imposing main house she shared with Julian and headed towards the secluded, ivy-covered wing where Eleanora Beaumont resided. The setting su

g breath, her hand resting on the door handl

ted her at the door with a warm but professional smile. She didn't

e sitting room," Amy said softly, leadi

ouse. It was warm and elegant, filled with overflowing bookshelves, comfortable-lo

her steady hands. She looked up as Isla entered, her sharp, intelligent eyes missing nothing-n

pposite her. "I've been exp

made her feel as if her soul were being weighed and measured. Amy served them both tea and the

ard member yesterday. He told me about the... incident with Miss Stone." He

been struggling with how to begin, how to pu

enuine pity. "He has always been a fool when it comes to t

y broke. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring the image of the crackling fire. "I want a

taunts, Julian's false accusations, the repeated, brutal assaults. She confessed eve

and harder with every detail Isla recounted. But the anger

eanora set down her teacup on its saucer with a d

he said, her voice low and da

She unlocked a drawer with a small, ornate key and retrieved a document. Isla's heart pounded

take," she said, her voice firm. "A business arrangement to solve a tempo

he said, "were never just a business arrangement to me. I had hoped he would eventually see

nto silence by the

ontinued, her voice ringing with fin

hen in half again. The sound of ripping paper was the loudest thing in the room. She let

leanora declared. "You

ulders. She stared at the torn paper, tears of pu

m for argument. "And I will continue to fund your mother's care personal

to say it was too much, but Elean

ly. "You will take it, and you will bui

ears, Isla felt a profound, overwhelming sense