Joan was torn between wanting to see the rest of Westmore House and spend time with Rowles, and going home and pelting her brother with questions. In the end, she chose the latter, and Rowles offered to take her in his curricle, with the promise to return later that afternoon, should she feel up to a stroll in the park.

She was quite certain she would delight in a stroll; however, she had been quite certain of a lot of things that morning and those had changed dramatically.

“I understand,” Rowles said as she conveyed her tumultuous thoughts. “I’m here whenever you need me. Just send word.” He helped her from the curricle and kissed her hand.

She could feel his stare on her back as she took the stairs to her home. Turning to give one final wave, she wondered how any other man would have reacted, had they found out about her questionable parentage. Would they have still loved her? Wanted her? Or would they have cried off?

Rowles returned her wave, a solid pillar of honesty. She gave him a brave nod and turned back to the door. Straightening her shoulders, she walked into the house.

“Where is Lord Penderdale?” she asked a footman as he took her pelisse.

“His study, my lady,” the footman answered.

Joan nodded and headed in the direction of Morgan’s study, her boots making determined little clicks on the wooden floor as she closed the distance.

As she walked into the room, she paused, at odds about where to even begin.

“He told you,” Morgan said by way of greeting as he finished signing a document. Blowing across the ink, he waited a moment for it to dry and then set it aside. “Your stride gave you away. Quite a determined sound, I must say.”

Joan narrowed her eyes at her brother.

“My question is…” He rose and stepped from behind his desk and started toward her. “Am I going to answer questions or get attacked by them?” he asked playfully, then paused, holding up a hand as if to stop her from answering. “I’m sorry. For all of it. I should have told you, but I did not. I’m not sure how Rowles addressed it, but for what it’s worth, it truly changes nothing. You’re my sister. Simple as that. I couldn’t love you any more or less. I love you like I loved Percy, and that hasn’t ever changed nor will it. Mother and Father loved you as much as they loved Percy and me as well. There was never any discrimination between the three of us. You were equal in every way.” He glanced down, all earlier humor and teasing gone. “And for fear that you’d question that truth, we decided to keep it from you.”

Joan nodded, her eyes stinging with tears as she listened to her brother’s words. “Rowles said as much,” she admitted finally.