The entire family knew Leo was chasing Lady Masterson in New York, though he claimed to have gone there on a business venture.
“Has he caught Lady Masterson yet?” Theo asked, taking her brother’s arm. “I feel certain he won’t return until he does.”
Tony shrugged. “I’ve no idea. He doesn’t mention her in his letters, only the investments he’s been making and directions on how to run Elysium. Since he hasn’t returned, I’ll assume things aren’t going exactly as he wishes.” He led her through Elysium to the waiting Averell carriage outside. “Even your current predicament couldn’t wean him from his pursuit.”
Tony rarely spoke of her marriage. Never used her husband’s name. His favorite way to refer to Haven as of late was theparasite.
He handed her into the waiting carriage and crawled in behind her. “Truthfully, I’m ready to seek my bed. If one more bloody idiot thinks I’m Leo, I may be forced to commit violence. As if Leo would ever dress so tastefully,” Tony huffed. “Those ghastly waistcoats he favors hurt the eyes and are an affront to finely tailored gentlemen everywhere.”
“He just likes a bit of flash.” Her brothers looked very much alike, so much so that people often confused one for the other, especially from a distance.
“I can’t imagine anyone mistaking us. Those waistcoats are a dead giveaway.”
“Leo is much more fun,” Theo said with a laugh.
Tony scowled at her. “I’m delightful. And I have a ducal accent.”
The smile on her face froze.Diction. Erasmus had been practicing his speech.Sounding very unlike his usual, rambling self.
But Haven’s uncle was incompetent. Sweet, in a sot sort of way. His worst offense was stealing money for drink.
“Is something wrong?” Tony peered down at her.
“No, it’s just—” Leo hadn’t wanted to take Jacinda’s dowry, but the Marquess of Haven had forced him to. He’d called his lame daughter worthless, according to her brother. As angry and unforgiving as Haven was toward his father, he still insisted Edmund had loved Jacinda. Haven refused to believe his father would have deliberately gambled away everything he had, including the money set aside for Jacinda, without inducement. He blamed Leo for luring his father into drunkenness and poverty. It was his whole reason for wanting to compromise Theo.
She took a breath. Because itstillhurt.
Despite Haven and his sister, even their father before he drank himself into oblivion, all thinking Erasmus was terrified of the ocean, it might not even be true. Had he really been living in France? Couldn’t he have come to England whenever he wished, possibly impersonating his brother, knowing Edmund was at Greenbriar? Haven wasn’t in England. Who would have known differently?
Leo wouldn’t have. Especially if Erasmus was smart enough to take Edmund’s signet ring, and she thought he might have been. Wear his clothes. Speak like him.Behim.
Theo gave her head a little shake. She was being fanciful.
“Are you thinking of theparasiteagain? You realize Leo will never accept him. There’s bound to be a fight of some kind.”
“Stop calling him that.” She elbowed Tony. “He—perhaps set out to compromise me to get back at Leo.” She looked up at her brother with certainty. “Haven loves me.” Theo knew it to be the truth now that the shock of her brother’s letter had worn off. It didn’t excuse Haven or—
“Dear one.” Tony ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. “I know it may have seemed that way. But, well, you are beautiful. Any man might want to...what I mean to say is, that isn’t love.” He waved his hand around as if at a loss for words.
“I’m not an idiot, Tony. I know the difference.” So did her heart.
“You thought Blythe cared for you as well. Forgive me if I don’t immediately embrace the idea of you and Haven. He did set out to compromise you for dishonorable reasons.”
“He did but I’m not thinking of Haven, or rather, I am. Did you know Haven has an uncle?” She looked at her brother. “His father’s twin.”
Brandy. Leo said the Marquess of Haven had always requested French brandy. But Edmund had been a scotch drinker. Even Mrs. Henderson had mentioned that to her.
“A twin?” Tony scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “A secret twin no one knew a thing about. In London, where you can’t even sneeze without someone commenting?”
“Erasmus didn’t live in England. I know it might seem a little—”
“Addled? Mad?”
“Yes, but I think it was Erasmus who dealt with Leo, not the Marquess of Haven. Erasmus pretended to be his brother.”
Tony burst into laughter. “Theo, sweetheart, do you hear yourself? This isn’t one of those novels you and Olivia like to read. Even if what you speculate is true, what possible reason would this twin—”
“Erasmus.”
