Page 76 of A Feud with the Duke

“Paid for his silence?” Alice asked. “Simon, what does he mean?”

Her stomach clenched at those words, knotting at the implication that her brother could do something so wicked. Simon’s mouth opened and closed once, he paled slightly. Harold wavered on his stick at that moment, letting out a slight gasp and almost falling. Gladwell reached him first, putting a shoulder beneath his arm and guiding him to the chair vacated by Alice. Harold fell into it, breathing hard.

“I have no idea,” Simon replied.

Alice looked up. He seemed to have recovered his composure with the interruption, lifting his chin. Harold chuckled and then looked pained, clutching at his ribs.

“The threat was delivered to me by your brother-in-law. Pay or have the scandal spread and your reputation ruined, not mine. I paid to protect your good name,” Harold said.

“How could you?” Alice demanded, glaring at Simon.

“If Gordon and Ruth came up with such a plan, it was of their own devising. I was not…”

“You have recently come into money,” Alice accused. “Where did that come from? For the carriage and the new staff?”

“Lord Gladwell and I…” Simon began.

“I have only just given you my promissory note. It was not my money you used,” Gladwell said with a frown.

Simon must be desperate to tell such easily defeated lies.

“Everything I have done has been for the good of our family!” Simon shouted. “I have always had your best interests at heart even when you were determined to pursue a selfish and reckless course with no thought about the effect on your family. Above all, I act for the Hathway family!”

Then he stepped toward Harold with such aggression in his demeanor that Gladwell felt the need to interpose himself, raising an arm to block Simon’s way.

“And you!” Simon snarled at Harold. “Will eventually have to leave this house and next time perhaps the brigands will finish the job.”

He pushed past Gladwell and stormed from the room. The front door slammed behind him.

CHAPTER46

“Did he just threaten me?” Harold demanded, anger tempered slightly by the waver in his voice.

“It sounded that way,” Gladwell said speculatively.

Alice frowned, shaking her head. “Are you suggesting that Simon was somehow responsible for the attack on you?”

Harold, looking weary and tired, shrugged. “I would not wish to believe it of any man. A thoroughly underhanded way to behave. But, he clearly hates me.”

“I interviewed this rogue, Shepherd, myself,” Gladwell said. “The Justices of this county invited me to take charge of what passes for a militia. He maintains that he is not a robber but was paid to waylay His Grace. And a quantity of coin was found in his home. Naturally, I assumed that this was acquired through thievery, a charge of highway robbery would be more serious than being paid to assault another. It might mean the difference between transportation and hanging.”

Harold looked to Alice. She was staring into space, seeing something that she did not like.

It will be hard for her to accept. He is her brother after all. I think he is capable of it. Now that he knows that I will not give him satisfaction in a duel, either killing me or legitimately besting me. Perhaps, in his desperation for revenge, he now attempts assassination.

“This has gotten out of hand,” Alice said, looking back at him. “A duel and now…this. If what the two of you believe is true, then Simon will stop at nothing to keep us apart.”

“And gain a measure of revenge,” Harold said quietly.

“Though misguided. There is nothing to be avenged for,” Alice said.

“I could take you away. Somewhere far from Simon and Ardwenshire. We could start again somewhere that no one knows us.” Harold suggested.

“And whispers would begin. Unless you are willing to give up your title?” Alice replied.

Harold sat back, wincing at a twinge from a strained muscle. “No,” he said firmly.

“Then running away solves nothing. Besides, I do not want to be cut off from my family forever.”

---