A short while later, they arrived at the Bedford, a chop-house near where Harker lived and where Sheff said he would likely be at this hour. They found Harker upstairs in a small, private dining room just as he’d sat down to eat. It was perfect for confronting the man, particularly if Roman decided after all that he simply couldn’t avoid punching him in the face.
Roman didn’t think he’d met Harker before. The man was attractive, which wasn’t surprising since he was Ellis’s father, with blond hair and golden-brown eyes. He grinned broadly as they entered, and his features revealed him to be a man who smiled often. “Good evening, Sheff. You’ve brought a friend! How charming. Would you care to join me? The lamb is excellent.”
“This is Lord Keele,” Sheff said ominously.
Harker’s expression dimmed. Roman couldn’t tell if he knew who he was—at least relative to one of his past lovers. It was entirely possible he’d heard the name Keele in another context.
“I don’t believe we’re acquainted, my lord,” Harker said, his tone still affable if a bit uncertain. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Whereas, I would sooner meet vermin,” Roman replied with a faint sneer.
Harker blinked. All the good nature that had lit his features evaporated. “There’s no call to be rude.”
“You’ll find he has every reason to be rude or even downright insulting.” Sheff glanced at Roman. “Will you tell him, or shall I?”
“I’ll tell him.” Roman’s pulse sped as he fixed a glower on Harker. “While we haven’t met, you knew my wife, Clarissa, very well.”
“That’s right.” Harker grimaced, and Roman almost gave the man credit for not trying to hide the fact that he’d known Clarissa. “I was just speaking of her the other day, in fact. Life is funny, isn’t it? How you can think of someone and then they appear, although, in this case, she can’t appear. But someone else is here…talking about her…” his voice trailed off awkwardly.
“And why isn’t she here?” Roman asked with soft menace.
“I believe she died, my lord.” Harker’s voice had climbed then caught. He coughed. “I’m very sorry to hear that happened.”
“Do you know how?” Roman asked. “Of course you don’t. I made sure no one knew because it was horrible and would have ruined her. I can’t say for sure that she intended to die on purpose.” Roman took satisfaction from Harker’s soft gasp. “She became ill after you pushed her away. At the time, I didn’t know you were her lover, but it has recently come to my attention that you are the reason my wife withered and died.”
Harker blanched. “You’re saying she killed herself?”
“As I said, I don’t know and I never will. What I can tell you is that she died a melancholic and broken woman. You deprived her parents of their beloved daughter and me of my wife. She loved you more than anything. She even regretted marrying me, though it wasn’t as if she could wed you for you already have a wife, don’t you?”
Harker put his hand to his brow and fidgeted with his hair, appearing most anxious. “She asked me quite insistently to run away with her, and I declined. I told her that she needed to return to you and that our affair was simply a passing fancy. I assured her she would move past it and likely forget me entirely.”
Roman blinked. Harker had encouraged her to go back to Roman after she’d begged him to flee London together? Some of the rage he’d carried dissipated. He would never forgive Harker, but perhaps he didn’t hate him quite as much. It was better to try to do the right thing, even if it was late in coming.
“You’re despicable,” Sheff said with disdain. “You must stop this behavior. You believe your actions have no consequences, but they do. This is just one instance that you now know of, but there are almost certainly more. Not to mention the countless children you’ve fathered illegitimately.”
“They aren’t countless,” Harker argued, still pale and agitated.
Sheff stared at him coldly. “You weren’t aware of one of your offspring until a short while ago, so I’d say that’s a reasonable description. You’ll either stop behaving in this manner, or you will finally suffer for your behavior.”
“How?” Harker croaked as he sent a fearful glance toward Roman.
“To start, Jo and I will be finished with you. Then, I will make sure no one in Society engages with you—ever. And you will never teach anyone again. That is non-negotiable.”
Harker’s gaze turned pleading. “But teaching is how I earn money. How will I survive?”
“Perhaps you should try living within your means,” Sheff sneered. “You receive plenty from Jo’s mother to live a comfortable life. Although I’m sure I could persuade her to rescind that allowance. When she hears the true depth of your debauchery, she may do far worse to you than I’ve threatened. I’m also confident Jo can talk her half-siblings into turning against you too. You will be alone and destitute.”
Harker stared at them with wide, panicked eyes. “Fine—no more teaching. But I don’t know if I can stop the other. I’ve tried to be monogamous or even refrain from physical pleasures, but it’s as though I’m incapable. I loved Jo’s mother. I hated that I had betrayed her, but I couldn’t seem to help myself.”
“You must try harder,” Roman growled.
“I will.” Harker nodded eagerly. “I promise.”
Sheff inclined his head. “If you fail, the consequences I’ve laid out will be yours.”
Harker blanched. “I understand.” He looked at Roman. “I did love Clarissa, if that means anything. I loved them all, just not as much as they loved me or for as long.” He appeared regretful, but it didn’t matter to Roman.
He stalked toward the man and leaned down, setting his hand on the table next to Harker’s plate. Roman met his gaze and snarled. “I’ve wanted to call you out and demand satisfaction for years, but I’m not going to because I’m in love with your daughter. Killing her father, even one she doesn’t know and likely doesn’t care to, would not change anything that’s happened in the past.” It could, however, make her hate me. Thinking of that possibility filled Roman with a deep and horrible torment.
