Page 128 of A Story of Love

“When did you talk to her?”

“I met her weeks ago, when I went up to your family’s estate.”

Fast frowned. “And you’ve known the truth all this time?” Again, anger crept into his voice. This time it was almost overwhelmed by disbelief.

“No. She refused to talk to me. Then. She came here to see me five days ago.”

He shook his head. “I don’t understand. How would she have known to find you here, of all places?”

“She is, er, involved with one of your men—she met him when you went to your grandfather’s estate.”

“Who?” he demanded.

“You promised not to punish anyone.”

“I didn’t know my own damned crew was covered by that promise!”

She flinched, making him realize he was shouting again.

“Fine,” he snapped. “Who is it?”

“Rufus.”

Fast stared unseeingly, a series of images flickering through his head—Rufus laughing and chatting with Martha, who lived on his grandfather’s estate. Bloody hell!”

“You look angry.”

“I gave my word not to exact retribution, and I will keep it.” He wouldn’t sack or thrash the loose lipped idiot, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t give him a proper bollocking. “Just tell me the rest of it.”

“Martha said that the very day that she, er, laid with your brother, Lord Moreland—or Bevil Norman as he was evidently called back then before he inherited his title—cornered her.” She swallowed, her face taut. “I know he is your friend—”

“Never mind about that. Just tell me.” He forced the words through gritted teeth, struggling to remain calm.

“She said that Moreland…forced her.”

“He raped her,” he repeated flatly.

“Yes.”

“And you believe her?”

“I do. She said that he threatened to destroy her family if she said a word to your brother. Evidently her father was a tenant farmer on Moreland’s father’s land back then. At least that is what it sounded like.”

Fast nodded. “Yes. Moreland’s father—John Norman—wasn’t an earl. The current holder of the title, Bevil Norman, only inherited when the three men who stood between him and the earldom died.” Three deaths that Fast was quickly beginning to suspect had not been accidents. “In any case,” he went on, “John Norman had been the biggest landowner in the area, after my grandfather, but the feckless fool lost everything at a card table shortly before my brother’s death.” Fast seethed at the memory. “Percy was so sorry for Bevil—for losing everything—that he convinced our grandfather to use his influence to get him a position at the Home Office.” And Moreland thanked Percy for his kindness by having him killed.

“Fast?”

He blinked and looked up through a haze of red.

“Is—are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” he said roughly, unclenching his fists, and picking up the thread of her story. “And so Martha was only with Percy that one time?”

She swallowed. “Er, no. Moreland ordered her to continue seeing Lord Perseverance. He said that she should do nothing to make him suspicious. If she did, then Moreland, would make her family suffer.”

Fast had no words.

Lorelei stared at him a moment, and then went on. “She continued to have sexual relations with both men and became pregnant. When she approached Moreland, he came the ugly with her and said he’d accuse her of lying if she tried to blame the child on him. He told her to go to your brother—that Lord Percy was a soft-hearted f-fool,” she stopped and eyed him nervously before adding, “And that he would claim the child.”