Henley watched and Edwin placed his napkin to the side of the plate, and eased his chair back, as if readying to stand.
Henley turned back to the duke as he continued.
“It is a great honor to announce that my daughter, the Lady Anna of Kinfield, is betrothed this evening!”
The guests clapped politely, some patting Edwin on the back as he warmly accepted their congratulations.A few guests began to murmur.A lady in pink faltered mid-toast, glancing between Edwin and the duke.Lord Catterleigh frowned and leaned toward his wife, whispering behind a napkin.
Lord Hawthorne’s expression shot to Henley, his hands moving mechanically in a clap but his facial expression bespoke amusement, and he winked at Henley.
He knew.How he’d figured it out, Henley would have to ask later, but he’d figured it out.Henley gave a nod of affirmation to his new ally, who merely chuckled and then stifled the sound with his hand and a well-placed cough.
The duke raised his hands signaling for silence once more.
Edwin moved to stand.
“Lord Henley Allendale,” the duke said, clearly and without pause, “it is a pleasure to welcome you into our family.Please, everyone, join me in a toast!”The duke raised his glass, ignoring the gasps from the dinner party.
The room froze.
Edwin remained half-risen, eyes wide.His hand gripped the back of his chair as if anchoring himself to something real.
Across the table, Lord Hawthorne smothered another laugh in a cough.
Henley heard his name whispered a hundred times in a few seconds, but ignored it as well, and stood lifting his own glass.“The honor is all mine, Your Grace.I will strive to be worthy of such a gift as your daughter’s hand.”He owned the moment, standing tall and then giving a deferring bow to his soon-to-be family.
To everyone watching, it looked expected, as if this had been the plan all along, which it had been, for Henley.As the whispers died down and people lowered their toast, Henley caught Edwin’s expression—blank, unreadable.Not confusion.Not outrage.Something closer to fear.
Henley took his seat and nodded to the duke, whose gaze flickered to Edwin as well.They were both watching, because while this was certainly the end to one thing, it was the beginning of another.
The truth.
Henley nodded as Lady Chamberland gave him a disbelieving smile, then returned to her wine.The room started to hum with polite conversation, and Henley took a breath; perhaps it was over.In truth, the damage was done from last year’s events.As much as a clearing of the air would polish his own reputation, it would damage his brother’s irrevocably, at least for a time.And what was done was done.They’d already waded through the scandal as a family, why dig up what was dead and buried?
Henley twisted his wineglass stem, and as he moved to lift it, he noted Edwin from the corner of his eye, standing.
Or perhaps not.
Henley watched as Edwin lifted his glass in the air, his gaze spearing Henley.
The hum of conversation halted abruptly as Edwin held everyone’s attention as he spoke.“A toast,” he started, displaying one of his most charming smiles.“To my brother, who has surprised us all, I dare say.”
Henley studied his brother, watching as he continued.The room crackled with expectancy, as if sensing the tension between the brothers.
“Henley, you’ve always been a fighter, never backing down from a challenge, regardless of how honorable or… not.”Edwin tipped his chin, almost scoldingly.“Win at any cost, so noble.”
Henley’s hands dropped to his lap as he waited, knowing his brother would continue and in doing so, destroy his own reputation, not Henley’s.He should have just let it go, but he couldn’t.Henley should have expected as much.
Edwin’s eyes sharpened, as if he was emboldened by Henley’s lack of response.“You all may remember last year’s unfortunate incident.A life lost…” Edwin speared Henley with a dark gaze.“A victory given… and so many unanswered questions.”
“Not by me,” the duke replied coolly, disinterested, as if Edwin’s damning words were nothing but hot air.“I’d not allow such a man as you’ve described to marry my daughter, as I’m sure you’re aware, Lord Devon.But that is a separate story, is it not?We can answer those lingering questions, if you wish?”The duke studied his wineglass, then set it down firmly, his gaze piercing through Edwin.
Henley arched a brow as he turned toward his brother, waiting for him to make the choice.
“Pardon?”Edwin hedged, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he was uncertain how to play his next hand.
“I have looked into the events of last year myself.What I found was… instructive.A last-minute change of opponents.Misinformation.Reckless manipulation, and an assumption that one brother was actually another…”
Another pause.Not a breath was wasted.
