“Does Seffi know?” I change the subject.
“Sorry?” Ivy questions, turning back. Perhaps not talking directly about the problem might help.
“Does Seffi know about the family lineage? The Foxtons and Brodericks?” I take a sip of my tea.
“No. However, Landon went ape-shit at Scott when he found out. Thankfully, I stopped him blurting it all out. Nobody’s mentioned it since. We’ve been rather pre-occupied.”
“We have to tell them, right? They have a right to know.”
“After they’ve been dealing with smoke inhalation? I don’t think so.”
“But they need to know.”
“Know what?” Scott asks.
My head rears up, and I look to Ivy and then back to Scott. His glare is pointed between us as if he can tell there’s a secret waiting to be shared.
“Is Seffi up?” I ask.
“Yes. I was getting coffee for us. You both look guilty as hell. What's going on?”
“Huh!” Ivy scoffs.
“Oh, cut it out, Ivy.” I turn to Scott. “Scott, I think we need to speak to you and Seffi. Explain some of the information we found.”
“There you go again, making decisions that affect us all with no other consideration but your own fucking agenda,” Ivy chastises.
“You think this is something to keep from them? I know you’re still upset with me but get over yourself. They deserve to know.”
“You two need to shut up and tell me what the fuck is going on.” His voice cracks in the kitchen, drawing both of our attention. The scowl on his face would rival Noah’s.
“Go and grab Seffi. We’ll meet you in the conservatory.” He gives us one final glare before leaving without his coffee.
Ivy rolls her eyes at me.
“Is Landon about?” I ask.
“No. He’s still dealing with the aftermath of the mess from yesterday.”
“Killing Lewis,” I mutter the words under my breath as if I needed the reminder.
“And a quarter of our house destroyed.” She sighs and looks at the door, her hands going to her hair to tie it in a loose bun. “Well, as you’ve opened the box now, we better go and talk to Scott and Seffi whether Landon’s here or not.”
~
“Scott said you wanted to talk to us?” Seffi comes into the conservatory, her hand clutching Scott’s. He looks less than pleased to be here, and her eyes still show the puffiness from yesterday and all the tears.
After everything we’ve been through, I can’t believe we still need to have this conversation. Out of all of us, Seffi deserves happiness. She’s found someone who she’s prepared to risk everything for, and you don’t find that every day. And now, what we tell them might destroy that.
“Yeah.” I stand and then sit back down, uncomfortable with what’s coming.
“What’s going on, Neve?” She looks directly at me, questions and fear in her eyes.
“Well, Lewis made some claims. And the author he hired, she was looking into us and found some information about us, which she passed onto Ivy. None of us knew any of it before this all started, and it all needs to be verified still, but-”
“Is this what Landon meant about making sure Lewis gets what’s due to him?” Seffi interrupts.
I wring my hands together in my lap. “Yes, and no.” I look to Ivy, who’s taken up a seat nearest the door. “Great-great-grandmother had an affair, and Kenneth Foxton fathered the son she had.” The name Foxton rings out in the room as if I just pulled the trigger in a firing squad.
