“None of us do,” the duchess affirmed with a brief glance. “That woman never gave a whit about Ewan. I used to write her, you know, with updates on his progress. A year after he moved to us, she wrote me asking me not to do it anymore. That she had no interest.”
Charlotte stiffened, but drew a breath to calm herself. “I hate this, but will you please come join the circle? I think our support will help Ewan a great deal.”
They nodded immediately and moved to the circle. Charlotte smiled as Aunt Mary took a place beside her nephew, resting a hand on his briefly before she said, “You look well, Melinda.”
The Duchess of Donburrow glared at her. “As do you, Mary.”
There was silence that stretched after their terse exchange and Charlotte gritted her teeth as she poured Ewan some tea and sweetened it. “What brings you to our happy celebration?” she asked, working hard to keep her voice light.
“Sometimes one just wants to come check up on the things thatshouldbe his,” Josiah snapped, and Charlotte spun on him, nearly spilling the tea as she caught her breath.
The cruel remark broke the tension and the room erupted. Matthew and Baldwin both leapt to their feet, shouting at the same time at Josiah. This seemed to encourage Roger, who moved to his brother’s side in the argument. The Duchesses Tyndale and Sheffield reached for their sons, making some kind of argument of peace or perhaps just involving themselves in the fray, Charlotte wasn’t certain of which in the din of noise that filled the parlor.
Through it all, the Duchess of Donburrow just sat, sipping her tea as she stared at Ewan with those cold, emotionless eyes. Ewan watched it all, still for a moment, his expression unreadable. Charlotte had no idea how he felt, and that was so rare a thing that it left her feeling…bereft. Empty.
After a moment had passed, he got up, his big body unfolding from the chair he had taken. He moved to the sideboard where he reached past Charlotte and grasped a china cup from the service. He met her gaze briefly and then walked to the other side of the room and promptly threw the dish at the wall.
Charlotte flinched as it smashed into a dozen or more pieces, the sharp crash of it silencing the fray.
“Enough!” Ewan signed, and she translated despite her shaking voice. “Enough of this. I have no idea why you three are here. You say you want to see what you think should be yours? Well, look around. This is it.”
“Yes, this is it,” Josiah hissed, and he stalked past Charlotte on his way toward Ewan. She scented liquor on him, far more than just the sherry he’d taken here in the parlor. “This home, these things, those horses in your stable, those pieces of shit who work our father’s land and somehow worshipyou. That name you drag around behind you through the mud, making us all look like fools with your damaged mind and body. The Silent Duke, indeed. Should be the Idiot Duke.”
Charlotte leapt forward. “You bastard,” she hissed. “What do you know of his mind or his heart or anything else? Your heartless family turned your backs on him when he was a child.”
“He’s lucky we didn’t shoot him in the barn,” Josiah barked into Ewan’s face. “That’s what you do with lame animals.” When Ewan didn’t react, he spun on Charlotte. “And what do you care, my lady? Or are you making yourself the fool’s whore, as has been the rumor for years now?” Spittle flew from his mouth, and Charlotte flinched away from it. “What did your husband think of taking someonetouchedfor a lover?”
Chapter Seventeen
Ewan had heard every ugly thing about himself a hundred times or more in his life. His father had spread those words on thick, his brothers had too. Boys his age, ones who weren’t his friends had mocked him…he’d even overheard a few ladies here and there, whispering ugly things. Those words had certainly scarred. He’d taken them into his skin like a tattoo, and they lived there, a permanent reminder of what he was…and wasn’t.
But now Josiah wasn’t talking about him. He was talking about Charlotte, and a red veil of rage that was unlike anything Ewan had ever felt before closed over his vision. He could see nothing but hatred. He could feel nothing but revenge.
He lunged forward and caught Josiah’s lapels, backing him toward the door in three long steps. His brother clawed at his hands, eyes wide as he sputtered, “What are you doing? Unhand me!”
Ewan ignored him. He pushed him all the way through the foyer and to the front door. There he found Smith waiting. The butler’s eyes went wide for a moment as he took in the scene before him. But then just the tiniest smile spread across his face.
He met Ewan’s eyes and then opened the door so Ewan could push Josiah out. He shoved and his brother staggered down half the stairs before he caught himself.
“Well done,” Matthew said, startling Ewan.
He’d been so angry that everyone else in the room had all but vanished. He now turned to find Charlotte and Matthew standing close by. Matthew looked somewhat pleased at his display, but Charlotte was harder to read. Ewan’s gaze flitted to his aunt, Baldwin, and the Duchess of Sheffield. They each stayed at the entryway to the foyer and their expressions were a mixture of admiration and concern.
His mother and youngest brother were between them. He looked past Charlotte and Matthew, met his mother’s eyes and then lifted his hand to point toward the exit. His entire body shook as understanding flowed over her face. He didn’t need a notebook or a series of signs to make it clear what he wanted.
She straightened her gown and moved past him, Roger on her heels. Ewan turned to look at them, gathered on his drive. Josiah was still glowering up at him.
“I’ve seen enough. You can’t hide,Your Grace. Not anymore. You’re going to besorry,” Josiah growled. “That title willnotbe yours, and it certainly will not flow through you to anyone butme. You’re going to be sorry.”
He pivoted and took off for the carriage. Ewan watched him go, chest swelling with anger and regret and a small bit of anxiety. He’d thought the fight for the dukedom had ended three years ago. Apparently, it had not. Though what had inspired Josiah, Roger and their mother to show up here now, rightnow, was beyond him.
He slammed the door so he could no longer hear his brother’s ranting and turned to face the others.
Everyone was silent for a beat, and then Matthew gave a half-smile. “Well done, Ewan.”
Charlotte jerked her gaze to Matthew, and Ewan could see she looked surprised by his congratulations. She returned her attention to Ewan and her eyes danced with emotion.
“You threw them out because of me,” she signed.
