*With all my love, Eleanor.*

I read the words twice.

The ink seemed to blur on the page.

“She knew,” I whispered.

“She knew before she died,” Alexander said.

“She saw the way the others looked at him,” I said, looking down at the paper.

“She saw what I was too blind to see,” Alexander said.

He stood up and walked to the high windows that looked out over the darkened gardens.

“I was so focused on finding a mother for Ethan that I did not see the mother he already had,” he said.

“I am just the maid, sir,” I said, my voice barely audible.

Alexander turned back to face me.

“You are the only person who did not ask for anything,” he said.

“You stayed when things became dangerous.”

“You risked your life tonight to keep Celeste from getting this letter.”

“I did it for Ethan,” I said.

“I know,” he said.

He walked over to me, his boots clicking softly on the rug.

He took the letter from my hand and placed it back on the desk.

“Tomorrow, my lawyers will arrive,” Alexander said.