“In that storm, who would’ve known there was foul play afoot?” Laurence spat. “I followed him for days. I got my vengeance in the end. If he hadn’t laughed, if he’d given me what I was owed, he’d still be alive and married to that strange woman you’re shackled to. You should let me loose, so I can deal with her—I’d be doing you a favor. All it’d cost you is my legitimacy and my inheritance.”
“If you touch a hair on her head, I shall strangle you myself,” a voice hissed from the darkness of the hallway as a figure stepped forward. “Ishouldhave strangled you myself when I learned of your existence. But no—I let my husband make a mockery of me by sending money to your mother, to you. I thought that would be enough to make you go away.”
Albion looked up at his mother, her face a stony mask.
“Did you really kill my boy?” Constance asked coolly.
Laurence sneered. “He deserved it.” His eyes blazed as he glowered up at Constance. “You’re as much to blame. I wrote to you with my demands—do you remember what you said?”
“I told you that you and your mother had had quite enough from my household,” Constance replied. “I told you that you could both rot in hell with the man I called ‘husband’ for your extortion. You threatened to reveal your identity; I told you no one would believe you. I should have known you would not stay away.”
“Yes, you should have,” Laurence replied, trying hopelessly to wriggle free of Albion’s grip. “Your precious boy would still be alive if you’d been wiser. All I wanted was to be recognized as my father’s son—not such a great demand, really. Just look what your stubbornness has cost you.”
Albion wrenched the valet up by his collar, seething. “It’ll costyoufar more.”
At that moment, Matilda arrived with a horde of servants behind her. “Max has gone to fetch the constables,” she said in a rush. “I have rope. Someone does, anyway.”
The gardener stepped forward. “I have it, Your Grace. Shall I tie the bastard?”
Laurence was not looking at the man, however. His gaze was fixed on Matilda. “I should’ve known not to trust a woman’s knowledge,” he snarled. “You spoke about that plant as if you knew what you were talking about. You didn’t know a damned thing. Three cups, he drank, and he’s still breathing. I ought to have used a blade from the?—”
Constance struck him hard in the cheek, silencing him. “You have spoken quite enough, whoever you are. Indeed, you are fortunate that there is no blade inmyhand, or you would be dead by now.” Her voice caught. “I will watch you hang for what you did. I promise you that.”
“And I know that because I am a woman, you were probably not listening closely enough,” Matilda shot back. “I am glad of it. For the first time in my life, I am glad that a man only heard half of what I said.”
The gardener stepped in, and with Albion’s help, they managed to restrain Laurence, binding his wrists and ankles, and tying a cloth over his mouth, so he could not say anything more to upset Constance… or Albion himself.
You killed a good man.Albion’s heart ached.You killed a good man because of a cruel man. If you had not killed my dear brother, I might have shown leniency, I might have understood, but this I can’t forgive.He was not the only one haunted by the ghost of his father though it was too late for Laurence to receive an exorcism. He would hang for what he had done while their father paid no price for his wicked deeds.
It was a battle lost by both sides, no victory to be found.
But therewashope—a tiny beacon of it, flaring from the beautiful face of the woman he loved as she slipped her hand into his. A hope of not repeating old mistakes but starting something new, breaking traditions and cycles that were no longer fit for their changing world.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
The sun was already up, heralding a beautiful summer day. Birds chirped in the gardens, bees buzzed around the flowerbeds, but Whitecliff Manor lay dormant, not a soul awake save for the four men who stood on the driveway. They shielded their eyes from the sun’s glare as a carriage departed, taking the prisoner away to the nearest town’s jail.
Tomorrow or the next day, Laurence would be sentenced by the magistrate though everyone already knew the punishment. And Albion still did not know how to feel about it. His thoughts swayed back and forth like a pendulum, between furious and bittersweet, justified and saddened, righteous and apprehensive.
“You can all retire,” Albion said to the other three men: the gardener, the butler, and Anna’s brother, Max. “There’ll be no one working today, not until this afternoon at least. That’s my command as thanks for the loyalty everyone has shown to me.”
Everyone except Max dutifully returned indoors though they did not use the main door, habit taking them around the side of the manor to the servants’ entrance.
“And you, of course, are welcome to stay until you’re rested enough to leave,” Albion said to Max gruffly.
Max laughed. “I will leave this evening, and I do not imagine you will see me here again unless I am cordially invited.” He clapped a hand on Albion’s shoulder. “You just take good care of our Tilly. The best care. She deserves it.”
“I know,” Albion replied, trying not to bristle at the sound of such a casual nickname upon another man’s tongue. “I intend to make her as happy as I can for as long as we both shall live.”
Max smiled. “I believe you. I confess, I was not certain about you, but I can tell you are a good man who will be good to her. And when I return home, I will put Anna’s mind at ease, for she will be fretting terribly.”
“Tell her she is welcome here whenever she pleases,” Albion said. “As her last visit was cut short, I insist on her visiting again.”
Max nodded. “I will tell her. Now, to bed.”
“To bed.” Albion relaxed, and together, the two men headed back inside.
On the landing, however, Albion did not take the usual turn to reach his bedchamber. Instead, he bid goodnight to Max and turned in the opposite direction, his heart jumping anxiously as he approached Matilda’s door.
