The cook and kitchen staff cooed upon hearing his endearment for Syd. It was obvious she was their favorite Harcourt. Their smiles were genuine. She rose and kissed the cook. “Mrs. Simmons, I fear I am no longer favored in this house and we shall not have the opportunity to meet again. Thank you for all your wonderful meals. I shall miss you.”
“Aw, my lady. Ye have yer husband to think about now.” She cast Octavian a look of approval. “Take care of our Lady Syd.”
He nodded. “I will.”
They walked out, each of them saying nothing until they were in their carriage and on their way to drop in on Lady Withnall. As soon as the carriage rolled away, they each let out a breath of relief. Syd immediately began to toss questions at him. “What did she say? I thought she would speak more openly to you than she would if I were present. Do you mind that I left you and sat in the kitchen? What did she say about my father? Whose child am I?”
“Love, I did not mind that you sat in the kitchen. It was for the best. She did speak openly.”
“And?”
“She’s a hateful person.”
Syd nodded as she cast him a mirthless smile. “I knew she did not like me.”
That was an understatement.
The woman not only loathed her, but had been a danger to her for most of her life.
The only reason Lady Harcourt had kept Syd alive was because of the earl’s threat to banish her from London and all genteel Society if she ever harmed Syd. That witch had accused the earl of scheming to take hold of the trust funds, but she had done nothing to stop him. In fact, she spent those funds as freely as he had.
Harcourt had not immediately gone through the children’s trust, only depleting it once Syd was about to come of age. Octavian now understood why the earl had waited until recently to spend it all down. He feared what his wife might do to Syd if he’d spent it earlier. She would have unleashed her rage once she felt Syd was no longer of use to them.
Syd nudged him gently. “Octavian, what did she say? Who am I?”
He stifled a shudder. “She claims you are Harcourt’s daughter, just as Harcourt indicated she would say. She insists he was the one to have the affair with Miss Langley, not his friend Sutton.”
“Do you believe her?”
“I truly do not know which of them to believe. This is why we need to speak to Lady Withnall. She might shed some light on the matter. She knows everyone’s secrets and will also be discreet in not repeating whatever we confide in her.”
Syd sighed. “No matter what we learn, the ugly rumors will still come out because Lady Harcourt will make certain of it.”
“We will deal with it when it happens. We are still best armed by knowing the truth.” She looked so forlorn, Octavian couldn’t bear it. He drew her onto his lap and held her there as their carriage rolled through the busy London streets. “I love you, Syd.”
She nestled against him. “Lady Harcourt must have been brutal. She has you rattled.”
He groaned. “I marvel that you did not become a twisted, gnarled thing growing up with that woman. You are a beautiful rose she could not spoil no matter how much poison she attempted to inject in you. A delicate, but very hardy rose.”
“I survived because my father, for all his faults, was very good to me.”
“Yes, you’ve told me. I begin to see it now. He’s such a wretch in so many ways, Syd.”
She laughed lightly. “I know. Do you realize that if what he said is true, and that Douglas Sydney, the Marquess of Sutton, is my father, that I could be Lady Sydney Sydney? What a terribly ridiculous name.”
Octavian chuckled. “It sprang to my mind when I heard Sutton’s name, but I dared not say anything about it. However, all jesting aside. I am beginning to understand how much Harcourt does love you. However, I still will not forgive him for trying to sell you to Sir Henry.”
They arrived at Lady Withnall’s residence and were quickly shown into her drawing room, a light and airy, elegant room decorated in sky blue silks and florals. The tiny woman bustled in moments later, the quickthuck, thuck, thuckof her cane indicating her brisk walk. “I heard you had quite a row with your parents yesterday, Syd,” she said, marching in and motioning for them to take a seat. “And now you are here after visiting them again this morning. How can I help you?”
Octavian marveled at this woman’s web of contacts. She had more people spying for her than the Home Office or Foreign Office combined. He and Syd quickly related all that had happened.
Lady Withnall was a tiny woman, but she had a towering and commanding presence. Those with secrets feared her. Those who were honorable adored her. Everyone knew she was probably the best connected person in London.
“Lady Withnall, do you know who I am?” Syd asked, her voice so fragile that Octavian ached for her.
He took her hand in his as Lady Withnall began her response. “I had heard rumors, my dear. Long ago hints that you were not Lady Harcourt’s child. But the whispers quickly died, for everyone could see how your father doted on you.”
Octavian leaned forward. “He is a detestable man in many ways, but it seems he always did care for Syd. Is he Syd’s father?”
