“You cannot marry him, Mary. Not after what he has done to me. Promise me that you will not do so.”
Pain tore through her heart. “I do not think I need to make such a promise. It is unlikely that he will still want to marry me now that he knows that I am related to you.”
Andrew nodded. “You are probably correct.” He tried to smile. “On a positive note, Heartly has assured me that he will return all my funds to me along with the estate if I win against him tomorrow. Wish me well and hopefully I will soon be able to repay some of the money that you have given me these past two years.”
“No,” Mary said as she took a step back. “I will not wish you well, Andrew. Not after all that has been revealed today.”
“You would rather that Heartly wins?” he asked with dismay.
In spite of how hurt she was by Richard’s words, she knew he deserved to have her on his side. “He is ten times the man that you will ever be. The fact that you may be my brother is insignificant in this instance.”
“Your mind is clouded by your love for him, Mary. Clearly he has managed to influence your way of thinking, but you cannot ignore the fact that you and I have history. We have known each other for twenty years, grown up together, spent Christmases together...”
“And that might have meant something if you had been more honorable... more deserving of my high regard and admiration. As it turns out, you deserve neither. My support lies with Heartly.”
“But I am your brother.” The words were desperately spoken as she went to the door.
Looking over her shoulder at him, Mary shook her head with sadness. “Not anymore.”
Forcing back the tears that threatened in response to the familial tie she’d just broken, Mary hurried down the hallway with only one goal in mind: to return upstairs to her bedchamber where she could be alone with her thoughts. But as she turned a corner, she found her aunt exiting one of the salons alongside Lady Duncaster, her eyes filling with concern the moment she spotted Mary. “Is everything all right?” Lady Foxworth asked. “You look a little out of sorts.”
Nodding, Mary glanced toward the salon which appeared vacant. “May I have a private word with you?”
“Of course,” Lady Foxworth said.
“You are welcome to join us, Lady Duncaster,” Mary said as she looked to the countess. It was time she found out about the Roman villa and the cave. Mary and Richard had kept it from her long enough and with what had just happened and what might yet come, Mary didn’t want to risk leaving Thorncliff without Lady Duncaster knowing about its existence.
Lady Duncaster looked a little uncertain, but rather than excusing herself, she said, “If that is what you would like.”
As soon as they were all inside the salon, Mary closed the door. “Andrew is here,” she said without preamble while Lady Foxworth and Lady Duncaster each claimed a seat. “Lord Carthright, that is. My brother.”
“But that is excellent news,” Lady Foxworth said. “It’s about time that he offers you his support, and by coming here as you have asked him to do, he has clearly...” Her words trailed off the moment she met Mary’s eyes. “What is it, my dear?”
Lowering herself into a vacant armchair, Mary took a deep breath before saying, “As it turns out, he is already acquainted with Mr.Heartly, though not in a good way.”
Lady Foxworth’s expression grew wary. She leaned back slowly in her seat and cast a fleeting look in Lady Duncaster’s direction before asking, “What exactly do you mean?”
“It was Carthright’s fault that Mr.Heartly was captured by the French and tortured.” She then went on to relate what had happened since Andrew’s arrival, including the conversation she’d just had with him. “I feel terrible about all of it but I cannot possibly take my brother’s side in this. It simply is not right.”
“Especially not when one considers how grievously he has treated you these past couple of years,” Lady Foxworth muttered. She did not elaborate, aware that Mary would know what she was referring to and unwilling to let Lady Duncaster in on that little secret. Her expression was set in hard lines as she added, “Unfortunately, I can think of only one solution as far as Carthright is concerned.”
“And what is that?” Mary asked.
“That depends on what Mr.Heartly plans to tell the public. If the truth is revealed, Carthright’s punishment will likely be severe. After all, he lied to the king, receiving a title, land and a rather large fortune as a result.”
“Do you suppose he might hang for what he has done?” As angry as Mary was with her brother, she did not like the thought of such a thing in the least.
“I do not know,” Lady Foxworth confessed.
“You must also consider the shame that he has brought upon your family due to his misguided actions,” Lady Duncaster said sympathetically.
“Rest assured,” Lady Foxworth said, “I am aware of it. No matter the outcome of the duel tomorrow, I will deal with Carthright, though my plan will require the assurance that Mr.Heartly will be willing to refrain from mentioning this matter again.”
“I cannot promise that,” Mary said. “Mr.Heartly and I did not part on the best of terms. Frankly, the thought of having to face him again is not one that I relish.”
Lady Foxworth opened her mouth as if to speak, but Mary turned her attention on Lady Duncaster instead and quickly said, “There is something that Mr.Heartly and I have been meaning to tell you for some time now, but one thing or another kept stopping us from doing so.”
“And what is that?” Lady Duncaster asked. Tilting her head, she studied Mary with some degree of curiosity.
