Six

Lord Vincent of Edgewater was dropped off in front of Ledford park as he thanked his driver that would park off in the stables. Outside waiting for him was Ernest himself already waiting as patient as ever. What surprised him was a young lady that was giggling on his arm as Ernest was smiling. It was seemed to be rare occasions when he would see the young man smile.

"Vincent," said Ernest as he walked up the steps to greet him properly as the two shook hands. His eyes flitted over to the woman as she was silent but a ghost of her laugh still on her lips. She was rather pretty with her dark brown hair tied up in a braided bun and her spring green gown showing off her bosom just right. Something about her, however, made Vincent feel slightly more at ease. Then as he met her eye he bowed to her and kissed her hand. "Miss."

"May I introduce my fiancé?" said Ernest as Vincent smiled at the young woman. He could plainly see Ernest was in love with her, just by the way he smiled at her. It was nice to see that Ernest found someone that he truly cared about. "Miss Clara Mills."

"It's nice to meet you sir," she said as she dipped into a curtsy. She looked familiar at Vincent respectfully kissed her hand. Mills, where had he… Oh, he thought, that was Mary's last name. He thought of her often, but she was always his Mary in his thoughts foregoing any surname.

"Clara this is my business associate and mentor, Earl Vincent of Edgewater."

"It is an honor to meet you miss," he said as he could swear she looked familiar as he couldn't quiet place it.

"And it is a great honor to meet you," said Clara as she smiled up at him. She had a twinkle in her eye as Vincent could see that Ernest noticed as well.

Together they had gone inside the manor as Vincent watched his fiancé closely. Some of her mannerisms reminded him of… Nay that was impossible he thought brushing that thought away. It would have been impossible anyway. Beside them a lady's maid had joined them carrying an old hatbox.

"I should continue moving my stuff, it was very nice to meet you," said Clara as she bowed to Vincent one last time as Ernest kissed her cheek. With that she turned to lead the lady's maid to her new chambers.

The two men had started toward the stairs as Ernest lead Vincent to his study. Then, as if in slow motion, Briar had accidently tripped spilling the contents of the box across the floor as what looked like letters were strewn across the floor. Clara had picked up a few as Ernest had as well as the ladies maid was apologizing adamantly up and down.

Vincent handed the maid an old letter that landed at his feet still in its envelope. He was rather taken aback to see it was his handwriting this was a letter that he had written to Mary. Or rather what his handwriting used to look like. Mary's name written in his handwriting across the front as Vincent was surprised to see the letters. Where had these come from? Quickly he peeked inside to see that he remembered writing this letter himself. How on earth…

"Thank you sir," said the maid as he reluctantly handed it to her.

"I'm very sorry my lord," said Clara quickly as the maid seemed to pale just a little. She had sent her maid the best let's talk look. Vincent knew that look all too well when Henrietta would send that look to Miss Sutton. "I should help my lady's maid continue unpack my things."

"Yes of course your things," said Vincent as he snapped his eyes in her direction. Carefully he watched as Ernest had checked over her to make sure that she was okay. He could see it as he watched her now. What he couldn't place he could clearly see now. That was Mary's daughter as he tried not to gasp out and cause attention. Somehow, he had to ask her just to slip in a word and see her reaction. "Enjoy your letters."

"Oh, yes of course," said Clara as she held the box firmly in her hands. "If I may I shall leave you to your business."

"Of course," said Ernest as he gently kissed her cheek once more. "We shall see you at lunch."

She nodded at them with a huge grin on her face as she bowed out. Vincent only wondered how they would have his letters. Could she?! No that would impossible wouldn't it? Of course, he could see Mary in her but what of her father? Mary claimed that she would never love again but the girl before was clearly hers.

"What a charming girl," he said as much as he could muster. The smile on Ernest's face could tell him that he agreed.

"I couldn't agree more. Now onto business."

His mind was far from business as she had his letters as an hour passed then eventually two as he contributed half-heartedly. They randomly signed some papers and looked at the numbers. The girl was clearly Mary's daughter as he could cross out Clara just finding the letters, as if that was even possible. The questions in his mind just kept coming. Who was her father? Had she even read the letters? Judging from her age, could Clara be his daughter?!

Now Vincent had to solve the answers with cleverly placed questions. It wasn't like he could just turn to Ernest and say his fiancé is his daughter. One he had with Mary. She looked like her as his heart warmed. Ernest was talking about business as he struggled to pay attention.

"Would you mind?" asked Ernest breaking his thought process.

"Yes, yes, that would be perfect."

"Really?"

"Of course," he said having no clue what he agreed on as Ernest just nodded. "I'm sorry for being distant. I'm feeling a little hungry is all."

He watched as Ernest looked at the clock in his study with a small smile. "It seems as if time has gotten away from us. It is just about after high noon here. I shall gather Clara, unless you would like to walk down together."

Vincent only shook his head, "I don't mind meeting you there. Go and see your fiancé, I'm sure she would love to escort you."

Ernest nodded as he gave his mentor an odd look before bowing and heading toward her quarters. Now he would be able to see the girl and properly question her.

