“Because we are placing our faith in your father. You might not like to hear this, but in your absence, we have had to handle matters for you. That has been no small feat, Your Grace.”
“I know, and I am grateful for it. I would not leave if I did not have to. Regardless, I am here now, and I will not be leaving until all of this is settled.”
Again, they looked at one another. They all seemed to know what they were thinking, and Spencer wished he were part of it. He wanted to know what they wanted from him, for there was nothing about the last year that he could change. He was there. Was that not enough?
“You say you are here until this is settled,” one replied. “Is that to say that, once it is, you plan to leave?”
Spencer bit the inside of his cheek.
“Of course not,” he bluffed. “I misspoke, that is all. I will do what I must for my title and for the Wutherton name. You all know that.”
They did not seem convinced, but at last they seemed more assured.
“Very well. We shall speak to your cousin and notify him that he will no longer hold a position here, given the circumstances.”
He thanked them profusely and made his way to his cousin’s estate with the knowledge that he would be punished for what he did.
Spencer had not noticed, but when his wife told him what had happened to her, he was trembling. Not with anger, but with restraint. In spite of the difficulties between them, he knew that Anna was not deserving of being treated the way that his cousin had; nobody was.
He would not allow Walter to use his position as a trustee as leverage, and he would certainly not use it to hurt Anna. Spencer blamed himself, for had he been there, it would not have happened, but there was only so much that he could do.
He had returned, and he would seek justice for her.
“Ah, dear Cousin,” Walter greeted when Spencer entered his drawing room. “Do come in and take a seat. Shall I have a tea prepared?”
“That will not be necessary. I do not intend to stay long.”
Walter laughed softly, leading him to the drawing room. Spencer had been there dozens of times, and it never changed. It was small and decorated minimally, painted in a dark green shade that did not allow much light to come through.
Though he had no intention of lingering, Spencer took a seat on one of the uncomfortable chairs and waited to see if his cousin would apologize, if what had happened was merely because he had overindulged on both occasions.
It was not unlike Walter to drink too much and be influenced by it, and while not an excuse, it could have been a reason.
“I was hoping that you might be accompanied by your wife today,” he said as he poured two drinks. “I shall assume that she has yet to see the error of her ways?”
“She is not going to apologize. I shall not allow her to.”
“That is an error, Your Grace. You ought to know that she has been dishonest with you about what happened.”
“And how do you know what she has told me?”
Walter hesitated, then handed him the glass.
“The two of you are married, are you not? Besides, knowing what she had done, it is inevitable that she would invent something to make you forgive her. Her outburst was not looked on kindly by those in attendance, you know, and without my acknowledgment that you have apologized, you shall continue to be looked down on.”
“And should I tell society what you did first, you will be finished. Believe me, I will not hesitate to do that.”
Walter swirled his brandy before swallowing it all in one drink. Spencer, meanwhile, kept his glass to one side. Unlike his cousin, he did not indulge that early in the day.
“And what precisely has she accused me of?” he asked.
“You know what you did. You propositioned her, and when she refused you, you pushed her further.”
“You do not believe that, surely?” he laughed. “It would seem that you do not know half of what your wife has been doing in your absence. I would be more than happy to enlighten you, if you wish.”
“Please do.”
“Well, she has had a great deal of… shall we say, companions? Not only I, but other gentlemen who wished to spend time with her. She enjoys it, too. She likes the attention, and in your absence, there has been nobody to catch her.”
