“Because that is what a gentleman ought to do,” George responded, without hesitation. “Even if one’s family has behaved a particular way for decades, that does not mean it has to continue with us. Youchoseto demand that money from Lord Turnhill and, when you called upon him, found him with documents that were of great interest to you.”
Glancing around him, George noticed just how many of thetonwere now listening to what he was saying. For a moment, he wondered if the rest of this conversation would be best had in private for Miss Burnley’s sake, only to realize that even now, what he had said would be whispered and passed on as gossip. It would be best for him to say all.
“The document stated that there was to be a marriage between the Surrey line and the Turnhill line,” he continued, as Lord Neath shifted his gaze away from George. “This was to fortify the sale of land and property. You read all four document pages, did you not? And then you came up with a scheme.”
“What scheme?” the gentleman asked, his expression one of utter astonishment. George was, perhaps, revealing more about Lord Neath’s character than this gentleman knew. “What was it he tried to do?”
George gestured to Lord Neath whose expression was now sullen and dark. “He forced Lord Turnhill to hide the fourth page of the document. A page which stated the opposite – that if any subsequent marriage took place between the two families, then a large portion of the Surrey estate would be given to the Neath family line.”
The gentleman’s mouth fell open, and a few gasps of astonishment rang around George.
“My great-grandfather knew that there was no love between the Neath line and the Turnhill line,” he said, quietly, looking straight at Lord Neath. “He wrote that document so that there would be no desire oneitherthe Surrey side or the Turnhill side for any further connection between our families. But you, Lord Neath, you determined to use the first three pages of the document to manipulate me into marrying Miss Burnley – and in doing so, would eventually be given a substantial amount of land and property to add to your own estate.”
Lord Neath shrugged, his gaze darting around the other members of thetonwho were now whispering wildly about all that George had just said. He folded his arms over his chest and curled his lip, his dark gaze hovering around George’s face.
“You will not deny it, then?” Seeing the gentleman’s refusal to respond, George sighed heavily. “Lord Turnhill could not pay you what he owed, and thus, you forced him to show the documents to my father.”
Another glance and then Lord Neath dropped his head.
“When my father came to call upon Lord Turnhill, you were present also. My father was, no doubt, aware that therehadbeen a marriage between the Turnhill family and Surrey family and, I believe, knew what the consequences would be should another marriage take place. But you cared nothing for that, did you? You wanted the Surrey land and property, your greed overpowering any goodness within you. With that darkness in your heart, you were determined to force my father into writing to me. Quite what you said to him, I do not know, but he had no other choice but to write to me that day.”
Lord Neath’s face went whiter still, and George, certain now that he was right, let out a hiss of breath and closed his eyes.
“He threatened you, Lord Surrey.”
Another voice came over George’s shoulder, and he glanced back at Lord Turnhill.
“Just as he threatened to ruin Miss Williams, just as he coerced me into doing as I did, he threatened your name and reputation. Lord Neath has no scruples, Lord Surrey. He would have brought your family name to ruin – and your father not only saw that darkness in Lord Neath but believed what he would do. I must hope that he would have told you everything, had you been able to meet again… but it is to my eternal shame that I came alongside Lord Neath in this.”
Pain clung to George’s heart, making his eyes grow heavy with tears for a moment or two. He dropped his head forward, closed his eyes, and dragged in air, reminding himself of just how stalwart and good a gentleman his father had been. “Yes,” he said, after a few moments. “I believe that my father would have told me the truth about everything, including all that Lord Neath was trying to do.” Opening his eyes, he looked back at Lord Neath, who was now staring at the ground, his shoulders rounded. “You have no strength nor power left, Lord Neath. Lord Turnhill’s debt is paid, your scheme has been found out, and it is your own reputation now left in ruins.”
Another few murmurs had Lord Neath’s head lifting, glancing around him before his gaze held fast to the ground again.
“I should call you out.”
Lord Neath’s head shot up.
“As should I,” Lord Turnhill added, as George looked straight at Lord Neath. “What say you to that, Neath?”
There came no response for some moments. George watched Lord Neath carefully, wondering what it was that the gentleman was thinking. Was there any way for him to escape? Any way to deny what had been said? No, he considered, there was nothing at all that the gentleman could say, no excuse made or plea giventhat would convince anyone present that he had not done a great evil.
“You should have done what I asked, Turnhill.” Finally, Lord Neath spoke, his voice low, his hands curling into fists. “Had you only done so, then none of this would have happened.”
“That is your response to all of this?”
It was not Lord Turnhill who responded, nor George himself. Instead, the gentleman who had spoken to Lord Neath at the first, threw up his hands, his voice seeming to echo across Hyde Park.
“Lord Jeffries, I hardly think – ”
“You will try to blame Lord Turnhill for simply bringing up the evil you have done?” Lord Jeffries exclaimed, taking a step or two nearer to Lord Neath now, as the others around him nodded and murmured their agreement. “You have not – and cannot, it seems – deny what they have said about you and your actions. We have all heard them speak of the evil you have done, and instead of admitting it, instead of eventhinkingto apologize for it all, you try to blame Lord Turnhill?”
Lord Neath glared at Lord Jeffries. “You do not know all that I have lost, all that I have had to fight to regain. How can you speak to me in such a way when you have no knowledge of all I have had to endure?”
“Endure?” George retorted, before Lord Jeffries could speak. “Whether you have faced difficulties or not, that does not justify the evil you intended to do to me. Nor does it justify what you did to Lord Turnhillandyour threats to my late father.”
Lord Neath’s face went scarlet. “At least youhada decent and upstanding father, Surrey! At least he was one who did all that he could for you, whilst mine left me with nothing but debts and brokenness! I have had toclawback coin so that I can make enough of myself.”
“That still does not defend your actions,” Lord Jeffries spat. “You have not only brought shame upon your name, but you now make a fool of yourself in attempting to defend your heinous actions.” He gestured widely as George saw Lord Neath’s jaw set in anger. “Look at everyone here. They have all heard everything you have done, all that you have admitted to, and not one of them feels any sort of sympathy for you. No one has any understanding of your situation, norwillthey accept your explanation. You are nothing to us now, Lord Neath. You will not be able to hold your head up again.”
