“Might it have included a visit to Mr. GrahamButler?”
Silas became rigid and glared atAlice.
“To whom have you beenspeaking?”
“Why, to Mark and Emily, ofcourse.”
Silas relaxed and smiled, “Then you have heard about Miss Emily’s scandalousbehavior?”
“Scandalous, perhaps, but notherbehavior—yours,Silas.”
Silas stood. “How dare you accuse me—the innocent party in her outrageous attempt to further her career by offering to compromiseherself.”
Alice inclined her head. “Our Emily? I think not. I know her very well and cannot believe for one moment that she could be capable of such an act ofdisgrace.”
“I assume you spoke to heraftershe was denied representation by Mr.Butler.”
“I did. And her story is entirely different than the one you libelously gave Mr.Butler.”
“And herproof?”
“Her character,” Alice said. “And yours, I mightadd.”
“How dare you!” he demanded. “You take her word over the word of a member of your ownfamily?”
Alice leaned forward in her chair and said with great assurance, “I most certainly do, and so doesMark.”
Silas appeared unable to come up with a suitable response and Alice continued, “And I think it would be best Uncle, if you returned to Mr. Butler immediately and recanted your statement. And to anyone else to whom you might have related this lie. And for good measure, take out an announcement inThe Timesclearing Emily of all wrongdoing, andapologize.”
“I most certainly will not. Miss Emily is a completeliar.”
Alice turned to the wood closet, and asked, “Is that true,Emily?”
Silas took a step backward as Emily presented herself and she stood next toAlice.
Emily was as firm as an oak tree as she said, “Mr. Skeffington, you know the truth, as do I, and now Alice and Mark. I highly recommend you follow Alice’sdirection.”
“Or else what?” Silas asked, definitely. “It is her word against mine. I shall speak to Mark about this—man to man. He willunderstand.”
“Mark has given me full authority to represent him in this matter and we are in complete agreement onthis.”
“And if I chose not to do as yousay?”
“Then, you shall be completely banned from the family. Mark has given me full authority to do whatever is necessary to break you, if need be. And I can assure you that, when the Duchess learns of your behavior, you will, most certainly, no longer be in her favor. And you know what that means when it comes to her will. Remember, Mark is a very powerful man. With his contacts in the musical world, he will do to your career what you tried to do to Emily’s—ruin it. Dismiss this warning at your own peril,Silas.”
Silas was frozen in a glare. “I never thought, Alice, you would jeopardize your reputation for a tarnished woman like Miss Emily, but I can see I was wrong. And I guess that was mymistake.”
“Then you will do as we ask?” Alice asked, not letting up on Silas and ignoring hisslur.
He nodded, picked up his hat and started to leave. But he stopped at the door and turned back to her, and asked, “So, I guess that means that the painting isnotforsale?”
“Oh, Silas, you never change, do you?” Alice said, with a sigh, but inciting both her and Emily to laughter as he exited the sittingroom.
Chapter 29
When Mark arrived back at Linfield Hall, he found his grandmother seated at his father’s bedside, looking as though she had not slept last night. The nurse and doctor were both standing close by, observing, but apparently unable to do anything to help. His father’s breathing was labored and sporadic and he was notconscious.
He went over and put his hand on his grandmother’s shoulder and she reached up and put a reassuring hand onhis.
