“I knew that I was wise to take your wealth.”
Lord Kingston was obviously furious, the arrogance and condescension sweeping toward Julia as she stared at her brother, horrified by his response and the clear contempt within his voice. There was no hiding the truth now, and yet, even though she had known of it, upon hearing him say it aloud, her heart still shattered.
“It is clear that you have not even the smallest amount of sympathy for others, nor regret for what you have done,” Lord Wiltsham replied, his voice still low, but steady regardless. “I will, however, expect you to return my fortune to me. You know as well as I that it was taken from me without my consent, and certainly without my awareness.”
He spoke so quietly, and with such a great calm that Julia’s heart no longer beat as rapidly as it had done before. Instead, she almost felt calm too, quite sure that her brother would not be able to refuse.
That calm fled as the laughter which rattled from her brother’s lips froze her very bones, as she heard the twist of mockery through it. Lord Wiltsham, however, did not react, save but to tighten his fingers on hers.
“You really are a fool if you think that I will give you anything which I now consider to be my own. There is no need for me to do so, so therefore I shall not.”
Lord Wiltsham tilted his head.
“Then you have no concern about the fact that you will be sending your sister into a life of poverty.”
It did not come as a surprise when her brother immediately shrugged, although Julia’s heart still twisted at the lack of consideration he showed her. She should have expected it, after the last few years, yet somehow, it still hurt.
“She has made her choice. Why should anything my sister does now concern me?”
“Perhaps because she is your sister, as well as the fact that you made a promise to your father to take care of those he has left behind.” Another gentle squeeze came. “Mis Carshaw has told me of it.”
“I have no doubt that she embellished a great deal,” Kingston sneered, flinging out one hand towards her dispassionately. “As far as I am concerned, I have taken excellent care of my sister. It is hardly my fault if she wishes to behave in such a ridiculously foolish manner by marrying a gentleman who can offer her no security.”
“Security thatyouhave taken from us, rather than he,” Julia protested, but Lord Wiltsham merely pressed her fingers again, silencing any further remarks.
If her brother was not to agree to return his fortune, then did Lord Wiltsham have another plan as to how to regain it? How would they manage?
“I had someone for you, Julia. I sent Lord Bullfield to you, knowing that he was a gentleman who was able to care for you as you deserved, but you rejected him! That is on your own head.”
Despite the press to her fingers, Julia shook her head.
“That is hardly fair. You expect me to be grateful that for a gentleman such as Lord Bullfield, as though he is known to be a paragon of gentlemanly integrity! You know as well as I that he is nothing but cruelty itself. No. I know you possess not even a modicum of consideration for me – you stood to gain something in the match, that is all.”
“You have no proof of any such thing,” her brother spat, his face flushed and hot. “This conversation is at an end. There is nothing we need speak about any longer.” His eyes turned to Lord Wiltsham. “You will not be able to regain your fortune, Lord Wiltsham, no matter the strength of your determination. I have made certain that the contract, which you believed my sister had, was discovered. It has been returned to me, and you will never see it again. Make your way back to the ball, Julia. There is nothing else for you here.”
Looking into her brother’s eyes, Julia found herself weak with hopelessness. It was not the fact that she wanted her brother to be able to restore Lord Wiltsham’s fortune simply for the fortune’s sake, but rather because the man she loved had nothing other than what her wicked brother had determined he should have - which was very little indeed. She felt that to be so deeply wrong that her heart ached, and she looked desperately towards Lord Wiltsham, wanting him to offer her something which could be done, but he merely shrugged his shoulders and smiled.
“There is nothing to be done, but I am glad that I have discovered where my fortune has gone,” he murmured, quietly. “You know very well that my thoughts are not centered on regaining it. If I have you by my side, then we will find a way through whatever faces us in our future, one way or the other.”
Julia shook her head, eager to find a way to force her brother’s hand. It did not seem right that evil should win.
“Listen to Lord Wiltsham, Julia. You have not got the contract, so therefore you cannot prove anything to anyone. It is better for you to return with him to the ball and enjoy whatever you can of the evening. I doubt you will be able to attend many social occasions in the years to come.”
Julia dropped her head forward. Alas, it seemed that her brother was correct, for if she did not have the contract, then she could not prove anything to anyone, even if they wished to.
“This does not seem right, but what else is there for us to do?”
Lord Wiltsham smiled down at her as her brother chuckled darkly at the other end of the room.
“If we make certain that our life is not one of misery, if we have each other, then that will be a happiness which none can take from us. I shall still have to find a new seal, of course, given that my signet ring is most likely in the hands of your brother, but that can be easily done. Whatever we must face, we will face together.”
Julia caught her breath, her hands going to her mouth. Why had she never realized before? Without another word, she dashed from the room, hurrying away, and ignoring the cries of her brother and Lord Wiltsham, who were undoubtedly wondering where she was going. Her heart hammering furiously, she made her way up to her bedchamber, pulled open the drawer, then recalled that she had left the cloth bag on the bed. Turning, she found what she was searching for in a matter of seconds, and running back towards the drawing room, threw the door open, then rushed towards Lord Wiltsham.
“Your signet ring. This is it, is it not?” Waiting until he had opened his hand, she set it down in his palm, seeing the widening of his eyes as he took it. “That has been in my brother’s possession for many weeks. I will testify to it to anyone who will listen. The town will know of what my brother has done. Yes, there will be a scandal, and I am quite certain that I shall be tainted by it, but I care not. My brother should not be allowed to behave in this manner, and believe that he can find success.” Spinning around, she faced her brother, her hands going to her hips. “You have not been successful. I have discovered my betrothed’s signature on a document within your own house – and I have no doubt that I will find the contract once I have had time to search for it again, regardless of where your loyal footman has put it. Your guilt will be known to society, brother, I will make sure of it. I will tell this sordid tale to every gossip amongst the dragons of theton, and they will lap it up, and tell everyone else. What will you do when they all turn their back on you? It is not as though you have a sterling reputation already. Many a gentleman knows to avoid your company. How low you will sink in their estimation now!”
Her brother’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment Julia thought that he was going to laugh. But his lips did not curve, and much to her surprise, he made a start forward, as if he intended to grasp the signet ring from Lord Wiltsham’s hand - but then he stepped back. Lord Wiltsham dropped the signet ring into an inner pocket of his coat as Lord Kingston turned to glare at Julia.
“You are foolish indeed, Julia. You think that thetonwill believe you? That they will take your word to be the truth?”
