“Oh, now, it wasn’t like you’re making it sound,” Lady Reeves replied. “The two of us had a wonderful night together, your father and I.”
“I don’t believe that for a moment. My father was in love with my mother. She meant the world to him. He would never have squandered that for one night with you.”
“Well, you know how men are,” Lady Reeves said casually. “They never believe they have to choose. They think they can have everything and everyone their hearts desire. And I wouldn’t have forced him to choose. I never asked him to leave your mother. All I wanted was more time with him. All I wanted was to have him in my life, and I don’t think it’s such an unreasonable thing to ask. After all, he was the one who seduced me first.”
“I’m quite sure he wasn’t,” Arthur said, his voice tight.
“You have a little boy’s opinion of his father,” Lady Reeves replied. “Not that I fault you for that. How could you have anything else? But you see him as flawless, as a hero. You don’t see the whole man because you never knew him when you were a man yourself. You don’t know who he truly was. If you did, you would see my side of things.”
Arthur’s anger flared. “It’s your fault I never knew him as an adult,” he declared.
“You want to be careful making such accusations,” Lady Reeves said quietly. “This doesn’t have to end violently, but it certainly can, if you make that choice.”
“You killed him, didn’t you?” Arthur asked her. He hadn’t known that he was going to say it, but everything that had happened since he had arrived here—the return of that old memory, her casual demeanor, the way she warned him against a violent ending—it all came together in a way that made him feel suddenly sure he had it right. “You killed my father—and my mother as well. You couldn’t live with the fact that he had rejected you. Is that it? Or perhaps you wanted to punish him for not giving you money? I know that you wanted money from him. But I’m right about this. You wouldn’t be smirking at me over the fact that I lost my parents if you hadn’t had a hand in it.”
Lady Reeves shook her head. She was still smiling which infuriated Arthur further. “Your father was irresponsible and a drunk to boot.”
“He wasn’t a drunk,” Arthur objected.
“You have no clear memories of the man. How can you know what he was? You couldn’t have even understood what a drunkwaswhen he was alive. You were too young to know anything about such things. And now, all these years later, you show up to confront me about an event you know nothing about.”
“Do you know what I haven’t heard?” Arthur asked.
“What might that be?”
“I haven’t heard you tell me that I’m wrong. That you didn’t hurt my parents. You’ve found many ways to tell me what a fool I am and how I couldn’t possibly know the things I believe I know. But you haven’t told me that it isn’t true. You haven’t denied my accusation. I don’t think you can. For all your flaws, I don’t think you can bring yourself to simply look me in the face and tell me you didn’t commit this crime. It would be a lie, wouldn’t it? And you know I’d be able to see that in your eyes.”
There was a long pause, during which Arthur began to wonder if she might break down. Maybe she was about to confess that he had it right, that she had done exactly what he said, that she deserved to be locked away for her crimes. Maybe she was about to offer a full confession and say that she could live with it no longer.
And then she laughed.
“I have nothing to hide from you, Arthur,” she said. “You can’t do anything to me. I suppose you think you’re going to summon the authorities—is that it? And tell them what? That you think I committed a crime that’s years dead now, based on a feeling in your stomach and a memory you think you recall from childhood? No one will make anything of that.”
“I’m still a duke,” Arthur reminded her. “My word carries quite a lot of weight, even ifyoudon’t wish to take it seriously.”
“I’m sure you believe that,” Lady Reeves said. “But I’m willing to tell you here and now that you’re right, Arthur. I’m not frightened of you at all. Yes. I did what you’re accusing me of. I’m the one you’re looking for. I’ll say it to you, but if you bring me in front of the constables, I’ll tell them you broke into my home and threatened me. That you frightened me. Why else would you have brought your friend there along?” She smiled. “You aren’t the first person to threaten me like this, Arthur. I’m sure you won’t be the last. That’s why I allowed you to find me. I want you to know that you’re wasting your time in hunting me like you have been. I wanted to speak to you and tell you that it’s to your benefit to give this up and move on. Yes, I brought about the death of your parents. And there’s nothing you can do about it.”
CHAPTER 31
“Arthur, stop! Don’t do this. Take a breath. Think about what you’re doing, I beg of you.”
Arthur was hardly aware of what he was doing. The words had hit him like a punch to the gut—I’m responsible for the deaths of your parents, and there’s nothing you can do about it—and he’d had only one thought in his mind. She was going to have to pay. She was right that he could never undo the harm she had caused, and perhaps she was even right to suggest that no one would believe him if he tried to tell them what he’d learned. He couldn’t prove it. But he had sworn to himself, when he had come here, that he would kill her with his own two hands if it proved necessary to do so.
He was still prepared for that outcome.
But he hadn’t realized until Taylor’s voice reached his ears that he had drawn his gun and was pointing it directly at Lady Reeves’ head.
He took a breath and steadied himself. He had drawn his gun in a fit of rage. But he had been calm when he had brought it here. He had known that he might have to use it. This was no surprise to him. His grip steadied.
“Taylor,” he said, “if you don’t wish to see this, for whatever reason, I suggest that you step out of the room now.”
“I don’t want you to do this,” Taylor pleaded. “I want you to take a moment and think before you act, for heaven’s sake.”
“All right,” Arthur agreed. “I’m thinking. What should I be thinking of?”
Lady Reeves began to rise to her feet.
Arthur cocked the gun. “You sit back down,” he barked. “You told me yourself that this could end violently if I made that choice. I wouldn’t want you to make the mistake of believing I’m afraid to pull the trigger. I’m not. Nothing would make me happier than to see you dead, Lady Reeves. You stole my parents’ lives when they were far too young, and you’ve had years and years.”
