Chapter Thirty-five

After Beth told me her true identity, we decided on two things first.

The first thing was that we would keep the knowledge only to us girls—and Rudy. When Beth mentioned Rachel Mondeschein, I realized an important factor we, as well as Silas, overlooked: the fact that R.M. might be a woman. I told Rudy, and his reaction was much like mine, although he understood what I meant without having me spell it out.

The second thing we decided was that Beth was not to leave yet. If she left, she would most likely never get the chance to return. And there was the possibility she might one day like to tell her brother, and half-brothers, about her identity, and let them know about the female relatives they never knew they had.

"My suggestion," Rudy said one night after we went into the shoe-shining room for our nightly talk, Beth with us, "is that you support Master Tobias with his plan to make Master Eugene the next heir."

We met up almost all of February talking about Beth's family situation and how the search for her was going, snatching Phillip's newspaper whenever we could. It was March, and the cold air was finally warmer and we started wearing our thinner coats again.

"Yes," I joined in. "Master Eugene wants to create a house where women can come into the house of Beardsley, and even live there, and not only for us live-in maids." I tried to make sound as appealing as possible, but Beth looked disinterested. She looked disinterested in the fate of the Beardsley manor in general, as well as the competition to be heir.

"Furthermore, I heard the rest of the masters support him too. And the valets, of course, excluding Phillip. Mister Kupka is also neutral, but he does not oppose us," Rudy added.

"But Eugene is crippled," Beth finally said nonchalantly, frowning. "Will it really work?"

"It will." I said it so surely even she was surprised, then a bit intrigued.

"Hmm."

"But first off, to help Master Eugene, we need your help," I said.

It had been a month, and me and Tobias had visited all three of the men we suspected of no avail. Two of them barely knew Adam Beardsley, and the author only recently changed his pen-name into R.M.

"Me? What is it?" Beth asked.

"We need to see Lady Rachel Mondeschein," I said. "Tobias did some researching on her, and found out she's a noblewoman from Germany. We can't find where she's currently staying, nor a reason to talk to her."

"Oh." Beth rolled her eyes. "That old hag is obsessed with her privacy, so she doesn't stay in the Clarke estate, which is now overrun with Scotland Yard."

Scotland Yard? Even they were involved?

"I can't believe they actually found my journals and read them," Beth went on.

"Well, if they didn't, then I'd be disappointed in them," Rudy said, shaking his head. Beth pouted, puffing up her cheeks extravagantly.

"I'm really good at hiding things, and even myself! When I was young I used to scare all the house servants into thinking I ran away when I would be hiding in the house!"

"Why would you do such a thing?" I asked, flabbergasted.

"I like to wreck havoc. It's fun," she replied casually.

Those poor servants.

"Anyways, back then I had such nice dresses and pretty items," Beth continued, "and I had long hair like Shuyan and Rhiannon and I would curl them and braid them—but then one day I realized how much of a hassle it was and chopped it off."

"So that part, at least, wasn't a lie."

"Nope."

"Either way, would you please tell us where Lady Mondeschein is staying?" Rudy asked. "If we can confirm that the heir is Eugene, then I should think you don't have to worry. You and your mother can live here and once she sees Elias her situation would improve—"

"But that doesn't mean mine will."

Beth sat upon the table in the shoe-shining room, and swung her legs back and forth.

"I mean, she'd probably care about Elias more, because they never saw each other. Why should I help her?" Her voice was once again monotonous. I could tell she wasn't lying.

"Because she's your mother, Beth," I said. Although I had no idea what I would do if I could see my mother again, I knew for sure I didn't want to cause my mother any pain.

Not anymore.

"Beth," Rudy said, softly. "You remind me of my daughter."

Beth only raised an eyebrow.

"I didn't know you had a daughter. Is she young?"

Rudy laughed.

"No, she's actually thrice your age now. She lives in America. The New World."

"That's wonderful," I said, clapping my hands together. Even Beth looked a bit impressed. Rudy smiled.

"Yes, she is wild and free, nothing like my wife. When my wife had tuberculosis, she was in America."

Beth's eyes widened a bit.

"She hurried to return, of course, but there were complications regarding the ship she was boarding. In the end, she couldn't make it."

The words sunk in.

"Are you telling me I might regret it one day too?"

"No." Rudy held her hand. "When my daughter returned for the funeral, she lied to herself, saying it wouldn't have made her mother happy anyways. She eloped and went to America without telling my wife. Right now, you have the same look as her."

Beth wavered before asking Rudy the question.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying I know you care."

Beth's legs were still.

"I am not willing to return yet," Beth finally whispered, "but if you are so insistent on having me help Eugene, let me see him."

I looked at Rudy, both of us smiling.

"Yes!"

***

A few days later Beth and I both gathered to go to Eugene's room after dinner to discuss her identity and Rachel Mondeschein's possible involvement. Tobias was also called to the room.

"Do you always come here at night?" Beth whispered to me when we departed from Clo and Rhiannon after dinner and went upstairs to the masters' hallway. She made it sound scandalous, and I was sure my face was flushed. 

"Of course not!" I argued, "I only came a few times for urgent business." I tried to convince myself playing chess and petting rabbits counted as urgent business.