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Ernest had found the parcel that he had delivered and headed toward Clara's room. He had one of the shop owners pick out a dress for her when he was in town. His seamstress was happy to give him her measurements as it was a surprise. He knocked on her door as Briar opened it for him avoiding his eye, probably from what happened early, as he just ignored it. She was perfectly fine.

"I have a dress I'd like you to wear," he said as he handed her the box. "We'll be having lunch here shortly."

Clara looked surprised as she looked at the box before accepting it with a smile. "To what do I have this honor?" she teased. Before he could say anything, she hugged him as he became warm all over."Thank you, Ernest I will be ready soon."

"There is something that I would like to speak to you about," he said heart racing wondering what she would say or do when he told her this next part. Ernest hoping that she would kiss him as he did love her lips pressed against his own.

"Yes Ernest?" she asked as Briar peeled back the tissue paper.

"If the earl asks when the wedding is, it will be this this Saturday at nine. At All Saints Parish and Bishop Monroe will be leading the ceremony. All the details have been arranged and your dress fitting is tomorrow. I'd imagine you want to pick that for yourself?"

"Ernest," she said breathlessly as she kissed him. He kissed back as he kept his hands firmly on her waist. This felt so good as he didn't want to stop as pulled away from him briefly.

"I should get changed," she said as he kissed her cheek once more. He paused at the door wondering if they would talk about him. This was confirmed as he could hear Briar now.

Briar only squealed. "Married this weekend, how romantic is that? And the way he kissed you. I don't think there's anything that could make this better."

"I don't think so either," she said as Ernest smiled and hurried down to his own room to switch out jackets.

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Vincent waited until Ernest was gone as he let out a frustrated sigh. This was going to constantly bug him wondering until lunch started. Even then Clara was perfectly polite not to add extra information. It would have been rude but perhaps Ernest kept any information on her in his study. As tempting as that was there couldn't possibly be anything and he would surely tell his stuff had been rifled through.

Gathering all his courage he headed down to the dining room. Following quickly Clara and Ernest had joined him as they were seated at the grand table. The couple sitting next to each other and himself on the other side of Ernest.

"It's nice to see you again sir," said Clara as he nodded in her direction. Oh, this was a perfect opener he thought.

"You as well. Did you enjoy reading your letters?" asked Vincent cautiously as that was when they had seen each other.

Clara gave him a tiny smile as Ernest just raised an eyebrow at him."Oh, um, not yet. I haven't been able to read any of my mother's things since her passing," she said as there was sadness in her eyes. He felt his heart ache as the news set in his mind. Mary, his songbird, was gone?

"I'm sorry," said Vincent. "Truly, I know what it's like to lose a parent. That must be tough for you and your father." He had to keep his composure as that was hard news to swallow right now.

"I never really knew my father, he died before I was born you see," she said. Vincent only nodded as that left him even more confused. If she was around twenty then Mary would have had to marry someone right after their annulment. Then promptly die not too long after. Or he was Clara's father after the three nights they were together. Why would she tell her daughter that he was dead?

A maid had come over to Clara to ask about the food as she quickly excused herself.

Ernest watched her leave before rounding on him. "I had told you that both of her parents were dead," he said a bit anxiously. Vincent felt himself grow a little warm, in the midst of their business he must have said something about Clara and their lunch. He had been wrapped so much in his thoughts that he never caught it. "This is her first lunch with you and I wanted it to go over well."

"I'm sorry Ernest," said Vincent, "I just have a lot on my mind."

"That's understandable," said Ernest tersely before letting out a small chuckle. "There was a lot of numbers this afternoon."

"Yes, now where did you say she was from again?" asked Vincent as quickly ran through his mind of what he knew what happened to Mary. She was living in Grover last he knew and she had a job sewing.

"She and her mother were living in Grover," said Ernest as Clara re-entered the room as she took her seat back.

Clara explained that she was replacing one of their side dishes as Vincent felt his heart explode. She was truly Mary's daughter as that much was confirmed. Now he just had to figure out if she would be his daughter and that was simple math. When they had laid together last and nine months later… Only thing how to properly ask her age? Or birthday even?

The conversation switched to recent books that they had read as he was taking her in. Clara was rather charming the way that she recited her favorite passages and what she took from the books. Ernest had been sharing his poetry books with her as Vincent could tell.

"That is an excellent take on A Midsummer's Night Dream," said Vincent as she told him about one of the plays she had read. "You have such an inquisitive mind for such a young lady."

Clara beamed at the praise as the dessert started to be shuffled out. "Thank you, sir."

"She's been a wonderful addition to this house," agreed Ernest as Clara sat up straighter.

"So, when's the wedding?" he asked as a small bowl of baked apple pudding was placed in front of them. Maybe it would be in a month or so and he could be here to get to know her. Could it be possible for him to walk her down the aisle as her father?!

"This Saturday at nine sir," said Clara as she took the first bite. As Vincent was a little stunned, this weekend? If she was truly his daughter; he never really got a chance to know her before she was a married woman. Then again, she would be around rather than being a part of the social season. She might even give him grandchildren sooner. "It's at All Saints Parish, Bishop Monroe will be officiating the ceremony."

"Splendid," said Vincent excited and ever so slightly disappointed.

