Edith was only twenty-four or twenty-five, far too young to bear all this-for anyone, really.

But Edith was tougher than Jayne ever imagined. She fluffed the pillow behind Jayne’s back, then tucked the nket around her mother. “Mom, get some more rest. I can handle things on my own. Don’t worry so much-just wait for me here at home, okay?”

Hawksley Estate.

Dinner time. Justin sat with a cup of tea at his elbow as the maids carried in tter after tter of food.

Sarah put her phone aside with a scoff. “Honestly, people these days have nothing better to do. All they want is to gossip about other people’s lives.”

Father Benedict lowered his newspaper. His sses had slipped down his nose, and he peered over them at Sarah. “What have you seen now? More scandalous rumors? Is it about our family?”

He could guess-if something had Sarah this riled up, it was almost certainly gossip about the Hawksleys.

Sarah’s anger was barely contained; she even pped the table in

frustration.

Justin nced up, finally noticing the tension. He frowned. “Is it those tabloids again? Writing nonsense about me being sick or something? I don’t care, Mom. Next time you see that rubbish, just scroll past it. It’s not worth your energy.”

Letting people like that get to you was always a mistake.

Sarah took a breath, trying topose herself. “These little rats are getting smarter. They know the Hawksleys won’t let them off easy, so they’ve stopped targeting us directly. But now they’re after the

Sumners…”

12:23

Justin’s easygoing expression vanished, reced by a sudden

seriousness. He straightened in his chair, tension obvious in his posture.

“What are they saying?”

Sarah rolled her eyes, exasperated. “They’re iming Heather went to the Sumners’ today and made a scene. used Edith of being unable to have children and said she wanted to ruin the Vance family’s future. Can you believe that? It’s infuriating!”

Father Benedict set his sses aside, equally annoyed. “Heather’s behaving like a total shrew. Why not end things quietly, like decent people? Why drag family matters out in public and give everyone something to talk about?”

Justin stood abruptly, brows knitted.

“Hey, where are you going? Not staying for dinner?” Sarah called after

him.

He was about to head to the Sumners’ ce-though he hadn’t said as much-when the housekeeper appeared at the doorway, ushering Edith inside.

Edith kept her head down, looking like a child caught doing something wrong, her polite smile barely masking her nerves as she greeted each member of the Hawksley family in turn.

Justin found himself frozen, unsure whether to stand or sit. He just stared at Edith for a moment.

That moment alone was enough to make Edith’s heart race.

She wondered if the rumors had already reached the Hawksleys.

Of course they had. The Hawksleys weren’t like other families—after all, they were set to marry into the Sumners, so whatever happened over there was bound to matter more.

Edith bit her lip, steeling herself. “Mr. Hawksley, Mrs. Hawksley, Father Benedict-good evening. I came here tonight because there are some things I need to talk to you about.”

12:23

Seeing how tense she was, Justin felt a pang of sympathy.

He stepped forward, took her hand, and led her to the dining table, pulling out the chair beside his. “You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Whatever it is, dinneres first. Sit down and have something to eat.”

Edith nced at the spread-dish after dish, every te brimming with food. The Sumners had thrown a huge buffet that day, but she hadn’t managed a single bite.

She was hungry, but she knew her ce.

She shook her head. “I’ll pass on dinner. I’d rather… say what I came to say first.”