Half an hour ago, they had all been summoned by the butler to gather around their aunt’s deathbed because she had some grave news she wanted to tell them. “What is it, aunt? What do you want to tell me?” He flicked a look at his brothers who stood on the opposite end of the bed. His eyes held a hint of challenge, as though he dared her to step away from the grasping hands of death and scold him, but she couldn’t. Sebastian patted the back of her bony hand absently as he smiled gently down at her.

Now that she lay on her death bed though, she had to settle for a dark look that did little to appease the growing concern of everyone present that she was running out of time. Even as tall and grown up as he was he wasn’t too big for clout at the back of the neck. If she had been fit and agile she would have reached up and clipped him behind the ears. “Come closer boy, I do not have the energy to shout,” she grumbled, and frowned at Sebastian in disapproval when he rolled his eyes and leaned toward her. She just had to find a way to break the news to them. However, she knew that they were a determined group of men who would not stop until they had unearthed the truth and welcomed the past into the present. It was far too late for her to make sure that the Cavendish brothers actually did something useful with the information she was about to impart. This was her final chance to put things right and she simply would not relinquish her hold on life until the secrets of the past were revealed. The fierce glint of determination in her watery grey eyes immediately began to dull, but she kept her gaze locked steadily on his and tried desperately to find the best way to tell him. She gasped and coughed with the effort the simple action took, but refused to give in to death’s icy grasp. Mildred glanced up at Sebastian beseechingly and drew him toward her with surprisingly strong hands.

Lord Cavendish Returns by Rebecca King