Page 116 of The Music of Love

“How did you learn about the child?”

“Fant told us.”

“But I thought he was shot?”

“His wound was mortal but he lingered for several hours and was conscious. He told us the truth in exchange for letting his wife go free. He claimed she knew nothing about any of it.”

Portia pictured the shrewish woman and her small, mean eyes. “I don’t believe that.”

“Neither do I, but it was the only way to get the rest of the story.” He continued. “Several years ago Rowena became curious about Frances and didn’t believe the story about her living with a school friend, so she had her followed.”

“Why?” Portia asked.

“Frances thinks Rowena might have heard something from Nanny’s elder sister—a woman named Elsa who was the midwife who delivered us. Elsa lived in a cottage on the estate and Rowena, doing her duty as the future mistress of Thurlstone, met the woman while delivering calf’s foot jelly or whatever it is that angels of mercy think the poor, old, and infirm need. Elsa would have known the truth, and perhaps she decided to share it. Or maybe, like Nanny, her mind simply wandered and the story came out. In any case, it is telling that Elsa died not long afterward.”

Portia shivered. “More like an angel of death. How did the Fants begin working for Nanny?”

“Fant said Rowena told them about the position when Frances advertised for it. Fant said part of his duties were to keep an eye on me and he was the one who found out I knew Kitty and reported that odd coincidence to his employer. Rowena had no use for that information until recently, when she decided Kitty would be the perfect weapon to punish both me and Robert.”

He stopped, a muscle in his jaw flexing. “Did Rowena tell you about the earl?”

“What about him?”

“She must have smothered him in his bed just before she came after you.”

“Oh God!” Portia covered her mouth with both hands.

“She thought it would stop the secret from going any further, but the murder of my father would have been her undoing. You see, he left sealed letters explaining the truth for both Robert and me in the event of his death.” Stacy’s lips curled with disgust. “I’m never happy when anyone dies, but my father truly deserved what he got.”

“Do you think he knew Rowena was behind all those accidents?”

“I don’t want to know, and I’m glad the truth died with him.”

Portia remembered something else from the night before. “She paid Ivo to come to Cornwall, but I don’t understand how she even knew about him.”

“She never met him, but she sent Fant to check up on you when she began to worry you and I might be getting fond of each other. She sent him to London to your old house.”

Portia grimaced. “Mrs. Sneed was our landlady. She is a dreadful woman; I daresay she was thrilled to bits to sell any information she had. So, Fant killed Ivo?”

“With his dying breath Fant claimed Ivo’s death was an accident. He also said he knew nothing about the money Ivo blackmailed from you.”

“Do you believe him?”

“No, I think his wife has the money, but she will have hidden it well.” He shrugged. “I didn’t trust the woman and before we came to Thurlstone I had Hawkins’s oldest daughter move into Nanny’s cottage to keep her safe.”

Portia blinked. “What made you do that?”

“I saw Fant talking to Ivo.”

“What?” Portia sat up straighter.

“Yes, the day we went to look at the Humboldts’ roof. The same day we had a picnic in the woods.”

Portia remembered the day very well. From the look on his face, so did Stacy. He smiled and ran a hand over her stomach, the gesture both tender and possessive.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“What was there to say? I suspected there was something odd about Fant but I had no proof. When I went to ask him about Ivo’s death later, his wife said he’d gone up north for a visit.” The candles illuminated his sculpted features and stunning eyes. “You’re staring, Lady Broughton.”