Chapter 34

He had to hope they were enough.

By the time he reached home, his heart was heavy. Not even the sight of Ewan holding the door open for him was enough to lift his spirits.

“You’ll want to go straight to your room,” Ewan murmured in his ear as he helped with Micah’s jacket.

His spirits sank even further. “Is Father in a state?”

“No.” Something smooth pressed into his palm. “I thought you’d wish to read this in private.”

Micah glanced down. In his hand was a creamy envelope. He turned it over, his fingers frozen from the cold, and his heart stopped at the sight of the familiar handwriting.

He knew that script. He had proof of it in his nightstand, a gift he read and reread every night before retiring. He believed he’d be able to recognize Jefferson’s writing until the moment he took his last breath.

“I’ll make excuses for you,” Ewan said quietly. “I imagine this cold will have you in your room the rest of the night, will it not?”