With four people in the familiar room that was usually only occupied by Eugene and I, it felt cramped and stuffy. Eugene and Beth sat at the chairs in the room, a small table between them, Eugene drinking tea. Tobias stood by his side and I stood by Beth's side. There weren't enough chairs in the small room, not to mention Eugene probably didn't often have visitors.

"Good evening, Miss Bethany," Eugene said, smiling pleasantly like he was greeting an old friend. "I heard from Shuyan you have something to tell us."

Tobias looked down at her warily, reminding me of that first day we met, him sitting on the chess table, tight-lipped, watching the scene unfold. He was even more protective of Eugene, though, now, standing by his side like a knight.

"Yes," Beth said with a smile, confident, with the haughty air of a princess. "I am the missing daughter of Lady Judith Clarke—Elizabeth Clarke."

Eugene's eyes widened, astonished, while Tobias's brows furrowed, shoulders clenched.

"Clarke—as in—"

"Precisely," Beth responded without letting Tobias finish, still smug.

"Which would mean," Eugene began slowly, "you're our sister."

"Half-sister," Beth corrected, looked a bit offended. "I'd rather not be grouped with you tasteless Beardsleys, thank you very much." I couldn't believe what she was saying. I was just glad Mister Kupka wasn't there to hear her.

"How can we believe you?"

Gracefully, Beth reached into the pocket of her maid uniform and produced a dull-gray ring, more metallic than silver. It had the emblem of a griffin, wings spread wide.

"This is my family heirloom."

The faces on the two men before us told me it was genuine.

"Then if you are Miss Elizabeth, why did you run away from home?" Eugene asked, rebounding quite quickly from the revelation. "I've heard Lady Judith is suffering a great deal from the absence of her daughter."

"More like from the absence of her son," Beth mocked. Through the past few days I realized Lady Elizabeth "Beth" Clarke was even more blunt and severe than Clo and Rhiannon—which wasn't easy.

"I don't see why you are putting the fault on us," Tobias said defensively. "That was Father's choice, none of us had a say in it."

"Your Father is no longer here now, is he?" Beth raised an eyebrow. She might be the only one who could make Tobias react like that. I wonder if she might possibly beat him in chess one day, too. "I don't want to dilly-dally, I am only here because Shuyan told me Master Eugene is different from the other Beardsleys, especially my father, and I know something that can help you."

"Help me?"

"I know who R.M. is."

"How do you know?" Tobias asked. Eugene looked clueless as to what we were talking about. Was he left out of it the entire time?

"Rachel Mondeschein is my godmother," Beth said. "And she's also a noblewoman from Germany, and my mother's long-time closest friend. I heard if you go back in her family tree, she has some ties to the house of Beardsley—although she denies it and keeps it a secret. That was why my Father and her spoke and traded letters."

"How do you know about this?" Tobias asked. He wasn't even hiding his suspicion, while Eugene looked amazed, if anything, at her knowledge.

"Ladies of the high societies of England love to do one thing." Beth grinned. "Gossip."

"Still, one cannot be certain she is the R.M. who Father gave his will to."

"I am certain." Beth folded her hands before her, ring in her hand. "Because right now, a copy of her will is at my house, the Clarke manor."

Tobias seemed to fall back. Eugene's eyes only shone brightly.

"So Father and Lady Rachel Monde—Mondes—"

"Mondeschein."

"Yes, Lady Rachel Mondeschein—did they have a pact together? To give each other their wills?"

"That's what I believe."

"And you are willing to help us get the will?"

Beth was still calm, calmer than the other two, at least.

"Yes, I'll direct you to Rachel Mondeschein and use me as bait to receive the will, which, for some reason I don't know, she isn't giving to you. However—" she hardened her face, looking older, "I will not be going back unless I decide to. You two will, no matter who the heir is, help me in my current situation until I'm satisfied."

"But your mother—" I said feebly.

"No," Beth insisted. "That's my side of the deal. Take it or leave it."

Eugene smiled.

"I'll take it."

Beth stood up, and shook his hand firmly for someone so petite.

After Beth left, it was only me, Eugene, and Tobias left in the room.

"This was much more than I bargained for," Eugene said with a laugh. "A sister I never knew about, working as a maid, and being so close to victory now."

"What if it's not a victory?" Tobias muttered, pacing around the room restlessly. "What if the will has been damaged or changed or—"

"I don't think that'll happen, Tobias," Eugene reassured him. "And no matter what happens, I'm just glad we've done everything in our power and we got to it before Silas."

"True."

Eugene turned to me and stood up, picking up his cane.

"It's all thank to you, Shuyan. I didn't know you were doing so much for me."

"No," I replied, "it's for everyone. Beth, Master Tobias, and the other people who are wishing for you to be heir." He flushed, embarrassed at the compliment.

"Thank you. I'll never be able to pay you back." He took up one my my hand and kissed it. It was the first time a man had ever kissed my skin—even my hand, that I stiffened and fell speechless.

Tobias watched, eyes frozen. Then as soon as it happened, Eugene let go of it and gave me a smile.

"Have a good night."

I quickly pulled my hand away.

"You too, Master Eugene, Master Tobias."

I gave a quick curtsy and then ran down the hallway, my heart beating faster than it did before I came.

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