“I see,” his mother said slowly. She examined him a little more closely. “But you are back in Town and far earlier than you should have been. Something must have happened.”
“I-I was sent there to—to break up the engagement,” he admitted, and the shame of saying it out loud made his stomach turn.
“Sent,” she repeated breathlessly. “By who? Your grandfather?”
He nodded. “The earl was desperate to keep the marriage from continuing because of exactly what you said about Julia’s origins. He wanted to use me as a tool in that desired outcome. And I agreed because he said he would…” He trailed off becauseto say the next part was even more difficult. “Because he said he would arrange for you to have more.”
Her lips parted. “You agreed to do that ogre’s bidding because of me?” she asked. “Oh, Alexander, no.”
“I couldn’t give you more myself and you don’t deserve this kind of struggle. It may take a few years more for these investments to pay off and for me to be able to increase your comfort.”
“Iamcomfortable,” she burst out. “And I must make it plain that you are not responsible for my situation. Your father planned poorly, your grandfather ensured I would not have much. None of that was your doing. You’ve taken me in and that is far more than you should have ever had to do.” She shook her head. “Tell me what happened? Were you successful in breaking the couple apart?”
“No,” he said. “I wasn’t. But the marriage has not taken place, nor will it. It turns out it was all a ruse, a cruel machination by Laurence so that he might marry another that grandfather didn’t like. Someone more palatable. He was using Julia and it ended badly. Far more cruelly than she could ever deserve.”
“Julia,” his mother repeated. “So informal.”
“Was it?” he asked, turning his gaze away. “I didn’t intend to be.”
She was quiet a long moment, her concerns obvious even if she didn’t state them. And why wouldn’t they be? She was just as aware of the dangers of defying the earl as he was.
“It sounds like you like the lady,” his mother said.
He pressed his lips together. While he had no intention of telling her he was involved in an affair with Julia, he didn’t think he could hide his regard. More to the point, he didn’t want to.
“I do,” he admitted, watching her face to see what her reaction would be. “She is bright and witty, she’s kind and gentle.”
Her eyes grew wider with each descriptive. “Alexander—” she began
He threw up his hands and rushed to continue so that she couldn’t express her further concerns. “And none of it mattered. Laurence ended it in the most humiliating way possible. I left once I knew she was able to escape and I hoped that would be the end of it. But Grandfather called me to him once I was back in London and he wants more.”
“What does he want?”
“He threatened her. He wants her gone, one way or another.”
She sat back in her chair, her cheeks pale as paper. “His threats aren’t often empty.”
“No, I know that.” He scrubbed a hand over his face.
“I assume he wants you help in this endeavor?” she asked.
He nodded and now he couldn’t keep the full truth from her. “He does. I refused. He said he would never give you another penny because of me. And I told him he could…he could hang.”
“Alexander,” she breathed, her voice shaky.
He bent his head. “I-I’m sorry.”
She seemed to ponder that a moment. “I’m not. For far too long we have all been bobbed on his string, no one more than you in the last few years. I didn’t realize how far it had gone. I suppose even if I had, I couldn’t have done anything to prevent it. But if you have cut it away at last, perhaps any ramifications that follow will be worth no longer being under his thumb.”
“And if the consequences were only toward me, I’d agree. But I’m under no illusion that you won’t be hurt, as well.”
Her eyes fluttered shut. “I suppose I may be. The earl has always used the bonds between others to damage them. He did that to your father for years until he was twisted in a husk of a man I hardly even recognized.” Her jaw set. “He distorted him, corrupted him. And you are too good of a man to allow that. Whatever happens next, I’m proud of you.”
“Agoodman.” Alexander shook his head. “Not that good, it turns out, considering what I did.”
“You’re talking about this woman again. Miss Comerford.”
He nodded. “Yes.”
