She chose the word deliberately.
"No one talks about it," Pauline continued. "Not because it was small but because it was big enough to break things that were never repaired."
Evelyn leaned forward slightly. "What was it about?"
Pauline's gaze flickered.
"I don't know," she sighed. "I tried asking but mother and Benjamin always changed the topic when I did so I stopped."
"All I know is that after that incident Ronald was sent away," Pauline said. "Father made that decision himself." She paused. "From that day onward, his name stopped being spoken in this house."
Evelyn felt a chill settle into her spine. "But Benjamin still speaks to him."
Pauline nodded. "Benjamin has always carried complicated loyalties."
She hesitated, then added, "I heard Ronald returned once nearly twenty years ago."
Evelyn's breath caught. "Returned?"