"Yes, I must thank you again for agreeing to be one of our witnesses," said Ernest as he smiled at Clara. Oh, he had agreed to that. It was part of their business talk and it was probably the last bit of conversation before heading down to lunch.

"It's no problem Ernest, you're one of my friends," he said as Clara smiled at them both. "I only wish that you had someone to walk you down the aisle Miss Mills."

"I'm sure their spirits will be guiding me," said Clara, "I believe that they're very proud of me. I can only hope that one day I'll honor them by giving my children their names and passing on my mother's teachings. I'm sure that they would be delighted, a little Mary or Vincent Sinclaire."

Vincent watched Ernest who's eyes never left her as she spoke. He turned slightly pink at the mention of children as a faint smile crossed his lips. The more that he got to know her and how much he knew Ernest, they would be great parents. Then he did a double take as Clara knew her father's name, his name, as he began to feel a little misty eyed. She may not have read the letters yet, but she knew his name. All that made his heart skip as his suspicions were confirmed.

Before he could even stop himself, his mouth started to speak before his thoughts could catch up. "That was really beautiful. If I may I'd be honored to walk you down the aisle if you wish," he said as Ernest snapped up to look at him. Clara's eyes grew wide as she blushed faintly.

"That is very generous of you Vincent, are you sure that you would want to do that?" asked Ernest as Clara's lips parted in an o shape.

"I am a sentimental man Ernest and I believe Clara here has earned my respect," he said as he smiled at her. This was his daughter, it was the least he could do until he could show her some proof. She believed that he was dead for much of his life after all. "Every young lady should have someone to walk her down the aisle."

"I would be most pleased if you decide you would like to," said Clara as he nodded.

"It's settled then," he said.

It appeared as if most of their dessert had gone a little cold as he ate it anyway. Vincent knew that he had to find a way to prove it to her.

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"Can you believe it Briar, the Earl of Edgewater wants to walk me down the aisle," she said as Briar hung up her dress.

"We were wrong," said Briar as she started to untie Clara's hair down for the night. "This could get better."

"I'm just still surprised that he offered it," said Clara. "I mean I just told them about my parents. Not only that but he invited me to this women's circle before he left. His wife and her son's fiancés are there and some other noblewomen."

"What do they do?" asked Briar as she gathered the pins and put them shook out her hair as she stood up to get to her bed for the night.

"Apparently it's something like a gossip circle. They paint and embroider and play the pianoforte. Ernest and the earl thought that I would fit in fine. Ernest did say that it might be dull and its where rumors start," said Clara as she bit her bottom lip. She hoped that she could fit in fine with them before shrugging, she could only do her best.

"You should go to a couple of the meetings. Then if you don't like them just stop going, if they ask just say that you're with child and can't travel," said Briar as Clara just let out a short laugh.

"The earl's home is not very far," she said as she looked at the pile of things she had yet to go through from her mother's room.

Taking a deep breath, she first picked up the jewelry box. She had a few items from her time in theatre as she opened it to find costume jewelry of fake pearls and fool's gold. None of this would matter to her now as she had the real thing as she put most of it in the get rid of pile. The only thing she kept was the actual box for anything new. Briar was gently pulling them in a small bag to either be sold or given away. Maybe it would be precious to someone else one day.

Once that was done, Clara turned to look at her mother's books that she had brought with her. Ernest probably had so many as she decided to keep some well-beloved copies and get rid of the last of it. Then finally she turned and looked at the box with her parents love letters.

"You can do it," encouraged Briar as Clara sighed as she reached out for the box and then retracted her hand.

"I can't do it Briar," she said as her eyes stung with tears. "Read their letters. It's extremely private and I should find it too difficult. It's their life before me and I feel like I'm intruding. What if my father isn't as perfect as I made him out to be?"

"You'll never know," said Briar as she handed her a letter as Clara's fingers brushed against the old parchment as her tears started to fall some as Briar put a hand on her shoulder. Then there was a knock at the door as Clara quickly wiped her face as best as she could.

"Clara I," started Ernest as he saw her tearing up with the box right in front of her. "Are you okay?"

"No, no, I'm fine. I'm just finding it difficult to be going through my mother's things is all. The last of it is my mother's letters and some of her diaries."

"I'm sorry," he said as he went over and hugged her as he took in the few items that had remined to be sorted through. He could only imagine what it would be like if he was reading his mother's letters to his father as he felt a faint smile on his face. Clara lead on him as she he took in her scent as he helped her off the bed. "I thought I'd ask if you would join me in my bed tonight?"

Clara's eyes snapped up to him as she looked a little surprised.

"No no, nothing like that. I just mean if you need someone with you tonight if you might be feeling lonely," he said as he wouldn't touch her that way until the wedding night. Clara's eyes soften as she looked at him with a small smile.

"I would very much enjoy that," she said as she got off the bed as they walked down to his room. Ernest pulled his covers aside as he got in first as Clara joined next to him.

"Thank you Ernest," she said as he could still see her eyelashes wet as how close they were. He felt his heart quicken as she cuddled up against his side. Ernest put an arm around her as he kissed her head as he blew the last candle out.