“I wasn’t… Fine.” Cassian gritted his teeth. “I believe you didn’t write this. Which means I have to find out who did.”
Dominic had been worried about that, and so he had already done another pass through the newspapers over the last day. Reaching into the drawers of his desk, he pulled out the newspapers from the last day. “It doesn’t matter who knows what because everyone is talking about it, and everyone has their own ideas. Some are more… right than others. This isn’t a leak in the wall you can simply close up.”
“It can’t… I won’t…” Cassian stared at the pages one after another, shocked once again. Why he had yet to read the papers in the last two days, Dominic didn’t know. But it was time the gentleman knew. “How did this even happen? I can’t…”
As the viscount tumbled back into his chair, his strength failing him as the world was slowly toppling over him, Dominic gave him a minute to breathe.
Then he made his position clear. “I am already taking action. I’m redirecting the gossip and putting out my own pieces now. I have no intention of revealing the truth. Because that is not mine to share. It’s yours.”
Cassian jerked his head up. “What?”
Standing, Dominic fixed his cuffs as he had reluctantly come to the conclusion himself. All their attempts at holding back secrets had done them no good. Not when it came up against a bold, intelligent lady. The two of them had been so focused on protecting themselves against the law, they had no reason to guess that their very own Verity might make discoveries all on her own.
She doesn’t even have the truth, she barely has half-truths. But that was enough. If the consequences didn’t promise to be so dire, I’d be thoroughly impressed.
“Tell Verity the truth.”
“Why? What about… why would that change anything? She adored our uncle as much as I did,” Cassian said in a hollow voice.
“Together, Verity and I can halt the gossip. Tell her, or I will.”
It wasn’t a threat but a promise and they both well knew it. What Cassian didn’t know, however, was that this wouldn’t be the end.
Everyone had to know the truth. One way or another.
CHAPTER 28
“I’m so glad you came to visit me,” Verity told Elowen once more on the steps of her house. “It was so lovely to talk with you. I’ve missed you. I’ve missed everyone. Feel free to visit me again, won’t you?”
“Certainly. I would love that, Verity. Oh, there’s Cassian. He’s just in time,” her sister said with a warm smile.
The smile faded as he brushed past them with a grumble.
Verity couldn’t even make out what he had said. Though he had done nothing to hurt her shoulder, she opened her mouth in disbelief over his blatant disregard for both her and their sister. Even when her brother was distracted, he had no need to be rude.
“Wait, Cass!”
“Don’t call me that,” he called over his shoulder. He hated the nickname, a gift from their mother that their father endlessly griped on.
Indignation spread through her. “Come back here, Cassian!”
“I have a busy schedule. Elowen, are you coming with me or not?”
“But I…” Elowen stumbled back a step, nearly toppling off the first step. She fumbled with her gloves as she glanced back at him over her shoulder. Before him came the carriage from where it had waited down the lane, and Elowen looked back at her with wide eyes. “Oh bother. I suppose I should go.”
“You needn’t,” Verity started but her sweet sister was already hurrying off to go see to their brother.
Cassian shook his head when Elowen reached out to her. Verity thought about storming down the steps to give him a good talking to even while he controlled himself enough to graciously assist the younger lady into the carriage before climbing in as well.
What the devil is going on with him? He was just talking with Dominic… Are they friends or not? I cannot imagine what is going on with them.
If she couldn’t talk to one of them, Verity supposed, she might as well attempt to talk to the other.
Turning around, she spotted Dominic at the end of the far hall as he stepped out of his study. Before he could turn down the next corner, she hastened inside. Behind her a footman closed the door.
“Wycliffe!” She called in a measured tone.
While trying to moderate her voice, appear calm, and remain ladylike, Verity walked quickly but gracefully. She put a smile on her face as she made her way to the duke. Her heart pounded. How estranged she felt to him of late. They had never really known one another, and yet…
