“Yes.”
“Did you know I was marrying him?” She put her hand over her mouth as bile rose in her throat. “Would you have let me?”
Rafe bolted out of his chair and took a step toward her. “Never. I’ve thought of killing him for bringing you shame.” His jaw clenched.
“You’d kill him…” She shook her head, her vision swimming. Lowering her hand, she fought to take a breath. “You deny none of this.”
He shook his head as a glimmer of sadness, and perhaps regret, flickered in his eyes. “No. I was a thief. I worked for one of the most powerful criminal bosses in East London. As the Vicar, I lent money at illegally high rates, including to your brother-in-law, to whom Chamberlain introduced me.”
Anne couldn’t believe how wrong she’d been about this man. “You told me you’d disappoint me, that I couldn’t know who you really are.” She wrapped her arms around her middle as if she could stop the pain slashing through her. “But I didn’t listen.” She’d been such a fool.
“I’m glad you didn’t.”
She opened her mouth, but only a sob came out. Her hand itched to slap him, to physically hurt him the way he was hurting her. “You’re a blackguard,” she breathed before running from the dining room. She didn’t stop until she reached her sitting room on the second floor.
A moment later, Jane came inside, her face drawn. “Anne? Oh, Anne.” She rushed forward and put her arms around Anne, stroking her back.
Anne remained stiff and unyielding, the emotions she’d withheld when she’d run from the room locked up tightly inside her. “Two broken betrothals. Is that a record?”
Jane released her. “I don’t know. Is that what you want?”
“How can I marry him? Won’t he be arrested for his crimes?” Her anguish threatened to break free. She brought her hand to her mouth and bit her knuckle. Moving away from Jane, she worked to settle the hysteria bubbling inside her. “Two broken betrothals to two criminals. One thing is for certain, I think I’ve proven to be a bigger failure than you. Because, of course, you weren’t a failure at all, but a victim of someone else’s malfeasance. I, on the other hand, have attracted the worst sorts of gentlemen and not only encouraged them, but chose them.” Anne laughed without a trace of humor.
Jane started to move forward, but Anne shook her head, stopping her. “What can I do?”
“Nothing. If Mother and Father will have me, and I doubt they will, I’ll go to them. If not, perhaps I can find a position at a school or as a paid companion.”
“Anne. You don’t have to leave. You can stay here always. Come to Oakhaven with us. You and I can leave right away, if you want.”
Anne didn’t know what she wanted. At least not right now. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. She knew one thing. “Would you mind just leaving me alone?”
Jane hesitated, but ultimately nodded. “I’ll check on you later.”
Anne didn’t respond, nor did she move until Jane left the room, closing the door behind her. Then her only movement was to wipe away the tear that fell down her cheek.
The need to follow Anne from the dining room nearly overwhelmed Rafe. But he didn’t move. Instead, he pivoted and fixed his rage on the reason for all of it: his uncle.
Mallory stood from the table, taking time to finish his glass of wine as he did so. “I suppose I should go,” he said to Colton.
Colton gritted his teeth. “That would be best.”
Turning to his son, Mallory set his wineglass down. “I’ll wait for you in the coach if you need a minute.” He moved around Lorcan and departed the dining room.
Rafe wasn’t going to let him go so easily.
Stalking after his uncle, Rafe caught up with him in the entry hall. “You won’t win,” he called after the man’s back.
Mallory slowly turned. “This isn’t a game, my boy. This is life. Unfortunately, you were dealt a bad hand—a pity, truly. But I can’t in good conscience allow you to take this title. It wouldn’t be right or prudent.”
Rafe glowered at the footman, who retreated from the hall, before advancing on his uncle. “You dare speak to me of righteousness or prudence or conscience? You killed my parents.” His voice nearly broke, and his hands twitched with the need to curl themselves around the older man’s neck. “You tried to kill me too, and would have, if not for the conscience of my nurse.”
Mallory stared at him expectantly, one of his brows arching pompously. “Can you prove any of that?”
Rafe barely held himself in check. “I will.”
“I don’t think so.” Mallory clucked his tongue with disdain. “Because I didn’t do any of it.”
The smugness in his gaze told Rafe the opposite. It also told Rafe that his uncle wanted him to know, that he reveled in it. It was a game to him.
“He was your brother,” Rafe whispered. “Your blood. As am I. As is Selina. She didn’t deserve the life she’s been forced to lead.”
“I’m quite proud of how my niece has turned out. Her husband is the son of an earl.” Mallory’s imperious gaze swept over Rafe. “You’ve done incredibly well for yourself. That should be enough. Let it be enough.”
“Father, leave him be.” Lorcan came from behind, carrying his and Mallory’s hats and gloves, and paused near Rafe. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know he was going to contest.”
Anne had known. And she hadn’t told him.
Lorcan and his father left. Rafe stared at the closed door, his body thrumming with barely leashed rage. The sound of another person in the hall drew him to turn his head. Colton stood a few feet away, hands on his hips.
“You should go too.” Colton sounded nearly as defeated as Rafe felt. No, not defeated. Rafe would fight his uncle with every breath he had. He wanted to fight for Anne with the same.
Was she better off without him? Probably. Hadn’t he been telling her that since practically the moment they’d met?
Colton blew out a breath and dropped his hands to his sides. “I told you to tell her the truth. Now she’s going to be humiliated again with another broken betrothal.”
Rafe swallowed as Colton moved toward the doorway to the staircase hall. “You assume she’s going to end it.”
“What choice have you given her? The exposure of your past will take what everyone has already been talking about—your resurrection and betrothal to Anne—and twist it into an utter spectacle. After everything Anne’s been through, you can’t expect her to endure that again.”
It was a vicious blow to his gut so that Rafe nearly doubled over. He should have told her. Better yet, he never should have become involved with her at all. “I would still marry her,” he said softly, his soul aching.
She likely didn’t want him, and he’d have to accept that. Unlike his uncle, he would.
Colton pressed his lips together. “That will be up to her.”
“Will you tell her I’m sorry? And if she’s willing to hear me out, I will tell her anything and everything she wants to know.”
“I’ll try, but I may be persona non grata tonight with Anne and my wife.” Colton grimaced. “Anne may not want to see you again. Who you were is pretty damning.” He rubbed his hand across his forehead. “However, I know something about redemption, and about finding someone who can not only forgive you your sins but help you forgive yourself.” His eyes met Rafe’s. “I’ll do what I can, but expect the worst.”