For Darkness Shows the Stars

Fleet Posts and far more than she, felt awkward going alone to say hello? Elliot sighed. “I’m a little short staffed this morning, I’m afraid.”
    “It’s because of that pregnant foreman, isn’t it? Tatiana mentioned she’d been taken off her duties—perhaps a bit earlier than she needed to be.”
    Elliot raised her eyebrows. “Tatiana knows that? I’m shocked.”
    Benedict smiled. “Your sister follows more than you think she does, Elliot. It makes it easier for her to justify not getting her hands dirty herself.”
    Less than two weeks here and already he knew the lay of the land pretty well. Elliot regarded Benedict carefully. She didn’t know what had brought him back to the North estate, or why her father had chosen now of all times to reconcile with his nephew. Eight years ago, Benedict had been sent away from the only home he’d ever known, and yet he appeared not bitter or angry about it at all. It was a mystery.
    The Reduced girls had by now lined up outside the stalls for Elliot to inspect their work. Benedict looked them over, too, and Elliot stiffened, remembering the old rumors. If Benedict did take over, would the North lands become like the estate where the Phoenixes had grown up?
    “Very good,” she said to the laborers, gesturing in signs they’d be sure to understand. “You’re free to go.” Two of them ran off, while Ro lingered, clearly wanting to spend more time with Elliot, but nervous about Benedict’s presence.
    “Pretty girl,” said Benedict. “And that’s a lovely scarf. It’s nice that you let them have their own possessions. Did she do anything special to earn it?”
    Elliot frowned. “Ro,” she said. “I would like you to go visit with Dee in the birthing house today. Can you do that?”
    Ro nodded and took off.
    Benedict turned back to Elliot. “So you are free now.”
    “Not really.” She cast about for a way to broach the topic. “Benedict, I am glad you and my father have reconciled. While you’re here, I think it’s important that you know the things that happen on other estates do not occur on North lands—”
    His eyes lit up with amusement. “You don’t put credence in that old story, do you, cousin?”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Yes, she did. Everyone knew why Benedict had been sent away.
    “Yes, you do,” he replied. “And frankly, I’m surprised.”
    Elliot folded her arms. “That I could think it of you?”
    “That you haven’t figured out that it was all a lie,” Benedict said, practically scoffing. “Your father manufactured a reason to send me away. I was a threat to him as I came of age, because I’m the rightful heir to the estate.”
    Elliot considered this for a minute. It made a lot of sense. Of course her father would feel threatened as the boy he’d fed and housed and clothed grew old enough to take over his birthright. After all, Elliot herself had been de facto running the estate since her early teens. Could not Benedict have run it as he’d been supposed to? She wondered what would have happened if he’d been allowed to take over. Would the North estate have been in better hands? Would it be now?
    Seeing her reaction, he smiled. “Come now, Elliot. I’m not here to start a fight. I have made peace with your father. I’ve learned much more these past years traveling the islands—seeing the estates and the enclaves—than I ever could have trapped up here in the north. Uncle Zachariah’s so-called punishment has made me a rich man on my own terms.”
    “How fortunate for you.” And if that was the case, that he neither needed the estate nor wanted it, then why did he bother to return?
    “I am fortunate, and your father knows it. The past is . . . an embarrassment to him, and I have promised not to call him out for it.”
    Why? Elliot didn’t know if she’d be so gracious, and unlike Kai, she doubted her father had the money to pay Benedict off. She wondered if Benedict was receiving something else—a promise to give up rights to the estate sometime soon?
    “But I do not want you laboring under a false assumption. I have no interest in the Reduced women on this farm. I never did.” He leaned forward. “In other words, you do not need to chase away that little redhead.”
    Benedict stepped back, satisfied. “And now that we’ve cleared the air, I’ll ask again—would you do me the honor of accompanying me to the Boatwright house so that I may meet the neighbors?”
    Not