Stephen rose and grabbed his arm. “Stay away from her, Wesley.”
Wesley shook him off. “I will not. I plan to be on the next Devonshire Express.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it.”
“You don’t.”
“Stop it,” Mrs. Overtree commanded, frowning thunderously. “I cannot believe the two of you. This girl has made you lose your better sense. Cast a spell on you both.”
“Mamma, what are you talking about?” Kate protested. “Don’t speak unkindly about Sophie.”
“I had hoped to spare you, Katherine. Such topics are not proper for innocent ears. Why don’t you and Angela walk into the village, or to Windmere.”
“Mamma, no. I am not a child any longer.”
“I believe I will stay as well, Mrs. Overtree,” Angela said. “I am not such an innocent either, I assure you.”
Their mother huffed. “Angela, I know you mean well, but this is family business and doesn’t concern you.”
“Oh, but it does. In its way.”
Stephen noticed the challenging glare she directed at Wesley. Wesley sullenly met her gaze but looked away first.
Angela then glanced quickly at Mr. Keith, sitting motionless at the pianoforte. She took a deep breath and began, “I have remained silent too long. I cannot sit by and say nothing while you vilify Sophie—blaming her, just as my father blamed me.”
“What do you know about it?” their mother snapped.
“Enough. I know about her and Wesley. I heard them speaking together. From the squint.” She turned to face Wesley, expression as brittle as ice. “You showed me the hidden passages when we were young, remember? And from the squint in the hall, I heard you begging Sophie to run off with you. But she refused you. She showed more strength of character than I ever did.”
Confusion, dread, and alarm flashed through Stephen in rapid turns.
Wesley crossed his arms but refused to meet her gaze.
Angela released a ragged breath. “I wish she were still here, so I could apologize. I was not always kind to her. I admit I was jealous. Was it not enough that she married one Overtree? Did she need to have the other one chasing after her as well?”
Angela shook her head. “Wesley is not the innocent party here, Mrs. Overtree. Nor is Sophie the first woman he’s left with child and abandoned. My father said I must have done something to lead him on, to give him the idea that I was a woman of easy virtue.”
“Never!” Kate exclaimed.
Angela shrugged and went on, speaking as though Wesley were not standing right there. “Perhaps I did. I was in love with him, after all. And I once thought he loved me. I would have forgiven him, said yes to him five years ago when he left me with child.”
Shock washed over Stephen. Kate gasped. His mother grabbed his father’s hand.
Angela continued, “I would have said yes to him the following year, when I gave up my child to a foundling home.” She let out a cracked little laugh. “I would have said yes last week—I am sorry, Mr. Keith, but it’s true—so strong is his effect on weak-willed women like me. But today? Today I wash my hands of him. He will never change.”
Wesley slowly shook his head, a disgusted twist to his lips, but he said nothing.
Angela returned her gaze to his mother. “I am sorry, Mrs. Overtree. I know you idealize your eldest son. I don’t say this to hurt you, though I know it does.” She turned to his sister. “I’m sorry, Kate. I know you’ve looked up to me, and now I have disillusioned you. Disillusioned you all.”
Kate’s eyes filled with tears.
Wesley frowned. “That’s enough, Angela. You’ve had your revenge. I hope you’re happy.”
She whipped her white face toward him, lips tight. “Do Ilookhappy?”
She inhaled slowly and drew back her shoulders, reining in her emotions, but Stephen did not miss the tremble of her chin.
He had known of Miss Blake’s youthful adoration of Wesley. Noticed how her eyes followed him, how she’d hung on his words, and tried too hard to gain his attention. And yes, Stephen had been disappointed when she’d switched her attentions to his brother. But that had been years ago. He did remember worrying about her when she suddenly left for an extended absence with a relative, but he’d never thought the rumor he’d heard could be true. And he certainly never suspected that his brother had taken advantage of his old friend. And worse yet, had heartlessly abandoned her, forcing her to abandon their child.
