Sinking into a nearby chair, Verity closed her eyes and slumped as she listened faintly to her sister. Her thoughts wandered back again to Dominic.
He was trying to help her brother. That had surprised her to see him coming out like that. And yet… He was very good at helping people. He had a tendency to help her, didn’t he? No matter the risk or the consequences.
A tingling sensation ran down her spine while she reflected on the man she had married. It didn’t make sense. He always seemed to know as much as she did, if not more. That was particularly puzzling. Especially since he did so little with the information.
“He what?” Octavia’s voice broke as she clapped her hands over her mouth.
Sitting down, Lucien pulled out a handkerchief to offer it to her. He appeared stunned but said nothing. As Verity mulled over her thoughts, she could only shake her head to their questions. Part of her wasn’t certain she knew anything any longer.
Why is Dominic helping after all that I said to him? I made all these demands and he never… He didn’t stop me. When I reached out to him so quickly after leaving, he still made a response by going to the magistrate.
Verity felt a sinking sensation in her gut regarding the potential to be horribly wrong about him. There was her husband risking everything just to help her brother.
And he wasn’t asking for anything from her in return.
How wrong could I have been?
The more she thought matters through, the more Verity discovered she had impressed ideas on him over fact. Dominic hadn’t controlled her. He asked her to do so little. There were not demands, only concerns. If anything, he was leaving doors open for her to make her own choices every time.
Clapping a hand over her mouth, she held back a sudden sob. Emotions clattered over her shoulder and weighed down her heart. A fresh wave of fear washed over her as she considered there was so much more at stake now. She had set herself up to lose her husband just as she might lose her brother.
Why did Dominic let me do so much? Say all of that? Would he let me go? What if I don’t really wish to be apart from him?
“Oh!” Octavia swept over to her side, kneeling down and grabbing her at the waist. “Oh, Verity, I’m certain we will sort matters out!”
The others had been talking all the while. Verity didn’t know where the conversation had gone. Now her vision blurred with tears. She sniffed and tried to keep her breathing as steady as possible. Only it hurt to inhale.
“Everything has gone wrong,” she whispered.
How was she supposed to make everything right again? There was so much unknown right now. She wondered if it was too late.
EPILOGUE
“Very well, gentlemen, you may be seated.” Judge Hanover nodded to everyone as he took a seat before everyone. “A decision had been made.”
Tension radiated through the room as everyone followed suit, sitting down on the various benches within the courtroom. There were hardly ten people gathered together but there was enough squeaking to make it feel like the room was full.
Dominic blinked rapidly to brush the sleep out of his eyes.
He was exhausted. There was no other way to say it. He was tired and he needed his sleep. But the last week had caught him by the hand to drag him all about.
“Is everyone present?” Hanover inquired of the bailiff.
The bailiff nodded without saying anything.
Although Dominic had thought he was well educated in the court of law for their nation, there was apparently much to learn. The matter of the tragic death of William Ashbourne required more party members than he had hoped to face.
But there were plenty else who had wanted to get their fingers into the case. The first solicitor, Mr. Stanley, went so far as to go to the press about the details. What everyone had hoped to keep private had spiraled out of their grasp all too quickly and succinctly.
New solicitors were brought in. Then another judge, and half of Scotland Yard.
I’m only relieved not all are present today. I have no interest in dealing with their questions and stares all over again. Nasty business. I’m only relieved that Verity didn’t insist on attending.
Not that it had stopped her from asking.
Every day, she came by the magistrate office to inquire of her brother. While Dominic had greeted her twice more, she had also had the opportunity to meet the judge, two Runners, and even see her brother who had accepted a private cell. Every comfort had been seen to there, which Dominic paid without thinking.
Anything to put this matter behind us. When I asked Cassian to step forward, I admit I had not anticipated what that mightlook like. But now… It is better to no longer be a secret. We were burdened long enough.
