Thomas Reed flinched.
Victoria’s gaze moved to him.
“You.”
Thomas swallowed.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For keeping quiet.”
The orchestra musicians had stopped pretending to pack. Several guests had moved toward the walls, listening openly now. One of them, a young woman with a phone in her hand, was crying without making a sound.
Victoria pointed toward the officers.
“Remove them.”
The older officer stepped forward. “Mrs. Sterling, no one is being removed. We have a warrant to secure the records stored on this property.”
“You have no right.”
“We have every right.”
Marian closed the folder. “And there is one more matter. The ring contains a recording.”
Victoria’s eyes returned to Elena.
“A recording of what?”
“Your voice,” Elena said.
The room held its breath.
Elena had not planned to reveal it this way. She had planned to hand the evidence to Marian after Julian had seen the ledger, after they had left the estate, after she had delivered the truth somewhere safe and controlled.
But Victoria had thrown the ring into the river.
She had believed that destroying the object would destroy the accusation.
She had forgotten that Elena had prepared for fear.
“What recording?” Julian asked.
Elena looked at him.
“Your mother met me three weeks ago in the nursery. She told me that if I married you, she would make sure the baby never inherited a cent. Then she told me what happened to your father.”
Julian’s face changed.
The name of his father seemed to pass through him like a blade.
“My father died in a boating accident.”
“That is what you were told.”
Victoria said, “Enough.”
