“Well, probably, but not in public at least.” Nora had finished her glass and placed it on the counter. Ray refilled it for her before turning the bottle back to his own glass. “Historical accounts all agree that a deep bitterness formed between the siblings, though. One that only grew worse as Ezra Hull prospered.”

“The inheritance wasn’t all that much, really,” Ray said. “But Gallows Hill multiplied it many times over. And Ephraim, struggling to make a living in town, saw the winery’s success and believed it should have been his.”

Nora released a slow sigh. “If the rift hadn’t formed, perhaps Ezra would have invited his brother to live and work with him, and they both could have thrived. But there was too much bad blood between them by that point. Ezra had a carriage, employees, nice clothes. Ephraim, who had ten children by that time, seemed trapped in a life of struggle.”

The younger brother, feeling cheated at every turn. Seeing that he worked just as hard, deserved just as much, but never got it. The brother I’m descended from.

Margot’s voice sounded hollow. “What did he do?”

“Ah.” Nora exchanged a knowing look with Ray. “Well. According to him, nothing.”

The six faces in the illustration stared up at her, vague but inexplicably filled with heartbreak.

“Ezra Hull, Louisa Hull, and their four children vanished one day.” Ray seemed to slump across the counter, braced on his forearms, gentle eyes faintly glassy as he looked toward the opposite window. “When questioned, Ephraim said he believed his older brother had set out for one of the cities in search of greater fortunes and had no intention of returning. He moved into Gallows Hill to care for the business while his brother was gone. As months passed and Ezra failed to return, Ephraim took over more of the land’s work, until eventually his brother was declared legally dead and the estate passed to him.”

“Ephraim killed them,” Margot surmised.

“Well.” Nora laced and unlaced her fingers. “I wouldn’t want to speak badly of your ancestors.”

“It’s fine,” Margot said, even though the ache in her heart insisted that it wasn’t. “I want the truth. He killed them.”

Nora continued to fidget. “Technically, not in the eyes of the law. The house and land were searched, just in case, but no bodies were ever found. All we know for certain is that they vanished.”