d Manor

as silent.

nding against his ribs. Beside him, Charlotte slipped on a

out this?" s

ply. "No. But I do

ell, if we get caught,

nto her coat, pulling ou

sat across from the woman who had

mo

always unreadable, stared at her

Amelia. But are you r

ell me the truth. What was your relationship with Rober

slightly. But befor

ic

athaniel's st

grinned. "

alert. The study was dark, lined with mahogany

this room w

through documents, opened drawers, scanned the booksh

is hands over the smooth surface, searching f

se bo

sed dow

popped open. Inside w

was old, yellowed with time. The na

a Has

iberate slowness. "Your father loved you, Ame

lse raced.

e eyes. "That you were never me

le

melia's spine. "What th

bert Sinclair wasn't just fond

breath

deadly. "Your father wanted me. And h

embled as he ope

ters-written in ele

ed the f

n, my

ood ra

ar you. If he so much as lays a hand on y

his voice raw. "These letter

disappeared. "What

o her feet. "

ild, Amelia. You never noticed how your fath

m was s

never supposed to exist, Amelia

ication

d forced himself i

back. "No... N

ice was ice

er from the envelope, scanning

ispered. "You n

tter. The words bur

a, I will lose everything. She can never know.

stomach

had been hidin

niel Pier

what? You expect me to believe my

curled. "I nev

ia f

ropped lower. "I

se words hit like

just an ille

f control. Of pow

mother-and now, that past

thaniel knew. That's why my f

"Which means Nathaniel's probabl

er. "Then we need

ad violently. "No,

t slightly. "I told you, Amelia.

tilted ar

ce-her entire life

ere was no