His tall frame stiffened, panic flooding his eyes, yet he gritted his teeth and did not utter a single word of protest.
With trembling hands, he pulled a worn gold medallion from the inner pocket of his shirt and placed it in my palm, along with the private seal of the Beaumont family, which he carried with him at all times.
"This medallion belonged to my mother. She gave it to me when I was a boy, and I've carried it with me ever since. It's one of the few things I have left of her. This is my source of comfort."
His fingers tightened around mine. "Now I'm putting it, and the entire future of the Beaumont family, in your hands."
His eyes were red-rimmed, his voice rough and low, almost a plea. "Daphne, you can punish me however you want, test me for as long as you like. Even if you te
