Chapter 72
“Both my father and I found it amazing that Ryder Sherbrooke saved you, that he went so far as to make you his ward. But then that ridiculous Vicar Piercebridge chanced to meet you and tell you who you were, and thus you were reunited with the earl.
“My father was afraid once you came to King’s Head you would remember, and all would be lost. He sent for me immediately, but before we could act, you married. An heir would be soon to follow given the amount of time you two spend in bed. There was no choice, no more time.
“Believe me, I’ve chafed at the waiting, nearly a week now since my father’s funeral, and I will be honest, I’ve been unsure how to proceed.
And during that week I mourned for the death of my father, and my rage at you grew, but as I said, you’re here, all unexpected, a sure sign my luck has changed.
Now I can avenge my father, and carry out his plans for me.
Everything will be as it should have been.
Are you content now with all the answers? ”
Graham studied his face, this half brother of his, a stranger’s face. “Did you ever love me?”
Simon laughed. “I suppose I must have, initially, but after my father finally told me the truth, the future changed for me. I saw everything in a different light. I would be the important one, not you. I would be Viscount Whitestone. I knew I wanted it, deserved it. So long now I’ve wanted nothing more than to come home and take my rightful place. ”
“Did you mourn my death at all?”
“I don’t remember, but if I did, it did not last long. Now, enough. I’ve answered all your questions.” He looked at his watch. “It is time. Both of you come in here and sit your backs against the cave wall. Yes, you may continue to hold hands, I find it touching.”
Cam said, “You weren’t a small child and yet you wanted to kill your own brother? You’re vile, you’re insane.”
Simon stared at her, a brow arched and she recognized that arch—it was Uncle Tally’s. Without the beard, the resemblance would be unmistakable. Cam was scared to her soul, but she wasn’t about to let this monster see any fear.
Even as the words dug into him, even as he accepted the truth of them, the treachery didn’t dig deep.
Graham felt no particular pain. This man was a stranger, insane, evil, as Cam had said.
He said, his voice calm and cold, as if he were discussing the merits of a certain grade of steel for more reliable train tracks, “Tell me, brother, no, half brother—was it your father’s plan when you returned to King’s Head after my father’s death to tell a hair-raising story how you and I were kidnapped, and I was killed and you were taken?
Where? France? Italy? You were kept prisoner?
But there was no ransom letter? Come, what was your heartrending tale to be? ”
“My father never told me what he planned to tell everyone, but I’m certain it would have made as much sense as you being raised by Ryder Sherbrooke and having no memory.” He paused, then yelled, “Damn you, all you had to do was die! Why didn’t you just drown?”
“Well, I didn’t. Listen to me, Simon, it’s over.
Your father is dead. My father, the earl, is very healthy and will remain so for many years to come.
You should leave and return to your life in Brussels.
You know my father would not believe any tale you would tell him if you killed us and returned here to claim my place. ”
Cam said, never looking away from Simon, “He does not intend for your father to be alive when he returns, Graham. He plans to murder your father.”
Simon gave her a short bow. “Just so, sister-in-law.”
“But why? You’re rich, you’re wedded. Why do you still want what is mine?”
Simon stared at Graham as if he were witless.
“Why? You are so stupid, so simple, to ask me why? I should have been Vereker’s heir!
I deserve to be Earl St. Lucy. My father believed it with all his being.
It is what he wanted for me. It is why he murdered for me.
It is why he died for me. He gave me everything.
I honor him. I will always honor him and I will take what he wanted me to have. What should have always been mine.
“I stayed with my father until you showed up again, brother. And I learned everything since he began going to the house for dinner every night. Everyone thought he was coming again because of you.” He gave a sharp laugh.
“Of course it wasn’t the reason. It was to learn about you and your precious father’s plans. ”
Keep calm, keep calm, and so Cam said, her voice mocking, “It didn’t work out for you, did it, Simon?”
His gun hand jerked. “Shut up if you don’t want me to shoot you in the face.
Everything will now work out as it was supposed to.
When your bodies are found, there will be no questions, no doubts.
The two of you will drown. A terrible accident.
You misjudged the tides since you have no memory of them.
Not long now.” He looked at his watch again. “Soon I must leave.”
Graham said, “Wait. Are you telling me my mother took your father as a lover, her husband’s own brother?
No, I will never believe that. Your father, my precious Uncle Tally, raped her and she birthed you, passed you off as the second son.
Your father threatened her, didn’t he? Threatened her if she told anyone?
I know it’s believed she committed suicide.
But that’s not what happened, is it? Your father murdered her when she was going to confess to my father. ”
“Shut up, you know nothing. My father loved her, loved me. They were lovers until he told me she didn’t have the heart for the subterfuge.
She was eaten up by guilt, ready to confess all to her husband, but she knew if she did, I would be cast out and Tally too, of course.
When she couldn’t bear it any longer, to save me, to save my father, she killed herself.
She threw herself in the Green Stream. She couldn’t swim.
“My father was devastated, the earl was devastated, all the multitude of people at King’s Head were devastated. I was, I suppose, for a while. My father did not kill her.”
Cam said, “Suicide? I do not believe that for an instant. Graham is right, poor Madeline was murdered by your precious father. He was a monster, after all, just as you are—his son. And he did it because Vereker would know Tally was your father, not him.”
“You bitch—shut up! You know nothing. My mother was weak, her guilt destroyed her. She killed herself to protect us.”
She shook her head at him. “What an unbelievable lie. However did you manage to bring yourself to believe it?”
“Damn you, shut your mouth.” He was panting with rage. He raised the gun.