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“Yes, I am sure as well,” Gladys said. She pushed some of the food on her plate around with the tines of her fork.

“Yes, I agree. As I’ve said, quite reasonable,” he corrected.

“Samuel, do you think we should invite Dahl for dinner?”

“‘Dahl’?” he prompted her to explain.

“Dahl McQueen, the Earl of Hartinton. He is to be here for most of the season. I thought since, well… he and I were having a lovely conversation, perhaps you could extend an invite?”

Violetta knew, as ladies, they were unable to invite anyone. In fact, she would have to leave it to Samuel. He could engage as he saw fit.

“Would you not invite Abr—Mr. Fain as well?” As he asked the question, he shifted his attention from Violetta to Orris.

“I have no qualms about inviting him,” Orris said. “I shall abscond to my bedchambers for the entire time. Or I shall have a maid accompany me on a ride through the park.”

“And, Samuel,” said her mama, “You should invite Lord Abram as well. Orris seems to fancy him, does she not?” Everyone at the table stared anywhere but at Mama. “I am not sure why he did not share that he was titled, but we all have our reasons for cloaking our truths. He is an exceptional painter.”

Samuel stared pointedly at Orris before addressing Mama. “I am deeply sorry for omitting the news, Mama. I had only just learned of it and had intended to mention it this morning.” One thing was for certain: Samuel was well equipped to conjure excuses.

Orris shrugged her shoulders, hoping to deflect from the simmering Samuel. “Mama, I should not like to see him again. I hope that is enough for you. He is not what he seems.”

He was not, in truth, at all what she’d hoped. He had been incredibly harsh. She did not believe she could get past it without an apology. Somehow, she’d managed to stay in her room instead of running off to tell him his brother was in town. She was aware of his reluctance with his father and knew he held some animosity for his brother. She had been extremely proud of herself for managing to do so. She would not break now.

Mama glanced between them, then pushed food around her plate with her fork. “Well, I will not force you. Besides, I do believe this is Violetta’s season. One wedding a year is enough for me. Now, if you will all excuse me, I am going to lie down for a moment before we have to leave later. I have fallen prey to spirits. They are unforgiving this morn.” As Mama walked away in her morning dress, she placed a hand on her head as if she were going to suffer from the vapors.

“Samuel, they both may come to visit. Perhaps then Orris might get her apology,” Violetta said.

“Would you be okay with a visit, Orris?” Samuel asked once again. “And do not say you are unsure. You either want him here or you do not. You must make the decision.”

Orris knew Samuel was pressing here for an answer because he did not want to do anything that would make her uncomfortable. “No. I do not,” she said. “I don’t want to be here if he is.” Whether she was sure of that or not remained to be seen.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Abram had racked his brain all evening, trying to decide what would’ve possessed Dahl to have Rowan killed. His brother was a twat, that he knew all too well. But did he have the capacity to murder someone? Was he capable of being so heartless to someone who had been loyal to their family for decades?

If he was in town, he would need to find them. Where should he be? There had to be a reason that things had come to this. It would have been unusual to go to such a great extent to cover up an unwanted child. And even if that were the reason, why kill Rowan? Why target Abram, to hide a bastard child? Rowan and Abram would’ve had nothing to do with that…

Abram did not believe, though, that Easton had lied. He resolved there would be another day of searching before him. He would need to find his brother and force him to give him answers for what he had done.

He also wondered if their father had known of the treachery. No, no matter what the circumstances, he would never abide by abandoning a child. There was honor in the McQueen line.

Dahl, on the other hand, had never exhibited any. He had tortured Abram endlessly when they’d been children. Only to turn out even worse in adulthood. It was one of the reasons that Abram had decided that he would stay away from home as much as possible. Undoubtedly, there had been some occurrence that had forced his father’s hand. Perhaps it was the reason he was being summoned home, as his father had been insistent. If only he had listened…

Abram decided to get ready, for he would need an early start if he expected to get any answers that day. He dressed quickly in a dark-colored suit and put on his hat before heading out the door.

As he made his way to the street from the upstairs room at the Dove, he thought he heard voices on the first floor. Descending from the stairs, he saw Samuel there, speaking with his brother, Barrett.

“You are just the man that I was looking for.” Samuel walked over to him as his brother spoke with a member of the staff. “I believe you have a family member in town.”

“You mean, my brother?” Abram could not fathom such luck. He wondered where Samuel might have seen him and prayed a silent prayer that he had been nowhere near Orris.

“He was at the ball last evening. He was announced as the Earl of Hartinton. I assume he is your older brother?”

“What was he doing at the ball?” Abram asked the question and purposefully evaded responding to the dynamics of their relationship.

“He was in attendance as a guest. I’m not sure how he was invited. All private balls require an invitation from the host and hostess. He must be moving through society as a member of the aristocracy. Are you related to anyone in England?”

“We are not. At least not directly. Did he say anything to you?”