Stephen turned to her. “I am so sorry, Angela. I didn’t know.”
“I know you didn’t. No one did—save Wesley, my aunt, and my father. Would you have rescued me, as you did Sophie?”
Stephen met her glistening gaze, his heart aching for her. “Yes. Had it been in my power to do so. I would have made Wes do his duty by you.”
“Which is why I never told you,” she said coolly, “I didn’t want him to be forced to marry me. I foolishly held out hope that he would marry me out of honor and love. What an imbecile I was.”
“No, Angela. You are not to blame.”
“Wesley, tell me this isn’t true,” their mother implored. “Miss Blake is a gentleman’s daughter. Our neighbor...”
Wesley said, “I offered to help her. But she said she didn’t need my help.”
Angela’s lip curled. “I didn’t want yourmoney. I wanted your love. But no...”
His father’s face turned a dangerous shade of purple. “By God, he will do his duty now, Miss Blake, if it’s the last thing he does.”
Angela rose. “Thank you, Mr. Overtree. But you are five years too late.” She turned, head held high, and strode from the room.
Mr. Keith followed her out, stunned and anxious. “Miss Blake, wait...”
Stephen turned on Wesley. “How could you abandon her like that? Have you no feeling? No conscience?”
Wesley threw up his hands. “She waited to tell me until the eve of my departure! I was leaving to study under Signor Tofanelli for the year. The timing was impossible. Was I supposed to give up my life’s ambition?”
Stephen shook his head in disgust. “You never deserved Angela, and you certainly don’t deserve Sophie.”
“That’s for her to decide,” Wesley retorted. “She didn’t exactly wait here like the devoted wife to welcome you home, did she?”
“Shut up, Wesley,” their father snapped.
“Sophie left because we humiliated her and blamed her unjustly,” their mother said, expression guilty and pained. “Me most of all.”
“And to avoid your repugnant advances,” Stephen accused. “So stay away from her. She’s my wife.”
“Nothing a trip to Italy or France can’t fix. I know your sham of a marriage has never even been consummated.”
Stephen felt like a French saber had struck him once more, stunned and hurt that Sophie had revealed their secret. He met his brother’s gaze and said with more confidence than he felt, “An oversight I plan to address as soon as time allows.”
Wesley reeled back his fist and struck. Stephen instantly ducked, and Wesley’s fist landed only a grazing blow to his jaw.
“Wesley, don’t!” Kate cried.
Anger erupted, but hearing his sister’s horrified shriek, Stephen restrained himself—barely—from striking back. “Shall we step outside, Wes,” he said. “Settle this like gentlemen, though I doubt you know the definition of the term.”
“Stephen, no,” his mother pleaded.
Keith charged back into the room. “Sorry, Captain, that’s my privilege.” He slammed into Wesley like a battering ram, head first.
Wesley grunted, and the two men went flying, crashing to the ground.
Keith sat atop Wesley pinning him with his knees, and landed a punch to his face. “I can’t believe I once thought you the better man.” His voice hitched. “Miss Blake? How could you?”
Wesley took advantage of Keith’s emotional state and single arm, and shoved him to the side. He rolled out from under Keith and lurched to his feet.
Keith scrambled up as well. “She says she’ll have no husband because you’ve ruined her. And ruined my chance at happiness in the bargain.” He reeled back his fist again.
Stephen grasped Keith’s shoulders from behind, trying to forestall his attack. He knew his slight, soft brother was no match for his enraged former lieutenant—missing an arm or not.Lord, help us.He prayed none of them would succeed in killing the other. Especially in front of his mother and sister.
