Inside, Addie smiled. Viola was going to make an excellent countess.
“It was him.” Wisthorpe pointed at Kirkwood. “All him. I had no idea that was what he was planning.” He looked at Kirkwood as if only just realizing the manner of man with whom he’d chosen to associate. “It was entirely his idea.”
Kirkwood glowered at Wisthorpe. “And that’s the thanks I get? It wasyouwho came looking formeand asked if I knew of any way of getting the Sommervilles to give up the horse. It’s you who wants the beast, not me!” Kirkwood endeavored to look down his nose at Wisthorpe. “And you said you didn’t care how I did it, just as long as you could get your hands on the horse.” Pugnaciously, he demanded, “And I delivered, didn’t I? Just as you asked.”
“But blackmail?” Wisthorpe looked genuinely upset. “Surely you knew I didn’t expect you to stoop so low.”
“Actually,” Viola said, “that raises another point that is not at all clear.” She fixed her gaze on Kirkwood. “We know what Wisthorpe sought to gain through this scheme, but what did you expect to gain, Wesley?”
If Kirkwood had looked uncomfortable before, he looked downright shifty now. He didn’t reply, but his eyes tracked sideways to Wisthorpe.
And Phillip laughed. “Ah, I see.” When the others looked questioningly his way, he succinctly explained, “Future blackmail. Information he could later hold over Wisthorpe.”
“What?”Horrified, Wisthorpe stared at Kirkwood, sputtered, then stepped away.
For his part, Kirkwood continued to look belligerent.
Disgusted, Addie shook her head. “A nice pair of immoral dunderheads you’ve proven to be. You truly deserve each other.”
“Indeed.” Nicholas continued. “But it won’t do your families any good to have your exploits spread about the ton, will it?”
Both men blinked. Their expressions blanked.
“Just think of how such a story will be received in the drawing rooms of London. And elsewhere.” Devenish’s expression suggested he was imagining that. “Quite a juicy tidbit. The hostesses will be deliciously horrified, and the clubs will be all a-hum.”
The company fell silent, contemplating that vision.
Then Nicholas said, “Perhaps, if you both agree to make suitable amends, we might—I saymight—agree to overlook your falls from grace.”
“First,” Addie said, crossing her arms before her and fixing her most censorious gaze on Kirkwood, “you need to make restitution to Mrs. Styles. You went into her home and stole personal belongings. You disrupted her household and dishonored your status as a guest, let alone a relative. You should have been protecting her, but instead, you attacked her. It’s hard to imagine more dastardly behavior among our class.”
Her words hit Kirkwood like a slap. He blinked, then blinked again.
Then he looked at Viola and, after what was plainly an inner struggle, dipped his head to her. “My sincere apologies.” He looked at Addie. “I don’t know what more I can do.”
Addie arched a brow at Viola. “Is an apology enough?”
Viola thought for a moment, then her jaw firmed, and her gaze hardened. “No.” She looked at Kirkwood. “Your mother, Amelia Kirkwood, is in her declining years. You are her only son, and she’s forever complaining that you never visit her.” Viola’s gaze grew intent. “What I want from you in recompense for your appalling behavior is a solemn promise, witnessed by all here, that you will visit your mother at least once a month and, on each visit, stay for a minimum of one full day. Further, that you will ensure that she has every possible assistance and luxury in the years ahead.” Viola held Kirkwood’s gaze. “And you know I will hear from the family if you don’t perform as required.”
Kirkwood looked stunned, but when they all stared at him, patently waiting for his agreement, he finally nodded. “All right.”
“Swear to that on your honor as a gentleman,” Devenish demanded, and reluctantly, Kirkwood obliged.
Addie nodded. “Very well. Next comes your debt to the Sommervilles.”
“And the Cynsters,” Nicholas put in. “Having a horse we’ve negotiated to buy stolen from under our noses is not the sort of behavior of which the family approves.”
For the first time, Kirkwood looked alarmed.
Addie glanced at Phillip and Dickie. “Do you have any ideas? Any demands?”
“First,” Phillip said, his gaze condemnatory, “that you will never again set foot on the Styles Place estate, nor approach Viola at any time, in any place whatsoever. If you see her walking along Bond Street, you will cross to the other side. If she arrives at a ball you are attending, without uttering a single word as to the reason why, you will immediately leave.”
Dickie was nodding. “As for the Sommervilles in general”—he darted a glance at Addie—“I believe we require your oath that you will never, ever, set foot on any Sommerville estate, nor will you ever, under any circumstances, approach a Sommerville. The same restrictions that apply to Mrs. Styles will also extend to us. All of us. Anyone who is a Sommerville.” Dickie looked at Kirkwood contemptuously. “We never want to encounter or hear from you again—not in our clubs, not at Tattersalls, not in any drawing room nor at any ball.”
It was banishment of a sort, limited to some extent, yet a definite curtailment of Kirkwood’s social activities.
As the reality of the restrictions facing him dawned on Kirkwood, he appeared to mentally reel.
