Lila's POV:
Father's letter arrived a few days later.
I stopped halfway through reading it, my fingers going still.
Miranda had bribed the healer to switch Mother's medicine to hide her secret dealings with Blackstone merchants. Ian had handed over their account book and pointed out where the healer from that year was hiding.
At the end of the letter, Father wrote that Ian had admitted to covering it up. He had been stripped of his place as successor and was awaiting investigation.
Malcolm took the crumpled letter from my hand.
After reading it, he said nothing. He only covered the back of my hand with his.
"Do you know what hurts most?" I asked.
He waited for me to continue.
"Mother was so good to him. He saw me cry and still helped Miranda and Daphne hide it."
I had thought I h
