“That’seasy for you to say when you aren’t the one who would suffer the most from the truth coming to light,” their mother retorted once she regained control of her senses. “I was the one who made the decision, and I did it to protect the two of you from the kind of ugly disputes over titles that can destroy families.”
“And we appreciate that,” Nicholas assured her. He doubted either he or Theo would ever be the kind of power-hungry prick who would tear apart a family for the sake of a title and fortune, but their parents couldn’t have known that at the time, and they’d made what they thought was the best choice—even if it was somewhat unconventional. “But—”
“You don’t understand!” She bolted upright, the mask of bitterness disappearing as her true fear surfaced. Tears filled her eyes, and she stalked to the window, her chest heaving as she struggled to get herself under control.
Nicholas started to stand, ready to go to her, but she pivoted toward them, her fists clenched at her sides
“You’re a man,” she wailed. “You don’t understand what it is to be vulnerable. Sometimes, our reputations are all we have, and we depend on them to survive.”
Nicholas opened his mouth, thought better of it, and closed it. She was right. He didn’t fully understand, although as the younger twin, he suspected that he had a better idea of her circumstances than Theo did.
“It was one thing when your father was alive because I knew I had his care and protection,” she went on, a flush creeping up her cheeks. “At least if I were ostracized, I had him to provide for me, and I wouldn’t lose my most trusted confidante. Now that he’s gone….”
Her sob broke Nicholas’s heart, but she patted her eyes with a handkerchief and glared at them, making it clear that sympathy was unwelcome.
She cleared her throat. “Now that he’s gone, I’m reliant on the goodwill of my son and at society’s mercy.”
“That’s true,” Nicholas allowed, getting up and walking over to her despite her continued glaring. As he moved closer, he went on, “I’m also dependent on Theo, so I know that can be challenging, and I admit that I have greater latitude with thetonbecause I’m a man.”
She nodded, her lips pursed as if ready to argue at any moment.
He stopped in front of her. “But if the secret didn’t come out with the scandal between Theo and Kate, and—as far as we know—it hasn’t come to light as a result of our elopement, then it isn’t likely to do so at all.”
She put out her hand to stop him before he tried to touch her. “What happens when you return to society and are subject to their scrutiny? You can’t be certain they won’t notice something amiss.”
“Sophie and I intend to wait until next season to rejoin society.” He waited for that to sink in. “I’ll keep my hair long and continue to grow my beard, if that’s what it takes to make you comfortable.”
Lady Blackwell didn’t seem swayed. “You still look alike. It’s incredible that no one has put it together so far.”
Nicholas made a sound of disagreement. “Not as incredible as you might think. You and Father worked hard during our childhood to preserve the secret, and many years have passed.” He lowered his voice and added gently, “The truth is, no one is looking. And unless we give them an obvious reason to, no one will.”
“A reason like scandal?” she asked archly.
“You’ll always have a place with us.” Kate spoke from her chair but pitched her voice for it to carry. “I think Nicholas is right about the odds, but if something did go wrong, we would always support you.”
The dowager sniffed. “What kind of life would it be for me if I were cast out of society and aimlessly rambled the corridors of Blackwell Hall?”
Nicholas grimaced. There was the melodrama he’d expected.
“You’d have your family,” Sophie snapped, far less patient than Kate. “That isn’t something to dismiss. Not everyone is so fortunate.”
“Fortunate? I—”
“I understand your concern,” Kate interrupted smoothly. “Society is the only thing you have for yourself. Everything else in your life is governed by someone else, but you’ve worked hard to carve a place for yourself in the years since you lost your husband.”
“Y-yes,” Lady Blackwell replied falteringly, caught off guard by the astute remark. “That’s exactly right.”
“But reputations can be rebuilt.” Kate approached tentatively and put her arm around Lady Blackwell. The older woman stiffened at first but didn’t push her away. “You are one of the most cunning society ladies I have ever met, and I know you could meet the challenge and reinvent yourself if you had to, rising from the ashes like a phoenix.”
Nicholas looked away so his mother wouldn’t see himgrin. The imagery was a little too fanciful for him, but Lady Blackwell seemed intrigued by the notion.
Clever Kate, appealing to her vanity and boredom.
He wasn’t finished getting everything off his chest yet, though, so he powered on. “You and Father claimed we were born a year apart to protect our relationship with each other. Your intentions were pure.”
She nodded, a furrow forming between her eyebrows.
“Which is why I’m certain that you never meant for me to have to hide who I am and shy away from attention.” He glanced around, wishing he had a drink to moisten the inside of his mouth. “I never begrudged the decision you made even though I would have liked to attend school with Theo and celebrate more publicly with him at each of his weddings.”
