For several seconds, sister and brother glared at each other, their jawlines set in identical, stubborn lines.
“Well, this is getting us nowhere,” Kade finally said. “Perhaps we might all take a seat and have a sensible conversation like the adults that we are.”
Charlie grimaced. “I suppose we do sound rather like squabbling children, don’t we?”
Kade held his thumb and forefinger about an inch apart.
“Wretch,” she said with a little snort.
She dragged over an armchair from the other side of the fireplace, while Kade fetched a padded bench from under the window.
“I know it’s been a frightening time,” Kade said to Johnny, once they were seated. “But let me just say that I don’t think Morgan is trying to kill you. And he’s certainly not going to harm anyone in your family, so I think matters aren’t as dire as they seem.”
Charlie frowned at him. “Not trying to kill him? In both incidents, Johnny could have been seriously harmed, if not killed.”
“Couldbeing the operative word,” Kade replied. “I’m guessing that Sir Leslie lost his temper and acted on impulse when he shoved your brother down that embankment. Isn’t that right, Johnny?”
The young man simply stared miserably into the fire.
“It’s all right, lad. You can tell us,” Kade gently urged. “Morgan’s not going to hurt you or anyone else, I promise you that.”
Charlie rested a hand on her brother’s knee. “We’ve always been honest with each other, haven’t we? You can trust me, dearest. You know that.”
The young man sighed. “I know, Charlie. But I’ve made such a cock-up of things. And I betrayed you, too.”
“You did no such thing.”
“I took your brooch and then lied about it,” he whispered, finally meeting her gaze.
Charlie flashed him a rueful smile. “I took it first, remember? I’m the idiot who started this whole thing, so there’s plenty of blame to go around.”
“You were just protecting yourself, though,” Johnny said. “I’m the one who made it so much worse. I’ve been trying to find a way out of it, but I just can’t see it. And if Papa finds out, he’ll probably disinherit me.”
She patted his knee. “You leave Papa to me. Now, will you answer Kade’s question? Do you think Sir Leslie acted on impulse when he shoved you off the embankment?”
“I suppose I might as well tell you everything,” Johnny said after a long moment. “You seemed to have guessed it all anyway. And I’ll tell you where I hid the brooch.”
“I’ve already retrieved the brooch and am keeping it safe, so you needn’t worry about that,” Kade replied.
Johnny’s eyes popped rather wide. “You found it on your own? Then I guess you are a master spy after all.”
Kade found himself unable to stifle a weary sigh. “Angus strikes again, I assume.”
“He did mention quite casually that you were a very important agent for the Crown. I wondered at the time why he would tell me something like that. It seemed rather fantastical,” Johnny said with an apologetic smile.
“The fantasy is mostly in my grandfather’s head,” Kade dryly replied. “But I can help you. That’s why Charlie and I need you to tell us everything you can.”
The lad nodded. “All right. I do think Sir Leslie just lost his temper. We had a blazing row, and I told him that I had no intention of giving him the brooch. Then I told him to sod off. The next thing I knew, I was tumbling down the embankment.”
“Did Morgan say anything to you afterwards?” Kade asked.
“He came to my room after the doctor and tried to apologize.” Johnny huffed out a bitter laugh. “He tried to blame the whole thing on me because I’d gone back on my word. He said no one could blame him for losing his temper, since it was a matter of honor.”
“What bollocks,” Charlie muttered.
“Because you lost money to him at cards?” Kade asked.
“Yes.”
