She Loved a Poor Gardener—Then Discovered He Was the Heir to a Fortune
Chapter 8
The answer was closer than either expected.
The steward.
Mr. Collins had served Blackwood Manor for thirty years.
He knew every room.
Every servant.
Every letter.
Every visitor.
When Thomas confronted him, the old man’s face collapsed.
“I knew your father.”
“You knew who killed him.”
Collins shook his head.
“I knew who helped them.”
“Who?”
Collins looked toward Clara.
Then away.
“Your father’s own solicitor.”
Thomas stared.
“The solicitor died years ago.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of whom?”
Collins whispered:
“Lord William.”
The final pieces were uncovered.
The solicitor had forged documents.
William had used them to seize control.
Thomas’s father discovered the fraud.
The solicitor arranged for him to be intercepted on the road.
His death was disguised as an accident.
William had not acted alone.
But there was no proof.
Until Collins revealed where the solicitor had hidden his original records.
A sealed chest beneath the chapel floor.
Thomas, Clara, and Collins opened it at midnight.
Inside were letters.
Receipts.
Payments.
Names.
And one confession.
William had ordered the solicitor to arrange the accident.
Thomas read the page twice.
His hands trembled.
Clara touched his arm.
“You have him.”
Thomas shook his head.
“Not yet.”
The next morning, William arrived.
He knew.
Someone had betrayed them.
William entered the garden with four men.
“Give me the documents.”
Thomas stood.
“No.”
William smiled.
“Then I will take them.”
Clara stepped forward.
“You cannot.”
William looked at her.
“Your father helped me once.”
Clara’s face hardened.
“And now I will help destroy you.”
William laughed.
“Love makes people foolish.”
Thomas answered:
“No.”
He stepped beside Clara.
“Fear does.”
William’s men advanced.
Then a carriage appeared at the gate.
Royal investigators stepped out.
Thomas had sent copies of the evidence days earlier.
William’s smile vanished.
The chief investigator unfolded the confession.
“Lord William Reed, you are under arrest.”
William stared at Thomas.
“You were never meant to survive.”
Thomas’s expression did not change.
“I know.”
