Richard nodded. “It appears so. And that’s not all. Mr. Brown—his solicitor—has been named directly. There’s talk of blackmail. Fraud. There may be criminal charges.”
Jane gasped. “But that would mean…”
“A scandal. Yes,” Richard said grimly, “Everything Cynthia hinted at was true. There was a scandal looming over us. However, it didn’t come from you—it came fromhim.”
Kitty pressed a hand to the back of the settee, her fingers tightening against the velvet.
Her thoughts spun.
Why would he do this? After all his careful avoidance of scandal, after meticulously burying the truth for so long—why drag it all into the light now?
Now the truth had been laid bare.
She should have felt vindicated. Triumphant, even. But all she felt was hollow.
“Eleanor,” she whispered. “She’s still...her reputation will be ruined, is that right?”
Richard’s mouth twisted. “I fear she’ll be caught in the storm.”
Kitty lowered her eyes. “I always liked her.”
“I know,” Jane said softly.
There was a long silence.
Kitty stared down at her hands. “I don’t wish this upon her,” she said, surprised to find the words rising unbidden. “Or him. Whatever he’s done. However cruel he’s been. I don’t want this for him.”
“No,” Jane said. “Because you love him.”
Kitty didn’t answer. She didn’t need to.
Her eyes moved back to the window. The rain had not stopped. It only fell harder now, drumming ceaselessly on the glass.
“I don’t know what to do with it,” she whispered. “The love. It won’t go away.”
Richard looked at her, and this time there was no pity in his expression—only understanding.
“You don’t have to do anything with it,” he said. “Let it pass through you. Let it run its course. Some things do not vanish. They only quiet.”
Kitty’s throat tightened again. She nodded once.
Then Jane rose, brushing her skirts smooth. “Come talk to us, Kitty. Just for a little while. We won’t speak of anything unpleasant.”
But Kitty shook her head gently. “In a moment. I only need?—”
A knock interrupted her.
Could it be...?
A servant entered the room, bowed, and held out a silver tray.
“A letter for Miss McGowan.”
Kitty frowned faintly and stepped forward. The envelope was pale blue and bore a seal she recognized immediately.
Marina.
She felt the breath leave her lungs.
