The Royal Crest

"Yates?" Sir Washington repeated with a frown. The name didn't ring a bell… his mind scouted around but he couldn't associate the name with anyone he'd heard of. Maybe as Grace had said, she was truly of a simple origin… and had nothing to do with that family.

But the mark at the nape of her neck… it was exactly the same shape and size and more unbelievable was the fact that it was at the same position as the one he'd seen on that portrait. How can there be such a coincidence?

Sir Washington's face darkened with concentration as he became lost in thought again. 

Meanwhile, Grace felt her palms grow clammy under the weight of his stare. She tried to meet Jace's gaze, but his attention was fixed on the older man.

"That mark…" Sir Washington murmured to himself, shaking his head as if to clear it. "It's identical. Way too identical." He turned abruptly toward Grace again, his eyes sharp. "Belinda Yates… Do you know if she ever lived abroad? Europe, perhaps?"