Chapter 10
Mae didn’t know she was leaving.
That was the worst part.
Celeste had packed for them.
Two suitcases.
Servants’ clothes.
Nora’s cardigan.
No toys except one stuffed rabbit.
A car waited behind the north service gate.
Harris showed me.
Nora stared at the suitcase.
“That’s Bunny.”
Mae’s face went white.
She turned toward Celeste.
“You went into our room.”
Celeste smiled.
“My house.”
“No.”
I stepped between them.
“My house.”
Her eyes hardened.
“You’re choosing a maid over your fiancée.”
“I’m choosing my daughter.”
That silenced everyone.
Nora looked up at me.
The word reached her.
Daughter.
I crouched.
“Yes.”
Her eyes filled.
“Me?”
My throat tightened.
“Yes.”
She looked at Mae.
“Mommy?”
Mae started crying.
I held Nora’s hand.
“I’m your father.”
She stared at my face.
Then touched my eyebrow.
The little notch.
Same as hers.
“Oh.”
One tiny sound.
Three stolen years inside it.
Celeste laughed bitterly.
“How touching.”
I stood.
She continued:
“You think this fixes anything?”
“No.”
“You suddenly become Daddy because she has your nose?”
“No.”
“Where were you for three years?”
That one hit.
She knew it.
I let it.
Then Mae said quietly:
“He was where you made sure he stayed.”
Celeste’s smile disappeared.
Marcus stepped in.
“This is useless.”
I looked at him.
“Why were they being moved tonight?”
Silence.
Harris answered:
“Wedding announcement tomorrow.”
I frowned.
The engagement was already public.
Marcus corrected:
“Command announcement.”
There it was.
After the engagement celebration, senior Ashford and Wainwright men were expected to recognize Celeste as part of the inner family circle.
If Mae and Nora disappeared first, no contradiction remained.
“What happens after Celeste enters command?”
Marcus smiled.
“You get stronger.”
“No.”
I looked at the packed suitcase.
“You get closer.”
His smile faded.
“Closer to what?”
I asked.
No answer.
Then Mae whispered:
“Your father’s old routes.”
I looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“Because Marcus asked me about them.”
Marcus froze.
Mae continued.
“He thought servants heard things.”
May you like
And suddenly the entire four-year conspiracy stopped being only about separating two people.
The Wainwrights had been trying to enter Ashford power long before Celeste ever wore my ring.
