Page 24 of Snowed-in with Scandal
“And... your sister knows of this?” Nicholas asked, his voice strange even to his own ears.
“Well, not the details, no. I wanted to surprise her. She was so distressed when I left England under a cloud, for all that dear Bella had done what she could.”
“Done what she could?” Lady Quamby’s voice was sharp with interest.
“Oh, you know how sisters are. Always thinking they know how to help. She sold a few trinkets. Prevailed upon my fatherto cough up a few funds. Testified—when that wasn’t at all necessary.”
The silence in the carriage was deafening. Nicholas felt pieces of a puzzle clicking into place with horrible clarity.
James Beecham appeared a rather ingenuous chap. Nicholas recalled the seriousness of the charges brought against him. Then suddenly he recalled the absence of an emerald bracelet that Arabella had said she’d lost. At the time, he’d thought her lack of concern rather odd.
But what if she’d…sold it? To help her brother?
“Mr. Beecham,” he said carefully, “when exactly were these charges brought against you?”
“Oh, early December of 1816. Dreadful business. The hearing was set for just after Christmas. Bella was very cross for she’d insisted on taking the stand, but I couldn’t bear to stay and face the shame of it all. I know it was wrong of me to make her lie and say I was ill and that she was with me when she wasn’t. I took ship for the continent, and then Bella married Lord Lushington. Now I’m back and on my way to see my sister again and tell her that I have the evidence to clear my name completely.”
“You’re presenting this evidence at a hearing?” Lady Fenton pressed gently.
“Indeed, I am! My reputation will be restored.”
“I daresay you’ve thought to ensure you do not contradict your sister’s evidence?” Nicholas asked sharply.
James smiled. “I’m sure that’s not an issue. I know Bella said she’d given testimony about my whereabouts during the time in question, though I can’t think what she could have said. I was laid up with fever for most of that week, barely conscious.” He frowned. “I certainly wasn’t stealing funds from the regiment, and that’s all I’m concerned about setting right.”
“But your sister testified about your whereabouts,” Nicholas repeated slowly. “Under oath?”
“I assume it was under oath. But Bella’s only a female. What does her word matter in something as important as this?” James looked puzzled by their intense interest.
The full, horrible truth crashed over Nicholas like a wave. Arabella had quite likely perjured herself to save her brother. She had sold her jewellery—he now had no doubt about that—and she’d provided false testimony about James’s whereabouts during the embezzlement. And somehow, Lord Lushington had discovered her crime and used it to force her into marriage.
She hadn’t chosen wealth over love. She had chosen her brother’s life over her own happiness.
“Good God,” he whispered.
“Mr. Morley? Are you quite well?” James looked concerned. “You’ve gone rather pale.”
“Your sister,” Nicholas said with difficulty, “when you last saw her—was she well? Happy?”
James’s face clouded. “Well, that’s rather why I’m here. She certainly didn’t seem happy, even though she was about to become a viscountess. She sent me a letter some months ago after I’d told her I had evidence to clear my name. She said she needed to see me urgently before I said, or did, anything. But you know how sisters worry needlessly about every little thing.”
“She needed to see you urgently?” Antoinette leaned forward.
“Her letter was rather cryptic—kept mentioning ‘evidence’ and ‘danger’ and such things. I assumed she meant the evidence I’d been gathering to clear my name.” James brightened again. “Which is why I’m so eager to see her! Once I present my case, this whole nightmare will be over. No more cloud over the family name, no more shame or scandal. We can both finally be free of the past.”
Nicholas felt sick. If James presented his evidence and the case was reopened, investigators would inevitably discoverArabella’s crimes. Her brother’s vindication would be her destruction.
“Mr. Beecham,” he said urgently, “you must not present that evidence.”
“What? But why on earth not?”
“Because,” Nicholas said grimly, realizing the full extent of Algernon’s hold over Arabella, “your sister’s life may depend on it.”
And as he began to explain, in careful terms, what they suspected about Algernon’s scheme and Arabella’s true situation, Nicholas felt the last of his anger and hurt dissolve, replaced by a burning determination to save the woman who had sacrificed everything—including his love—to protect her brother.
This time, he would not abandon her. This time, he would be the one to make the sacrifice, whatever it cost him.
CHAPTER 17
