“Let him go!” she screamed and ran toward the two men. Grabbing a paperweight from the floor, she bashed it against Aaron’s back, causing him to let go of Leonard just long enough for her husband to leap to his feet.
Aaron had a wild look in his eyes. “You again. I thought you’d fled. You’re impossible to get rid of,” he barked. “Want to join me? Avenge yourself a bit? He treated you rotten as well.”
“I am not proud of how I treated Sally but I never did anything to you,” Leonard shouted and stood in front of Sally, shielding her from Aaron. ‘Sally, he lured me to my study and attacked me the moment the door was closed.”
“Never did anything to me? You and your father are both rotten to the core. You’re a thief just like he was a thief! Yes, I know. I know what he did. So did my father. In fact, your corrupt father is at fault for my father’s death. He died of a heart attack when he discovered what sort of crook your father was,” Aaron shouted and gesticulated wildly. “And you are just as bad.”
“What? What are you saying? I do not understand any of this. What do you think I did?” Leonard replied and then looked at Sally, eyes widening with understanding. “Is he the one who told you lies about me?” Leonard asked shaking with anger.
Aaron shouted back, “It wasn’t a lie! You’re just as bad as your father!”
Leonard told him to shut up. “That’s enough, Aaron. You need to stop.”
“He did tell me that your father stole and so do you,” Sally replied, feeling foolish now that she’d said it out loud. “And when I asked you, you … you reacted as if you were guilty.”
“Because he is,” Aaron shouted; he stood bent at the waist as if ready to charge at any moment. Ignoring him, Leonard turned to Sally again. “Did you really think I would defraud my own workers? Have I treated you so badly that you would believe such things?”
Sally gulped and realized that she knew better all along. She shook her head and said, “No you never mistreated any of your workers and I … when he told me, it all made sense. Your secrecy, your strange behaviors but I should have known better.”
Aaron interrupted them. “How? Leonard is an excellent liar,” he said. “He’s been fooling you all along, Sally. His father drove mine into an early grave, and he was going to do the same to you with his constantly changing opinions. I was doing you a favor telling you the truth.”
“A half-truth at best,” Leonard shot back. “Yes, Sally I have been changeable but it was because I wanted to protect you. My father was a horrid man it is true. He lied and cheated and what is more he treated my mother shabbily. He made her life a living hell. I was terrified I’d turn out like him and treat you the same, that is why I kept you away from me.”
Sally’s heart sank. This made sense. All the sense in the world. She recalled Mary’s words about the late Duchess and how unhappy he’d been. How Leonard had changed after the Kellers told him he was just like his father. It was all coming together.
“You would never, not …You’d never be like your father,” she said quickly, knowing in her soul it was true.
“Please, he already is. He steals as well. Why else would he constantly go to Portugal?” Aaron interrupted. “His father did the same thing.”
“To repay the workers. I am selling my personal holdings, artwork, horses – everything – to ensure they are taken care of and instead of trusting a middleman I go myself.”
Aaron scoffed. “Yes, of course you do, Mr. Wonderful.”
Leonard stood up straight. “Is this why you’re here? Trying to find proof that I am a fraud like my father?”
“Among other things, yes. And I know you hide a second ledger, just like your father did. My father told me all about it. I know where you hide it,” he hissed and pointed at the painting.
“It is true my father had such a ledger, and I found it but I do not have a second ledger. I will show you if that’s what it takes. What where you going to do? Kill me and then smear my name?” he demanded as he walked toward the wall safe.
No, no, no…It is a trap.
She rushed forward and reached out to pull Leonard back. “Don’t. He’ll…”
She could say nothing more because Aaron had moved as quickly as a barn cat away from Leonard and toward her, wrapping an arm around her waist – and something sharp pressed against her throat.
“Aaron, drop that!” Leonard commanded while Sally wrapped her arms around Aaron’s, yanking down with all her might but to no avail.
“Let me go, you maniac,” Sally called, although she had to choke the words out as he was holding her so tight it was hard to speak. Then, she felt something sharp and cold against her throat and to her horror, saw the glistening in the object’s reflection – it was a letter opener. And it was pressing against her jaw.
“Why would I do that? You’re my bargaining chip, Your Grace,” Aaron said. She felt his heart hammering into her back as he held her close, and his ragged breathing licked at her skin. Her stomach convulsed, but she knew she had to keep her wits about her now.
Before her, Leonard raised his hands. “Please,” he implored, his voice strained with desperation. “Let her go. She didn’t do anything to deserve this.”
“She tried to defame me. She claimed I assaulted her three years ago,” Aaron replied sharply.
“Because you did. You admitted it,” Sally replied, and Leonard's jaw dropped.
“It was him?” The rage was evident in the way Leonard’s voice rose.
