Page 70 of The Undesirable Duke
Samuel leaned back in his chair and narrowed his eyes at Lord Bertram.
“I am certain that you are well aware of my reasons.”
“You have me at a loss, Your Grace,” Lord Bertram shrugged and rose to his feet.
“Sit down, Bertram.” Samuel’s voice was firm and filled with authority, which caused Lord Bertram to sit once again. “I am aware that it was you, Bertram, who wrote those things of me in the newspaper.”
Lord Bertram scoffed.
“I know not what you speak of.”
“Allow me to refresh your memory,” Samuel uttered, retrieving the article from his breast pocket and placing it before Lord Bertram on the table. “I will refrain from reading the entire article for you, as you are well aware of what you wrote.”
Lord Bertram shifted in his seat and glanced at Samuel.
“Your Grace-”
“Please, you have said enough. And I am not in the least bit interested in your excuses.”
“You ruined my social standing when we were at Oxford. I merely wished to return the favor,” Lord Bertram stated.
“You admit it? You wrote the article?”
“Indeed, I did. And I would gladly do it again. Your fall from grace was rather satisfying. Hearing my fabricated lies spread through the gossip of thetonwas most pleasing to me. And knowing that I have finally managed to ruin your reputation, hence causing you to be shunned the way that I was shunned all those years ago, brings me great delight.”
“The rumor I started of your-”
“Please,” Lord Bertram raised his hand and shook his head. “I do not wish to hear your apology. I did not accept it back then, and I certainly do not accept it now.”
“I was not planning on apologizing, Bertram.”
“Now that the tables have turned, you still remain stubborn. Why is that?”
“Because I am not the man you are. I admit that I may not have been sensitive to your fragile ego, or the possible effects of my words, and may have said things which were not true, but I did so when in my cups, as part of a students’ game which called for making things up! It was done without ill intent. It was merely an innocent comment where I was none the wiser to its full impact.”
“My fragile ego,” Lord Bertram muttered and turned away.
“Indeed. Your attack on me was deliberate, with not only the intent of ruiningmyreputation and good name, but also that of everyone I came in contact with.”
Lord Bertram chuckled.
“I assume you speak of Lady Lillian.”
“Indeed I do.”
“I was not intent on ruining her reputation, Your Grace. I merely wished her to stop spending time in your company. I am well aware of how important her, and her family’s, reputations are to them, as Lady Welsford had made that abundantly clear to me. I knew that if I sent that threatening letter to Welsford House, and Lady Welsford became aware of it, she would have ceased all interactions with you.”
“But it did not work for a while, as Lady Lillian did not inform her mother straight away.”
“Indeed. I realized as much. The young woman is rather defiant in many ways. I quite admire that about her. She is certainly unlike any other young woman I have ever encountered.”
“I doubt very much that Lady Welsford will allow you anywhere near her daughter, or her home after they find out that it was you who sullied my good name.”
“Good name, ha. You are rather amusing,” Lord Bertram laughed bitterly. “Your father had a good name in Cornwall, but here in London, there was always the echo of old rumors about his tastes, in gambling and other areas. I see no reason to expect that you are any different – men learn their ways from their fathers, don’t they?”
“That is why you lured me here, where my name could easily be dragged through the mud, and where your lies would reach many more people.”
“I knew that you would come. Your pride has been your vice, as well as your loyalty to your father, regardless of whether he showed you any affection or attention while he was alive, or whether he deserved that loyalty at all,” Lord Bertram sneered.
