“I ensured that all believed as much,” Gerald said. “It suited my plans best.”
Helena did not think she would like his plans, but delayed asking about them for the moment.
“Francis then must be your son,” she said, gesturing to the boy who had brought them to this place.
“He saw us last week,” the woman said, her tone rising as if she expected to be challenged. “He arranged it all.” There was a hint of admiration in her tone but Gerald gave her such a look that she flinched.
“He gave me a ha-penny, too,” Francis said with satisfaction.
“Then why did you fight with him yesterday?” Helena demanded of Gerald. “Surely you had no argument with him ensuring the welfare of your family?”
“He spends a few pounds and I am to fall on my knees before him?” Gerald sneered. “Lord of the manor. Casting alms to the poor. Perhaps he thinks it pearls before swine.”
Helena felt her indignation rise. “The viscount ensured the welfare of your mistress and son, which evidently you had never done! He had no obligation to do as much.”
“And I had no coin to do as much,” Gerald snarled.
“I do not believe it. You wasted what you were granted.”
“What do you know of it?”
“I know that your brother is a fine and honorable man, a respectable man worthy of anyone’s trust and respect.”
Gerald snorted.
“And I know that you strove to assault me yesterday, which is no good indication of your character.”
“He has taken everything from me,” Gerald retorted. “Now I shall take everything from him.”
Helena did not like the sound of that. “But why? Were you not raised with every advantage?”
“All advantages save the important ones. The title. The legacy. The fortune.”
“But he is the older son.”
“And he is the lesser son!” Gerald declared, jabbing a thumb at his own chest. His manner became so agitated that Helena tried to ease closer to the door. “Ishould have been viscount.Ishould have been Father’s favorite. I should never have been sent to war, and I should have been welcomed when I returned. Even Joshua’s betrothed recognized that I was the better man. Charlotte adored me, not him!”
“I hardly think it a testament to your character that you courted the lady who was betrothed to your brother.” In other circumstance, Helena might have been surprised to find herself sounding so prim. As it was, her fear was rising and she knewonly that she had to keep Gerald talking. “Nor does it say much of hers that she chose to welcome your advances.”
“I took her, just as I will take you.”
“I am not yours to claim, sir,” Helena said, though her fear was mounting.
“And Francis will be a viscount,” Mrs. Lewis contributed.
Helena looked between the two of them. “But Francis can only inherit the title if Mr. Hargood claims the title, and that can only happen if the viscount dies first.”
Gerald smiled at her. “Finally, you understand. I must say, Joshua does have an affection for foolish women. Charlotte took months to comprehend that Joshua’s close calls were not accidental.”
Helena bristled on that lady’s behalf. “What close calls?”
Gerald laughed. “Do you truly believe that I could not fight my own duels? No, I convinced Joshua that I could not duel, that he must take my place, then challenged every marksman I could find.”
“And you courted Miss Havilland.”
“I seduced her.”
“Yet you did not love her.”
