Splintered Heart (The Bentons and Northcutts 2) ✅

Epilogue

Phoebe had been glad to return home, but she never anticipated how bad things would be.

She was happy to see Arabella and Toby again, but her youngest sister was as inconsolable as Diana had said she would be. When they arrived home Arabella threw herself at Diana, clinging to her and wailing loudly. The last time Phoebe had seen her younger sister so emotional was when their mother had died. Toby was understandably oblivious to everything going on as he was a baby, and Phoebe found comfort in his smile.

Father wanted a son so terribly. And when he got a son, he was unable to spend much time with him. Now...Now Father will never see his son grow.

The funeral was a large affair. Though House Benton was a family not on league of the likes of the Fairfax's or Northcutt's, they still were part of the peerage and there were many members. Their house in particular was considered the main house of House Benton, so most of their kin came to the funeral. Many of whom Phoebe had never met. Their kin was polite but they wore surly expressions. Phoebe suspected that it had little to do with mourning Lord Tobias Benton.

But she was definitely happy to see Jonathan, Rebekah, and Marion amongst the mourners. Marion was a healthy and quiet baby who did not fuss, which Phoebe was thankful for as the babe was frequently passed to her during the Visitations.

There were several mourners from House Northcutt as well, which also did not surprise Phoebe as Tobias had been the grandfather to the Earl of Emerson. Rafe was amongst those who came to Benton Manor, but she was unable to spend any time with him. Not that it would be appropriate anyway, given that her family was mourning Tobias. But Phoebe found comfort from his presence regardless, even if it was across the room.

Lord Tobias Benton was finally laid to rest on the evening of May 13th, 1667. It was not an ideal day for a burial, but they had delayed his burial long enough and could do so no longer. As the service wrapped up, Phoebe witnessed multiple people from both House Benton and House Northcutt approach Rosamund and give her small coin bags. Phoebe knew that this was customary following a funeral, but in a short period of time Rosamund was given so many bags that they filled her arms! Her eldest sister looked mortified and her eyes quickly found Phoebe. Phoebe's stomach twisted in discomfort but she rushed to Rosamund's side and took some of the bags from her. "Go and look after Toby," she whispered to Rosamund. "I'll take it from here."

Rosamund gave her a quiet but graceful smile, but Phoebe saw a look of dread in her eyes as she hurried away. People then began to converge upon Phoebe to give money to, and she found herself overwhelmed. But she knew why everyone had given the money to Rosamund. Rosamund was not the head of the family now, but she was the guardian to their future head of family. So it was on her to handle everything financially for the infant Lord Benton, though she had no legal right to the property.

And...I had promised Rosamund that I would take this role from her.

The realization of what she had promised washed over her. Their father had appointed Rosamund as his caretaker and Toby's guardian to spite her. So long as she was a caretaker Toby's guardian she could not get married and have children of her own, which is what Rosamund desperately wanted. She had been stuck caring for their ailing father, and now she was stuck raising her baby brother until he reached manhood. But by the time Toby came of age Rosamund would be a spinster and too old for consideration of marriage. Phoebe had not wanted Rosamund to suffer this fate and so she had tried everything she could to change Tobias's mind. To shift this responsibility onto Phoebe instead of Rosamund, but Phoebe herself had never wanted to marry or have children.

Father never gave me that chance. He held onto his spite to the bitter end. But now...

Now Phoebe knew what awaited Rosamund. Years of being trapped in a role where her life solely revolved around Toby and the Benton Manor. Giving everything and getting nothing in return, other than seeing Toby grow into a fine young man. She had promised Rosamund that she would take her place. But...