Page 99 of A Single Thread of Moonlight

“I have been asked by Miss Fox’s father to see to his wine cellars. The man is building quite the collection, but I fear he is not storing it all correctly. Your own cellars are clearly magnificent, given the quality of the wine we’ve been enjoying these last weeks. May I ask who chooses the wine?”

Helena eyed him narrowly. “The butler, Tookes,” she said. “I’m sure he would be happy to give you a tour of the cellar. Both of you,” she added, her eyes darting towards Stefan, who was grinning good-naturedly.

“That is most generous of you,” said Nick.

I tried to keep my face emotionless as she tugged on the bell.

“Tookes,” Helena said, once the butler arrived. “Would you show Lord Wynter and Miss Fox to the wine cellar? I believe they have some questions for you.”

“Of course, Your Ladyship.” Tookes bowed.

We followed the butler down the stairs and through to his office, where he used a key to open another door that led to the wine cellars, which were enormous, dark and cool.

Tookes’ eyes slid towards me, but otherwise there was nothing at all to give him away when he turned to Nick. “In what way may I be of assistance, my Lord?”

“It’s fine, Tookes,” I said. “Lord Wynter knows who I am.”

Tookes looked between us. “I see,” he said. “Lord Wynter is the friend who helped you to come here.”

“He is.”

Tookes drew himself up to his full height. “In the absence of Lady Iris’s father, I hope you won’t be offended, sir, if I ask what your intentions are.”

“Tookes!” I exclaimed, flushing to the roots of my hair.

“Completely honourable,” Nick said promptly, submitting meekly to the butler’s interrogative stare. “I’m in love with her.”

“Are you?” I asked.

“Hopelessly.”

“Oh.”

Tookes watched this exchange with interest. “In that case,” he said, breaking through the tension that threatened to smother us all, “I would imagine you’re not here to ask me about the wine cellar.”

“No,” I said unsteadily. “Tookes, I need to find a copy of Father’s will – I think there’s a page missing in the solicitor’s copy. Do you think there’s one in this house?”

He frowned. “I don’t know,” he said, but something shifted behind his eyes.

I supressed a groan. “If anyone knows, Tookes, it’s you.”

There was a beat. Tookes exhaled. “Lady Iris,” he said finally. “Your father was a complicated man, but he was always good to me. Before he died, I made him certain promises and I still consider myself to be bound by them.”

“You know that I wouldn’t ask you if it were not very important.” I turned to him, my eyes pleading. “I think I’m entitled to the truth. I’m his daughter!” The words burst out of me, full of anger and frustration.

Tookes released another long sigh. “Wait here,” he said at last, and then he disappeared back through the door to his office.

Nick placed a hand on my trembling arm, letting me know that he was with me.

Tookes returned, holding a small wooden box in his hands.

“Your father gave me this,” Tookes said. “Not long before he died. He made me swear not to look inside it, but to keep it somewhere safe. I don’t think he intended to leave it with me, but then he had the accident.” Tookes shrugged awkwardly. “I’ve been wondering whether or not I should give it to you ever since you turned up, but I could see you were hurting and I didn’t want to stir things up any more for you. Besides, I gave your father my word.

“I’ve never looked inside, but as I’ve said to you before, I don’t think your father was quite in his right mind at the end. I think if you want to look in it then you should have the choice.”

With those words he retired from the room, swift and silent as a shadow.

I held the box in my hands. It wasn’t locked, just closed with a small brass catch.