Perhaps he’d misheard her last night as he’d left the room. He should have gone right back inside and questioned her. He regretted not doing so.
However, her letter didn’t sound like something a woman in love would write. Not that it mattered whether she loved him or not. She believed they had no future, and he couldn’t disagree with her.
When he wasn’t thinking of Ellis, which was nearly every moment, he stewed about Rowland Harker. He’d stolen a happy future from a naïve young woman.
Though if Clarissa were still here, Roman would not have come to know Ellis in the way that he did. And now, he simply couldn’t imagine his life without what they’d shared.
Because his study now reminded him of Ellis, Roman had spent the day working at Lacey and Company in Paternoster Row. Josiah had remarked upon his quiet and almost surly demeanor. Roman had briefly explained he hadn’t slept well, then spent the rest of the day avoiding everyone.
Returning home at dinnertime, he noted a coach parked in front of his house. Roman thought it might belong to Sheff.
Graham welcomed him into the house.
“Is Lord Shefford here?” Roman asked.
“He is,” Graham confirmed. “Upstairs in the library. I told him I didn’t know when you would return, but he insisted on waiting. He sent a note this afternoon, then arrived here a short while ago.”
“I see.” Roman grew concerned. It was entirely possible that Sheff knew where Ellis had gone. Was something wrong?
Roman handed his hat and gloves to Graham and dashed up the stairs, ascending two at a time. He walked into the library.
Sheff stood at the window and turned as Roman entered. “I saw your coach drive up.”
“Why are you here?” Roman strode toward him as his concern bloomed to full anxiety. “Graham said you sent a note earlier. Is something wrong? Is it Ellis?”
“In a way.” Sheff gestured to the main seating area. “May we sit?”
“I’d rather not,” Roman said.
Sheff shrugged. “Have it your way. I came to speak with you about my father-in-law, Rowland Harker.”
“I know who your father-in-law is,” Roman grumbled. Though he wasn’t as angry as he’d been last night, mention of the man still raised his hackles. “I can guess why you want to speak to me about him, but I would prefer not to discuss it.”
“I imagine not, so let us ignore the details. You can’t call him out,” Sheff said plainly. “I realize he’s a blackguard and deserves some sort of comeuppance, but is there another way you can gain satisfaction? Does it help you to know that Jo and I are prepared to cut ties with him entirely? In fact, Jo is going to give him an ultimatum that he must stop philandering.”
“You really think he’ll do that?” Roman scoffed.
“I don’t know,” Sheff said, and he sounded genuine. “If he won’t agree to it, we shall wash our hands of him. Still, we’d rather you didn’t cause him physical harm.”
Roman dearly wanted to at least hit the man in the face. “How else am I to have satisfaction?”
“I understand you’re angry.” Sheff raised a placating hand. “Perhaps it would help to confront him.”
Roman blew out a breath and stalked across the room. For years he’d thought about what he wanted to do to the man who’d caused so much devastation with his careless behavior. He turned halfway and glanced over at Sheff, who was fixed on Roman expectantly.
“I was very angry last night when Ellis told me that Harker had been my wife’s lover, but I don’t want to hurt him.” Roman felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. “I blame the man for corrupting an innocent young woman and causing her family untold grief.” Roman explained how Clarissa had died.
“Bloody hell,” Sheff breathed. “I didn’t realize.”
Roman faced him. “Would you tell someone if that had happened to your wife?”
“No.” Sheff’s brows drew together. “I’m sorry, Roman. I’ll go with you to confront Harker. We’ll inform him it’s time he retired from his debauchery. If he doesn’t, he will never meet our child, and I’ll ensure he’s completely cut from Society. No more social engagements, no painting anyone or providing lessons.”
Roman felt as if he’d been hit in the gut. “I hadn’t put that together. I believe Harker was Clarissa’s tutor. He can’t be allowed to teach any young women ever again.”
Sheff’s eyes darkened with fury. “Agreed. We’ll extract that promise from him too—and I’ll make sure he keeps it. Let’s go see him now.”
Roman was torn. Part of him never wanted to see Rowland Harker, but perhaps a larger part of him wanted the man to know what his behavior had wrought. Perhaps that would even convince him to stop. “Yes, let’s go and put an end to his depravity.”
