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"You believe she had assistance?" Hubert asked.

"In cases like this," James said slowly, "the usual motive would be money. They would attempt to blackmail me. Threaten to expose Felix unless I paid them to remain silent. But there has been no demand."

He leaned back, his brow furrowing. "So, what is in it for them? My tenants have lost a home and an income. The wet nurse has lost her position. Whoever arranged this has gone to extraordinary lengths without asking me for a single penny."

Hubert was quiet for a moment before giving a resigned shrug. "The ways of the world are very strange indeed."

James looked at the papers concealed beneath the ledger. Strange was hardly the word he would have chosen. There was purpose in this somewhere. Someone wanted Felix's identity exposed, someone wanted his title challenged, and someone knew enough about his private affairs to strike precisely where James was most vulnerable.

As he finished his brandy, one thought hardened inside him, whoever had begun this game had made the mistake of believing James Delves would simply surrender. He would find the truth, whatever it cost him. And this time, he would not be fighting for his title alone. He would be fighting for Olivia and Felix as well.

The next morning, James was halfway through breakfast when a commotion rose from the entrance hall below. Voices carried through the house, sharp enough to make him immediately set down his coffee. Olivia looked up from across the table, her expression equally concerned.

"Is that your uncle?" she asked.

James pushed back his chair and rose. "Stay here," he began, but Olivia was already standing. "I am coming with you," she replied, following him toward the door.

James did not argue. Something about the voices had unsettled him, and he found himself wanting Olivia beside him.

They reached the grand foyer and found Hubert standing near the entrance, his face flushed with anger.

Before him stood the Bell family, the tenants James had visited at Glenmore, along with Felix's former wet nurse. Their clothing was travel-worn, and there was an exhausted, frightened quality to their faces that immediately caught James's attention.

What in God's name is going on here?

Hubert was speaking in a furious whisper, gesturing toward the door.

"You should not be here," he hissed. "You are not welcome in this house, and I suggest you leave before I call for someone to remove you."

James approached and stopped. "No," he said firmly. "If they have come seeking me out, I wish to hear what they have to say for themselves. Why have they done me this injustice?"

Mr. Bell immediately stepped forward, wringing his hands nervously. "Your Grace, we are sorry," he said, lowering his head. "We never meant to cause you harm."

James studied the man carefully, trying to understand the fear in his eyes.

"Then tell me what happened," he said, his voice controlled.

Mr. Bell swallowed before answering. "This man here, His Lordship, arrived with his men and removed us from our own house, along with the wet nurse. He promised us we could return once we testified as he instructed."

James felt something cold move through his chest as Mr. Bell pointed at Uncle Hubert, but he remained silent as Mrs. Bell stepped beside her husband.

"We did not know it was to testify against you, Your Grace," she said quickly, tears gathering in her eyes. "He tricked us. He said it was about a neighboring landowner stealing grain from our fields, and if we gave testimony, he would pay us handsomely and then let us return home." She clasped her hands together desperately. "We believed him."

Mr. Bell nodded. "Only when we got here to London did he change. He said we must testify against you about the infant the wet nurse was caring for." His voice broke with frustration. "We said no, Your Grace, but His Lordship refused to let us return home. We have no coin to pay for the journey ourselves."

Olivia gasped, "My God. Is this true?" She turned to Hubert.

James's hands tightened into fists at his sides. For several seconds, he could not speak. He had expected treachery from strangers, perhaps from the former wet nurse, perhaps from some enemy who coveted his title, but not this.

Not Hubert. My uncle has been the man I have trusted when everyone else had failed me. The man who had stood beside me at my father's deathbed, the man who has told me I was like a son to him. The man I have allowed into every private corner of my life.

The betrayal struck deeper than anger could reach. He looked at Hubert, who had gone bright red with fury.

"They lie," Hubert snapped, pointing toward the Bells.

James slowly turned toward him. "They lie?" he repeated, his voice almost unnaturally calm. "Yet they are here, hundreds of miles from home, and they could not possibly have travelled here without substantial funds. Their story explains precisely what we have been unable to explain."

Hubert opened his mouth, but James raised one hand. "No. You will not interrupt them again."