“Do not play dumb with me,” Egerton snarled. “I know you have been hiding her all these years! And I will not allow her to escape me any longer. There is no time.”
“You are completely off your rocker,” Winston said between gritted teeth. “Clementine diedten years ago.She jumped from the cliff by my house. I saw her fall.”
“You saw her fall!” Egerton repeated dismissively. “You were the only witness, and there was no body ever found.”
“Because she fell into the sea!”
“Did you see her go into the water?”
“I did not get to the cliff’s edge in time.”
“A likely tale!” Egerton jerked his head violently to the side in anger. “Or, more likely, you helped your sister fake her death so that she could run away from her duty as my wife and steal my son from me!”
“Your son is dead!” Winston roared. He could not believe that he was hearing this. After all these years, for Egerton to say these things, to plant this seed of hope in his mind… It was deplorable. “He died inside of my sister when she leapt to her death! A death she welcomed because it was better than a life being abused by you!” He pointed his finger directly into Egerton’s face, making the man shrink back. “Youare the one that killed your son!”
Egerton took several steps back, and despite the anger on his face, he had also begun to shake in fear. Winston had that effect on people. It was an effect he had cultivated carefully over the years.
“I have never believed the story of her suicide,” Egerton said more softly, gazing up at Winston. “I have always suspected you knew where she was, that you helped her fake her death. But you played your part so well, that at moments, my certainty was shaken. When we dueled, and you seemed so willing to give your life for her, that did make me wonder if it was real. If she were still alive, surely you would have wanted to stay alive to protect her.”
Winston was breathing very fast. His hands were balled into fists, and there was a ringing in his ear. But he said nothing. Egerton’s story was stunning—and gripping.
“But all these years, I have thought there is a chance. Little things made me think it. Notes I found that she had scribbled in her notebooks. The books she was reading at the time often featured people who faked their deaths. And now, as I near the end of my life, I am more certain than ever that she lives—and more importantly, that my son does.”
Egerton’s eyes flashed. “I will have my son and heir, Thornfield. I was never able to remarry after your sister’s… disappearance. And now, I am without an heir. But I will find him, even if it is the last thing I do, and I will make sure that my legacy lives on. I promise you that.”
Winston had heard enough. The man was mad. Clementine and her child had died years ago, and he would not entertain this madness any longer.
Stepping forward, he towered over Egerton, sneering down at him. “Your legacy will not live on, Egerton. I will make sure of that. Once you are gone, I will ensure that you are remembered only as the most villainous man who has ever lived. That is my promise to you.”
And with a flick of his cape, he turned and strode from the hall without a backward glance.
God willing, that will be the last time I ever set eyes on that man.
The carriage was waiting right outside of the front doors, and Winston hurried to it, checking the vicinity as he went in case there were any other old enemies lurking in the shadows. Once inside, he pulled the door shut and turned to face Vanessa, who was sitting in the corner, watching him with a tense expression.
He banged on the roof of the carriage, and the carriage lurched forward. Then he turned away so that his wife could not see into his eyes. He was afraid of what she might find there.
“Winston,” she said at last. When he didn’t look at her, she repeated herself. “Winston, look at me.”
Slowly, he turned, and their eyes met. Hers were surprisingly kind. He didn’t deserve it.
“I am sorry,” he said before she could speak another word. “I should not have sent you to the carriage like that.”
She crossed her arms. “No, you should not have. I am supposed to be free in this marriage, am I not? That means you do not order me around like I am a dog.”
“You are right,” Winston said, his heart aching. “It will not happen again.” He hesitated. “I did not want that man to speak to you—for him to infect you in any way.”
“Who is he?” she asked, but he could see from her eyes that she already knew.
“Lord Egerton, Clementine’s husband.”
She nodded. “I thought so. And what did he want?”
Winston snorted in derisive anger. “He wanted Clementine! And her baby. For reasons I will never understand, he thinks she is still alive!”
“What?” Vanessa’s mouth fell open. “That is…”
“Insanity? Yes, it is.”
