Read Realm 02 - A Touch of Velvet for Free Online Page A

devil once; she could do it again.
    Bran prompted, “Say your farewells to Aunt Ella.”
    “But why must she go, Papa?” Sonali’s little hand twisted in his.
    Bran swallowed hard, fighting back his own misgivings. “Aunt Ella has responsibilities of her own, Sweetheart.” As he said the words, his fingers caressed his sister’s cheek, trying to memorize Ella’s features.
    She turned her head to kiss his palm. Then Ella knelt to hug her niece. “You must take care of your father, Darling. He is the most remarkable of men; you are blessed to call him Papa .” She kissed the top of the girl’s head.
    “You will come to play with me again?” Sonali pleaded.
    “I will not promise, but I shall do everything possible to make it so.”
    Tears misted Eleanor’s eyes when she stood again. “I expect to be kept informed of my niece’s progress,” the reprimand implied in her tone.
    “I will find a way.” Bitter resolve colored his words.
    A long silence separated them. “Then you will not come to Thorn Hall? Your decision is final?” To his infinite regret, Ella withdrew into her aristocratic bearing, a rush of emotions playing across her face.
    Silence. Knowing he had disappointed her, Bran took a deep breath to steady his composure. “I resent what happened at Thorn Hall too much. My returning would mean I offered Father absolution for his sins. I cannot forgive or forget.”
    “I understand,” she murmured. “We all must do what is best for us.” Ella kissed his cheek. “You are adored as always, Brantley.” She turned, and he assisted her into the coach.
    Taking Sonali’s hand, he stepped back into the early morning shadows. The coach rolled away, taking his only family out of his life again.
    *
    Five days later a small package arrived with no directions written on the paper, but Bran knew instinctively it came from Ella. When Mr. Horace brought it to him on the silver salver with the rest of the posts, Bran placed it to the side, unable to share what his sister thought he might require. It was something from his past–something she had hoped would give him freedom from his decision. Instead of discovering Ella’s secret, Bran had opened the ledger to record the expenses associated with Miss Daisy’s rescue. Yet, he could not concentrate on the numbers. Sighing deeply, he picked up the small box, turning the small package over and over in his palm, using his fingers to roll it along the desk’s edge.
    “Papa.” His head snapped up to see his daughter standing in the open doorway. “May I show you my drawing?”
    “Certainly.” Only this precocious mix of mayhem and goodness brought him any true peace. He lifted Sonali to his lap and cradled her in his arms. “What do we have here?” Bran spread the crayon drawing on the desktop, smoothing out the edges with his fingers.
    “This is me with Luxman and Mrs. Carruthers with her books and you, Papa, with a horse.” The child pointed to each of them, taking time to describe the scribblings on the paper.
    “And this is?” Bran pointed to a black and blue splotch in the corner of the paper.
    “That is Mama in Heaven.” Sonali sounded as if Bran should have recognized the obvious.
    Bran tightened his embrace. “I wish Ashmita could have stayed with us; she would be very proud of you, my Love.” The girl’s arms snaked around his neck, and he kissed her tenderly. “May I keep this and put your drawing in my safe?”
    “Truly, Papa.”
    “Absolutely! I will count it among my most valuable belongings.”
    Sonali’s face lit with happiness. She turned in his arms to inspect the drawing once more, but the package caught her eye. “You have a present, Papa?”
    “I suspect it is from your Aunt Ella.” Bran shifted her weight and took the wrappings into his free hand.
    “May I open it, Papa?”
    “As I seem to lack the courage to do so, I would be indebted for your assistance, Child.”
    Sonali’s little fingers began to peel away tiny