Hugh pushed to his feet and staggered back in horror. “Killed?”
“Steady.” Diana got up and reached out to catch his hand. “Yes, there is a great deal of evidence that he murdered her when she was no longer of use to him. He was about to be arrested when he disappeared. Soon after that, he became Walters.”
Hugh’s stomach turned as he thought of his sister alone with the bastard for days, in more mortal danger than he had even believed. And Amelia—Amelia who had wished to marry the man. Would he have cut her down eventually too?
“Why would he go so far?” he whispered.
Lucas shook his head. “Because he has no scruples. People are tools to him. They provide what he needs and he discards them. He’s left a trail of associates to pay for their crimes, a large number of broken-hearted women he has seduced and stolen from. And then…this poor young woman.”
“He wanted my sister.” Hugh trembled with every word. “He wanted my wife. For their fortunes. I thwarted him both times. I must protect them, in case he decides to keep his eye on them, or exact some kind of revenge.”
“I agree,” Lucas said. “I am ready to arrange a guard for both women immediately. I have good men for the position. They can be at your home as early as tomorrow morning.”
“Do it,” Hugh said, his mind reeling. “In the meantime, I must go to them. Now, to determine they are safe. And I must tell Amelia the truth. It is about more than my betrayal now. This is about her safety.”
Lucas nodded, and he and Diana followed Hugh to the door. “I’ll come call later tonight,” Lucas said. “I can provide more information if Amelia requires it. And Diana can be a shoulder to lean on if she’s upset.”
“Thank you for your help. I’ll need it all before this is done.”
Hugh tipped his head and then rushed out to his waiting horse. As he thundered through the gate and onto the busy street, his mind reeled and his heart throbbed. After weeks avoiding the pain the truth would cause, now there was even more at stake.
And losing Amelia’s heart was not the worst that could come of it. He only hoped he could find a way to protect her and keep her.
Hugh burst through the front door and called out, “Amelia! Lizzie! Where are you?”
There was no answer, but Masters rushed into the foyer. Hugh’s heart dropped, for the butler’s expression was pale and lined with worry. Something had happened. Hugh knew it like he knew his own name.
“Where are they?” he whispered.
“Lady Elizabeth is in her room,” he began.
Hugh didn’t wait for the rest. He bounded up the stairs two at a time and raced to his sister’s door. He knocked and did not wait for her response to burst inside. Lizzie was seated by the fire, wrapped in a blanket. When he stepped into her room, she looked over at him. Her cheeks were streaked with tears and her eyes were wide and frightened.
“What is it?” he asked, trying to keep his tone gentle when what he wanted to do was catch her by the shoulders and make her tell him everything. “What’s happened?”
Lizzie stared at him, almost unseeing, then mumbled, “In the park.”
Hugh drew a breath and dropped to his knees before her. “In the park? What happened in the park?”
His sister shook her head. “It was fine. It was lovely. Amelia and I were walking, giggling like girls. Meg and Charlotte were on the hill. Amelia stepped away a moment…”
She trailed off and ducked her head.
Hugh cupped her cheeks and gently lifted so she had to look at him. “What happened?”
“I saw h-him,” she sobbed, leaning in to rest her head on his shoulder, where she began to shake. “Aaron Walters was there, talking to Amelia like they knew each other. I got upset, I asked why she was talking to him when you told me not to give her his name.”
Hugh’s stomach dropped. “That’swhat you asked her?”
When Lizzie nodded against his shoulder, he scrubbed a hand through his hair. That was all. It was over. Amelia had found out the truth in exactly the worst way possible. The way he had hoped she would never know.
“What did she say? What did she do? What did he do?”
“H-he was gone by then,” Lizzie croaked out, lifting her head. “But Amelia went so pale. I thought she might faint. She rushed me to the carriage—we didn’t even say goodbye to Meg and Charlotte. And she kept asking me if it was true. If Aaron Walters was the man who had…hurt me. If you knew. I was so overwrought, all I could do was say yes.”
Hugh was shaking now, and he tried with all his might not to shout at her in his upset. This was not her fault. It was his. Only his. Forever his. For not being honest. For not trusting Amelia, even long after he knew he could.
“Is she here?” he asked. “Is she home?”
