“It was you. It was you from the beginning. You have been spreading vile rumors about me—rumors that impact my ability to do business effectively. And I can only assume your reason for doing such a thing is to make people view me as unfit for my station—to make me fail. You still hope to ascend to the dukedom. But how could you think that it would work? What was the plan?”
Charles’ eyes were wide. He shook his head mutely.
“Don’t bother to deny it,” Levi said. “I already know what you did. There is nothing you can do or say now to convince me otherwise. I know.”
He met his cousin’s gaze. Slowly, Charles’ wide-eyed expression faded, to be replaced by one far more shrewd.
“All right,” he said. “So, you know I was behind it.”
Even though Levi had been sure, he was slightly shocked to hear Charles admit so openly to his misdeeds. “You aren’t even trying to hide it.”
“And why should I do that? You just told me not to deny it. Don’t you think honesty is our best course of action now? I have no desire to waste your time or mine, Levi. Yes, I endeavored to destroy your reputation.”
“I can’t believe you would do such a thing. I’m your cousin. I considered you to be like a brother to me.”
“I once felt that way too. But how could I go on nurturing such feelings when life has been so generous to you and so cruel to me? When I am forced into debt and lavish things are handed to you?”
“You weren’t forced into debt, Charles. You are a gambler and a profligate spender, and your debts are altogether your own fault.”
“So heartless. It shouldn’t surprise me. You always have been. Only a very selfish man could accept an inheritance like the one you’ve been given and not share the spoils with his family.”
“Well, you have nothing to complain about now, because you are free of your debt thanks to my inheritance.”
“Free of my debt—I’m free of all my land! What kind of a gift is that?”
“You know perfectly well that your holdings were not worth anywhere near what you owed,” Levi said calmly. “You know that I’ve done you a great service. You should be thanking me on bended knee, not complaining.”
“Thanking you for interfering in my affairs?”
“Well, you certainly saw fit to interfere in mine! Do you understand the shame you might have brought to my wife if your little scheme had been successful?”
“Oh, she doesn’t need any assistance from me. That whole family is a disgrace,” Charles hissed. “Everyone already knows about the father’s gambling addiction and the fact that the elder daughter had to save them from ruin by marrying well. Then the younger daughter runs away from marriage, leaving you stuckwith the unfortunate one in the middle—the one who sneaks into pubs wearing men’s clothing! Did you think I didn’t know that was a habit of hers? You worry about your reputation as a rake—I would worry more aboutherreputation for scandalous behavior, Levi. She is the one who makes a true mockery of herself. And if you don’t remove your hands from my business, I will make sure everyone hears about it.”
The anger that surged through Levi was so powerful that for a moment, he couldn’t see straight.
The next thing he was aware of was a pain in his knuckles and the sight of his cousin reeling away from him. He’d lashed out, he realized, punched Charles in the face. He flexed and unflexed his hand, mildly surprised at himself, but glad for what he had decided to do—or rather, for the impulse.
“What indamnation?” Charles spat a bit of blood onto the floor. “What’s the matter with you?”
“You do not threaten my wife,” Levi said darkly. “You’ve done horrible things to me and to her, but if you try to issue threats against her, you will live to regret it. I promise you that.”
“Levi, for God’s sake, whatever’s the matter with you, you need to have it seen to. Perhaps a physician can cure this madness.”
“Madness? You confessed to this, Charles. Do not try to persuade me now that I’m mad for thinking you’re a villain.”
“Mad for striking out at your own cousin! Are you so eager to defend a woman you never even cared for? A woman who meant nothing to you? I know you don’t care for her. This is about your pride. I got the better of you with that rumor and you want to punish me for it.”
“I have no interest in punishing you,” Levi said coldly. “You don’t mean enough to me to be worth punishing, Charles. I simply want you out of my life, and away from me and from Caroline. Your debts are paid. You no longer have anything tying you to London. Take what resources you have and go.”
“Where would you have me go?”
“I don’t care. Know only that should you decide to defy me and stay here, I will devote myself to your ruin. I will not rest until the ton sees you for the vile reprobate you are.”
“You wouldn’t do that,” Charles said, but even as he smiled at Levi, there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. “At the end of the day, Levi, you care too much for your reputation to do anything to me, and we both know it. You know that any shame to my name would bring shame to yours by association.”
“I can overcome it. I can weather whatever you may try to visit upon me. But you won’t. I’ll see to it that you are ruined, both socially and financially. I will make it my only goal.” It occurred to him, sharply and painfully, that with Caroline gone, he now had nothing but time to focus on the ruination of his cousin. That he could spend all day, every day doing nothing but trying to make sure that Charles never recovered from this moment.
He knew he would be successful if it came to that. He had complete faith in his own ability to control this narrative.
