A garish grinstretched her mouth. Of course she did. Of course, and…
It hit her, likethe lightning that flashed outside. She could use this. They coulduse this. She and Stephen. He’d said he needed funds, and surelyhis brother would pay to keep this information quiet. It had to bedone delicately, but it could be done.
“Sera?” Stephen approached, his eyes alight, his lips curvedin the slight smile she’d only ever seen him give to her. Beforeshe could speak, he swept her into an embrace.
Turning herhead, she placed her hands on his chest. “Stephen,wait.”
He brushed hislips over the skin beneath her ear. “Why?”
She couldn’tthink when he did that. “Because…” Soft kisses along her jaw.“Stephen…” His hands tightened on her back. “Your brother’s inthere,” she blurted.
He froze.Pulling back, he said, “Pardon?”
“Your brother is in the orangery and he’s not alone.” Shecleared her throat. “Lydia Torrence is with him.”
Expressionblank, he stared at her.
“They are in the orangery. Alone. And they were…embracing.”Her cheeks burned. Why was she so embarrassed? So hesitant?Squaring her shoulders, she lifted her chin. “This is anopportunity, Stephen, to obtain the funds you require. We can tellyour brother if he doesn’t give you the funds, we will make it soall of society will know. Even if society does find out, they willmarry anyway. It is a plan without victim, and your charity willbenefit.”
Still heremained silent, his arms crossed over his chest as his gaze boredinto her.
She wet herlips. “Stephen?”
“IfI threatened Lydia,” he said. “Oliver would never speak to meagain.”
Oliver. NotRoxwaithe. Not the earl. Oliver.
“Hewouldneverspeak to me again,” he continued, still withthat strange tone. “He would cut me from his life. It would be asif he never had a brother, or at least, one who was still alive. Itwould be so that when I see him out in society, at a club, on thestreet, he would turn the other way and he would pass me by, hisgaze never straying in my direction. He would ignore my calls, myletters, and I would be barred entry to Roxegate, to Waithe Hall,to all the Farlisle properties. I would have funds—he would notwant me to starve—but I would never again have the skerrick ofaffection I hold now. He would be done with me. And I would notblame him.”
His expressionhardened and she recoiled at the look in his eyes. “How could youthink I could harm Lydia? She is as a sister to me. She and mythick-headed brother may be stupidly in love with each other andrefuse to acknowledge it, but I will not use that for something aspetty as a few pounds.”
“Butyou hate your brother.” Uncertainty leant a quiver to her voice.“You do hate him, don’t you?”
He stared at herstonily. Finally, he shook his head once, sharply.
Horror filledher. She’d made a mistake. She’d— “But…but you said…You tell himlies to collect funds. How can you…?”
“Heis my brother. You don’t understand. You have never had afamily.”
Pain torethrough her, and she couldn’t control the sharp gasp that escapedher.
Uncertaintyflickered in his eyes before his expression shuttered. “You willnot speak of this. To anyone.”
She couldn’tspeak. She shook her head, her thoughts a jumble.
“Sera, you will not. Swear to me.”
“Iwill not speak of it,” she managed.
He studied her amoment, and then nodded sharply before turning to leave.
No. No, hecouldn’t leave. He couldn’t— They had to — She caught his arm.“Stephen—”
He rippedhimself from her. “Don’t,” he said harshly. She recoiled. He closedhis eyes briefly. “Don’t, Sera,” he continued softly and, shakingher off, he strode away.
Cupping herelbows, Sera stared after him. Numb. She needed to be numb. Shecouldn’t—
A noise made herlook around. Of course. Perfect. Lydia Torrence. She approached,her chin lifted and her gaze hard.
