Page 37 of Eternal Obsession

Emily looked at Alex, her face reddening.

“Really?” I said. “Glad we cleared that up.”

Jadeon cringed. “Oh, God.”

“And it looks as though Alex is not the father,” I said.

Emily was perplexed.

“Well, we are off to tour the castle,” I said. “Alex has promised to show me the family art collection. I hear they have a Rembrandt. And coincidentally, I too own a painting by the same artist—Belshazzar’s Feast. Why, if ever you are in Spain, I would take such delight in showing it to you, but with a new baby on the way you won’t be doing much traveling.”

Emily’s friend led her away.

“That’ll put a strain on the mother-daughter relationship,” I said.

“I am not quite sure what just happened there,” Jadeon said.

“It was perfectly clear to me. Your father sacrificed his son’s happiness for a friend whose daughter is with child.”

Jadeon was stunned. “How did you know she was⁠—”

“Well, Jadeon, if you have to ask,” I said.

Jadeon flinched. He excused himself.

“Looks like your brother is off to tell Papa that the cat’s out of the bag,” I said.

“You just saved my life for a second time.” Alex took a large gulp of wine.

“So I did,” I said.

Chapter Seventeen

JADEON

I had to find Father, warn him of Emily’s condition and break off the impending marriage. Father would never condone such a union. Although devastated for her, such a turn of events was great news for my brother, who was probably celebrating with Lord Velde somewhere. With the formalities over, I hoped to join them again.

It seemed that I had been searching for my father in the many rooms of the castle for half the night. The festivities of the ball continued and in one embarrassing moment I came across Lady Theron and her daughter in the anteroom, ensconced in an argument. Offering my apologies for interrupting, I leapt out of the room.

Eventually, I bumped into one of the male servants, who had apparently been searching for me with a message. The young man breathlessly informed me that Lord Artimas was holding a meeting in his study and had urgently requested my presence. It made me wonder if the news of Lady Emily Theron’s predicament had reached him. There was no doubt that it would be zealously deliberated. With a jump in my step, I headed to Father’s offices.

On my arrival, Lord Artimas was completely enraged. Father De Mercy attempted but miserably failed to calm him. My father’s colleagues stood by, watching on.

A small boy cowered in the corner, dressed in the clothes of a ship’s cabin boy.

“Jadeon! Where have you been?” my father asked.

“Looking for you,” I said.

“I requested your presence half an hour ago. Urgent business⁠—”

“That’s why I am here.”

My father frowned.

I guided him to the back of the room. I lowered my voice. “I feared the news would have gotten to you before⁠—”

“You knew about Velde?” he asked.