Graham stood alone in the filthy alley, wondering what he would say or do next. Nausea swept over him as he thought about facing Diana.
He’d stolen from money promised to his wife. And betrayed her trust. Arguably he had been doing that for the past few weeks.
When he finally reached their townhouse after roaming the streets on his long walk home, he heard women’s voices coming from the drawing room. Diana’s bright laughter made the guilt twist through his body.
He crept to their bed chamber and let Baker help to right his appearance. Baker eyed him curiously as he tended to his hand and then he donned a fresh pair of gloves.
But he couldn’t put off facing his wife anymore. He descended the stairs and made his way to the drawing room.
“Graham!” Diana exclaimed as soon as he appeared in the doorway, her face lighting up when she saw him. “Perfect timing. Look who has arrived!”
He glanced over Diana’s shoulder and saw his mother coming to a stand and approaching with her arms extended. “My son.”
He was glad to see his mother, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. “Mother. What a wonderful surprise.”
“I decided I simply couldn’t wait any longer to meet my new daughter.” Augusta’s gaze never left his face, studying him. “I’ve been getting to know our Diana here. And you were right, I adore her very much.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Diana said, slipping her arm through his. Her kind touch was just another blow. “Though we are glad you havereturned. Although, you look exhausted.”
“Just a long day with my solicitor.” Another half-truth. “And then I decided to walk, and it ended up being quite long.”
“Well, you’re home now.” Diana rose on her toes to kiss his cheek, and Graham closed his eyes as he hated himself more and more. “Your mother was just telling me about your childhood. Apparently, you once tried to convince your governess that Latin was optional because horses don’t speak it.”
“I was eight,” Graham protested weakly.
“You were incorrigible,” Augusta said with a strained smile. “Diana, dear, would you mind checking on our tea? I’d like a moment to catch up with my son properly.”
“Of course.” Diana squeezed Graham’s arm. “She promised to tell me more stories of little Graham over supper.”
The moment Diana left the room, Augusta gripped his arms forcing him to focus on her.
“What is the matter?”
Graham tried to pull away, but his mother wouldn’t relinquish her hold. “Nothing, Mother. I’m fine.”
“I raised you, Graham Clive. I know when you are feeling guilty about something.” Augusta’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Tell me. Now. If you have been out there making a fool of that kind, beautiful girl, I am going to take a horse whip to you.”
He couldn’t let his mother believe that he was capable of such a horrid thing. There wasn’t anything in the world that could make him be unfaithful to Diana. “I had to pay off the gambling debts that the previous Powis left. And…”
“And what? Surely it can’t be all that bad.”
“I had to use some of the funds allocated to Diana. Without her knowledge.” Speaking the words and confessing to his mother didn’t ease any of his guilt.
Augusta’s frown deepened. “Then you have to tell her.”
Graham ran both hands down his face. “I can’t, Mother. It’s just temporary. I have a property up for sale and as soon as I get the money, I’m going to replace it. She’ll never know. And then it will be like it never happened.”
The slap came swift and sharp, echoing in the quiet room.
Graham touched his stinging cheek, too stunned to speak.
“You fool,” Augusta hissed, her eyes filling with tears. “That’s how it starts. You keep certain things from your wife and then it becomes far too easy to keep more. Where does it end?”
“It’s not like that, Mother,” Graham said, still in disbelief that his mother slapped him. “I accidentally compromised Diana. Her father and brother already don’t trust me.”
“Of course they don’t trust you. You lied to them. You are still lying to them.”
Wasn’t his mother supposed to be on his side and support him? If one person might understand, wasn’t it supposed to be his mother? “I thought I could handle the situation and was doing what was best. If they knew about this whole mess, they might encourage her to leave. Or see me on the dueling ground. I know it’s a mess, but I love her, Mother. And I can’t lose her. I had no choice.”
