“Absent is the best answer I can give you. His father grew disinterested in family life shortly after Ivan was born and divorced himself from his wife and son well before Ivan’s first birthday. His uncle Matthew, Lord Rothvale number twelve, invited Rebecca, Ivan’s mother, to live here at Donadea for as long as she wished, and she did. She made Donadea their home while Ivan’s father lived in various places in Europe and in London. Ivan did not meet his father in person for the first time until well after his mother had died. Matthew never married or had any children, so Ivan was his heir. For all intents and purposes, Matthew Everley was the only father that boy ever knew. Matthew did the best he could with him. And that is how Ivan came to be number thirteen when Matthew died four years ago after a short bout with cancer.”

“This is a very sad story you’ve just told me, Mr. Finnegan. I—I can’t imagine him growing up without parents to love him.” The thought of little Ivan basically an orphan at six years old just wrecked me to the point of wanting to crawl into a corner and sob.

He smiled at me again and reached out to clasp my hand. “This is why I wanted you to understand the road he’s traveled throughout his life has been a lonely one. He’s had a very privileged upbringing, but one rather lacking in love and affection from people who were either not present in his life or left this world far too soon. He’s had to be on his own at a young age when there was nobody to guide him or give support. I know he’s not easy all the time. He can be exacting, and demanding, and at times, temperamental. I do realize he has his flaws just as we all do, but if I may say, you seem able to manage him quite effortlessly, but more importantly, you are making him happy. I have never known him to be so lighthearted in all the years before you arrived on scene, Miss Hargreave. It’s you. You’ve made this sudden change in him, and if I might be so bold in saying this next part, it’s because he cares a great deal for you. I do know that to be true.”

“I care about him, too. So much. He makes me happy, and he’s a very special person to me even without his amazing collection of art. I think I understand him better now, so thank you for sharing the context of his early life with me. I won’t say anything to him. This conversation never happened, but I am going to need a hug now, Mr. Finnegan, because that’s just how I roll when I’m feeling like I might cry.”

As Mr. Finnegan held me and patted me on the back, the warmth of his embrace made me feel better, and also very grateful Ivan at least had someone who cared looking out for him over the years. He might not have said the actual words, but Mr. Finnegan loved Ivan like a son. He did love him. He never would’ve told me about Ivan’s heartbreaking childhood if he didn’t.