William closed the distance between them, stopping a short distance away. “You wish for me to confide in you, do you?” he mocked.
“No, but I wish for you to tell me the truth.”
“For what purpose?” William asked. “Nothing you say will change anything between us. You think you are better than me and lord it over me.”
“I do no such thing.”
William’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “You are sitting there, judging me, but you don’t know what I have been through. What I am still going through.”
“Why won’t you tell me then?”
“Because,” William started, tossing his hands up in the air, “I don’t want to talk about it. It is in the past, where it willremain. I just want to forget that the blasted duel ever happened.”
“But it did happen, and you can’t outrun that.”
“I can try,” William said.
Harred crossed his arms over his chest. “How is that working for you?” he asked. “I only ask because you seem miserable at the mere mention of Mr. Carswell’s name.”
Some of the fight drained out of William as he held Harred’s gaze. “How is it fair that I killed Mr. Carswell and I get to go on living as if nothing happened?” he asked.
“Was it a fair duel?” Harred asked.
William shifted his gaze away. “According to the gentlemen that acted as our seconds, it was, but you know what a good shot I am,” he said. “I deliberately tried not to kill him, but his wound got infected. How could I plan for such a thing?”
“You couldn’t have,” he agreed. “But your actions afterwards define what type of man you are.”
William hung his head. “I killed a husband and a father, leaving his family penniless,” he admitted. “All my disposable funds have gone to support them.”
“I thought Father paid off her family?” Harred asked.
“He did, but Mrs. Carswell was forced to pay off all of her husband’s debts, leaving her with only a roof over her family’s head.”
“What you are doing is admirable but doesn’t explain why you took Mrs. Carswell as your mistress.”
His brother’s head snapped up. “Are you daft? She is not my mistress. I have been providing for her and her children. That is all. I would never…” His words trailed off. “How could you think I would be capable of such a thing?”
Harred put his hands up. “If she isn’t your mistress, why did you stay at her home?”
“Because I had nowhere else to go,” William shouted. “Or did you forget that you kicked me out of our home?”
If his brother wanted him to feel the slightest ounce of guilt for what he did, William would be sorely disappointed. “You know the reasonings behind why I did that.”
William’s nostrils flared. “I do, but how could you so easily turn your back on your own brother?”
“You left me little choice.”
“Yes, but I suspect it was because I spoke harshly to your precious Lady Octavia more than anything,” William said.
Harred reared back slightly. “Lady Octavia is not mine.”
William gave him a knowing look. “Are you sure about that?” he asked. “You seem rather enamored with her.”
Had he been so transparent that William had seen through him? Harred decided it was best if he was honest with William about his feelings since he was hoping to get his brother to confide in him. “I do care for Lady Octavia, but I did not do it for her.”
His brother didn’t seem convinced by the frown that marred his features. “You can lie to yourself all you want, but it is obvious to everyone around you.”
“I do intend to pursue her, assuming she will have me.”
