asked me not to fifteen years ago.
Dead now.
Does permission expire with death?
Difficult question.
Nathaniel arrived the next morning.
He said:
“Read them.”
“Why?”
“Because she kept them for you eventually.”
I looked at him.
“How do you know?”
He knew Rosamund better than anyone.
“She never destroyed anything she thought might someday correct a lie.”
That was true.
So we read.
No romance.
No secret desire.
Rosamund negotiating.
Arguing.
Threatening Sebastian once.
Then joking in another letter.
Human.
One sentence stopped me.
If Percival ever learns about Dominic, I hope it is because Dominic is finally strong enough to tell him himself.
I closed my eyes.
Rosamund protected Dominic’s dignity.
Dominic repaid her by asking his daughter to hide the evidence.
May you like
Not because he hated Rosamund.
Because he never became strong enough to own the mercy he once needed.
