“Father lost a lot of money,” he said abruptly. “He decided to recoup his losses by striking up a deal with Lionel Radcliff. He would use his influence, being a gentleman, to get others involved in the consortium Radcliff wanted to start.”
He felt Gus looking at him, but he remained silent.
“The only problem being, Radcliff is a liar and a cheat. Father never stood a chance against him because he believed the man would behave as a gentleman should. Radcliff reeled him in, draining every cent from the family coffers he could. Then when Father realized he was in too deep, he told Radcliff he wanted out.”
“Christ,” Gus hissed.
“I found Father one night, drunk and slumped over his desk. I managed to get the entire story out of him. So I went to see Radcliff.”
“You should have told me, Ash.”
“Very possibly, but I didn’t want you involved with such a man. I went to see him and asked what would it take to get him to leave Father alone. He told me that I had to recoup my father’s losses, but that if I went as his crew to steal some cargo, I could also fill our pockets.”
Ash was suddenly back there. The screams of the crew being murdered by Radcliff’s men, and the fight he’d put up trying to stop it. They’d hauled him onto the boat and put him below in the hold.
“They were not only stealing cargo; they wanted to murder the entire crew and steal the ship. I tried to stop them, but there were too many of them. I was locked in chains below deck as we sailed back home with both ships.”
“You should have told me!” The words exploded from Gus. “I had a right to know!”
“And had I, you would have ended up like me. I did not want that.”
“How bloody magnanimous of you!” Gus thundered. “I believed you a murderer. Believed you capable of seeing me hurt.”
“I know.”
Gus swore softly.
“When we returned, I was released and told to help unload, and that is when you arrived. I told you to leave; you didn’t listen, and then Radcliff stabbed you. I tried to get to you, but they grabbed me and dragged me back on the ship. I was thrown back in chains.”
“I wish I’d known. I would have found a way to get to you.” His brother’s words were angry.
Ash had been naïve to believe he could do what Radcliff wanted and then go home without consequence. He was no longer that.
“There was nothing to be gained by both of us being in the clutches of Radcliff if things went wrong.”
“And you took that decision on yourself, did you? Because I am the weaker brother?” Gus turned on him, eyes filled with rage.
“I would not have both our lives ruined.”
“You had no right. You were all I had, my brother, and then you were gone. I left America believing you cared nothing that I could have died.”
“I sent you Baron.”
“How was I to know that?”
They were inches apart now, Gus glaring, and Ash’s temper rising.
“Who did you think had sent him?”
“I was delirious, how the bloody hell should I know! And then when I’d recovered, he left after telling me he’d been sent to look after me by someone who loves me.”
“How many people did you have that loved you then!” Ash thundered.
“So trying to save Father had you becoming Radcliff’s captive, didn’t it?”
Ash managed a nod.
Gus walked away from him and down the edge of the cliff. Ash watched him. What had he expected? If their situations were reversed, he would have been angry too.
