The thought surprised her. She hadn’t realized how much she wanted this man. Here she was imagining a future with him. A future where she and her daughters lived happily with Richard and his daughter.

“Are you well, my lady?” asked Rebecca.

“Yes, Rebecca, I was just lost in the past, and perhaps the future. I’m careful not to linger there too often for fear of being lost there forever and not seeing what is in front of me.” She handed the brooch back to the lady’s maid.

“Shall I put this out with your other jewelry, then? Would you like to wear it today to the picnic?” Rebecca asked.

“No, Rebecca, it doesn’t go with my dress. But I’d like you to leave it on my vanity. Perhaps I will wear it this evening at dinner,” she said, staring at it one last time before Rebecca closed the box.

“I’m sorry, my lady, but I have to ask: you’re not worried about Mrs. Bramble’s ravings about the brooch being cursed, are you? It’s all nonsense if you ask me,” said Rebecca.

“Is that what you would call it, Rebecca? Ravings? Is it that bad with Mrs. Bramble?” she asked.

“I’m afraid so, my lady.”

Lady Tremaine wanted to chalk it up to an old woman’s wild imagination, but recalling her conversation with the shopkeeper gave her pause. “The funny thing is, Rebecca, I just remembered the shopkeeper telling Lord Tremaine and me that he had acquired it from a mysterious dealer along with a number of other items, including a book of fairy tales written by witches. I wonder if this is the same book Mrs. Bramble gave me. And I’m almost sure he mentioned some sort of curse, but it has been so long since that day. Maybe I’m mistaken.”

Rebecca frowned. “Perhaps Mrs. Bramble is simply remembering the story you shared with her back then.”

Lady Tremaine shook her head. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that myself. Of course, that’s what happened. And she’s somehow managed to get it all jumbled in her head. Tell me, Rebecca, has there been talk downstairs about Sir Richard?”

Rebecca smirked. “No more than the usual when a handsome man comes to visit. The maids and some of the footmen are swooning, of course. I mean, he is a very good-looking man.”

Lady Tremaine laughed. “And is there any talk about the Many Kingdoms, where Sir Richard is from? Mrs. Bramble would have me believe it is a dangerous place.”

Rebecca looked uncomfortable.

“Out with it, Rebecca. What are they saying down there?”