Adam sighed. “To regain the fortune he lost and to pay off his debts, he took up prizefighting. About a month ago, he got into the ring with the Masked Marauder… and collapsed,” Adam murmured hollowly. “I was there, Bridget, I saw it. William delivered a blow to his chest, and he died, right there, in the ring.”
This time, on top of the disbelief at Frederick’s passing, she could not dare believe that William had a hand in her brother’s death. “You’re lying!”
His expression was painful. “No. I wish I was, but I am not.”
Still, she shook her head viciously, “I don’t believe you! He—he wouldn’t do that, not to me, not— not when I asked him tosaveFrederick. He wouldn’t—he would not kill him!”
“I don’t think he did it on purpose,” Adam replied softly. “I wondered if he had told you, but soon, I realized he had not, so I decided to do it for him. I am so sorry, Bridget.”
Still firmly unbelieving, she weakly got to her feet. “This—this cannot be true. I need to ask him about this to his face. I’ll know if he lies to me. I must return home.”
While guiding her back to the carriage, he asked, “What will you do when he tells you the truth?”
“I—” she faltered, heart twisting at knowing she loved William, but could not square up with the thought of him betraying her so cruelly. “…I don’t know.”
CHAPTER 30
Waking in the benign afternoon, for the first time in months, William felt more rested than he had ever felt. There was no stress of rising before dawn, pushing his body to its limit, and then doing it all over again. The only thing he was missing was Bridget sprawled over him, the way he had come to love.
Where is she?
Sitting up, he rubbed his face. “How do I tell her about Frederick?” he murmured to himself softly.
Moving from the bed, he made a quick visit to the washroom, then headed out to find Bridget. It was midday, could she be in the library reading one of the classics, or in her drawing room, working on this week’s menu? Maybe she was in the breakfast room with her friends?
“Lane?” He asked coarsely while stepping into the cozy room. “Do you happen to know where—”
Bridget came in like a whirlwind, her skirts billowing. “Is it true!”
Stymied, he asked, “Is what true?”
“My brother,” she jabbed a finger at him. “Did you kill him?!”
Ice washed right through him. His mouth opened and closed twice but no words came out; his eyes flicked to the man behind her, the very same one he had a feeling had desired Bridget all this time.
“Is it true!” She slapped a hand on his chest, then did it again. “Is it true? Tell me! Why won’t you tell me?!”
Tears were beading in her red eyes, and William knew he could not deny or lie his way out of this. He reached out to grasp her shoulder, “I can explain—”
Her face washed white. “You—you did! You did kill him!”
“I did not mean to,” he stressed. “I didn’t even know it was him. You have to believe me. When he stepped into the ring, he said his name was Ricky, it wasn’t until I found out from an old army man of his regiment that I learned it was indeed him! I never meant to kill him, Bridget, I swear on my life.”
“You didn’t say a word to me, and you knew about this for weeks!” Her voice was breaking.
“Not weeks, God no! I only learned of the truth the night before the final bout. You were right when you said I was distracted, I could not concentrate because I could only see the moment he’d collapsed in front of me. Over and over in my mind’s eye.” His hold tightened on her. “If you only knew how sorry I am.”
She pulled away and her inclement emotions transformed her visage. “Stay away from me,” she whispered coldly. “Don’t come near me again. Now, let me go.”
His hands tightened instead; his features harsh with desperation. “Please listen to me, sweetheart. I omitted the truth about Frederick, but I love you and I cannot, I will never lie to you.”
“Let me go.”
“No.”
“You sent my brother to his grave!” she screamed. “Let me go!”
“You heard the lady. If you have any decency, let her go,” Baron Howell said calmly. “And it would do you well to annul the marriage and return the asset you won over on that last bout to her and then some. Or do you want me to release to the papers that you murdered her brother?”
