Chapter 25 #2
Sitting hunched over several account books, the viscount jerked his head up and then stood with a scowl. “Your Grace. I’m afraid I’m not entertaining today.”
“Don’t worry, I can do that for you,” Dominic remarked dryly.
He paused to close the door in the anxious footman’s face before anyone could get in his way.
Then he turned back to Cassian who was closing the books with loud slams as though to prove how unwelcome he was here.
“The secrets are rabid dogs with sharp teeth.”
“I’m not interested in riddles, Your Grace. What is your business?”
“My business is your business,” Dominic said while he crossed the room to the bottle of brandy in the corner.
He poured himself a single glass before taking the entire decanter to the viscount, thinking the gentleman might require it.
He ignored the raised eyebrow as he continued.
“And your business is quickly becoming that of London’s.
If you don’t get ahead of the mess, then people will leave you behind to clean up the filth on your own. ”
Cassian stared at him with crossed arms. They stood as opposites around the desk, standing and too stubborn to bend.
One of us will have to do that today and by God it will not be me.
“You wish for me to confess the true nature of my uncle’s passing,” Cassian at last said flatly. His eyes narrowed. “Confess to whom, the constable who will drag me to prison? To my family, who will never forgive me? Or to the Ton, who will tear me to shreds without justice?”
“There would be justice. We are both not without influence, aren’t we?” Dominic downed his brandy. It burned his throat and he relished the moment of pain before he took a seat. “It cannot be helped. While secrets may be buried, we cannot guarantee how long they may rest in the ground.”
The viscount shook his head with distaste. “You cannot come to my house and demand this of me.”
“I aim to do it before anyone else does, before anyone else knows to,” he countered. “There are too many rumors now floating about. Eventually some truth may be discovered. Or worse, too many lies. That too could destroy you, Cassian. Don’t be a fool.”
“I would rather not be a fool nor a martyr. Our secret is safe.”
Dominic shook his head. “It is your secret and I will have nothing to do with it.”
“Then you still will not tell another soul?” Cassian hesitated. “Not even my sister?”
“I told you, it’s not my secret to share, remember?” he asked. How he wished he could shed his decency. “But it’s time.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. She doesn’t need to know.”
The animosity between the two of them seemed to grow every time they spoke to one another.
It couldn’t be helped. Gritting his teeth, Dominic forced himself to stop imagining what it would be like to wring the gentleman’s neck.
He could call out Cassian, perhaps, but that wouldn’t make him feel any better. It would only add to their problems.
So he started to search his pockets while he argued in return, “This isn’t about her! Or rather, it’s about her and you and this entire family. Why am I the only one seeking to protect the lot of you? You will drag them down, Cassian, if you do not get ahead of this.”
“No, there is nothing to get ahead of!” Anger flashed through Cassian’s gaze with his exclamation.
And there Dominic saw the fear.
It annoyed him. He sensed the pain of the situation.
There was no guarantee of what might happen should Cassian reveal the truth.
Once the world knew, they might never trust the viscount again.
For his own family, Dominic didn’t know what might happen.
Perhaps Cassian would lose everyone. Perhaps he wouldn’t.
“You didn’t read the gossip this week, did you? Have you even left the house?” Dominic charged.
Cassian jerked back in surprise before he said loudly, “I don’t report to you about my actions. And I surely don’t read the gossip!”
They didn’t have time to keep playing this guessing game.
He felt the paper. Yanking it out, he rose to slap it onto the desk right in front of the viscount. “You let your fear control your stubborn ways, Cassian, and it will destroy us all. Read this and decide for yourself. Good day,” he added sharply before turning out of the room.
Reading the paper would consume Cassian like it had consumed everyone else in town.
So Dominic took advantage of that. He returned to the front of the house where the young footman looked at him uneasily. Small eyes darted about whilst avoiding his face.
“A paper, if you please, and a pen in the drawing room here,” Dominic requested. He inhaled deeply. The argument was over but his body buzzed with heated energy, so he paced about until his request was fulfilled.
The footman muttered something under his breath before leaving, returning quickly like he was eager to have Dominic out of the house. It probably helped that the butler soon came by to replace the footman, standing in the doorway in case Dominic needed anything else.
I have little experience in my wife’s interests, but I suppose it was time to test out my writing skills for all to see. I can only hope this proffered article can lay the blame elsewhere or at least leave the matter vaguer than before.
“I need this delivered to the London Post.” Dominic handed over the folded paper with two coins. “Today if possible. Do you have anyone available?”
The butler bowed without expression. “Yes, Your Grace. Is there anything more I can do for you?”
His lips twitched in mild amusement, fairly certain there wasn’t a soul under this roof eager to talk to him or take orders from him. There was a certain advantage to being a duke. While he aimed not to use it often, it truly helped in situations such as this one.
“Not at all. I shall be on my way. Thank you, my good man.”
One more appointment to make before he made his way home, Dominic decided. He turned left instead of right.
Because if anyone was going to have guesses about what was going on, or be making carefully gauged accusations to point out surreptitiously in the nearby days, it would surely be Lady Hemphill.
The woman was often receiving at odd hours, so he decided it would be worth a visit. He could note his concern, ask what she knew, and of course question her about what she anticipated happening soon.
Hopefully she will share all of this and more.
Even though Verity had set something into motion alone, Dominic was determined she would not remain that way for long. He would not see her suffer the consequences so long as he could do something about it.