Lord Quentin leant closer. “The right question is, what will happen whenhesees these pictures?”
“He who? What is going on?” Ernest stomped a fist on the armrest.
Maddie released a shaky breath, hiding the pictures from view. “The pictures are personal and involve me.” She wasn’t going to offer any further explanations, especially since she needed to talk to Verity first. “They’re compromising pictures.” She cast a glance at Hector who squeezed her shoulder. Not a trace of reproach tightened his features. Only love came out of him. One of the many reasons she loved him.
Tarnation. Maddie’s hands shook. Verity’s life would be ruined. She loved Ernest dearly, and if he broke the engagement because of those pictures and the rumour spread, no one would want to be near her. The scandal would affect the whole family. Even Maddie would become an outcast. Her father’s business would suffer. But Verity’s life worried her more. She’d never recover from something so scandalous.
Ernest paled. “Maddie, surely you understand the importance of Lord Hector regaining his title. The future of many families is at risk. Your reputation—”
“Ernest.” Hector’s nostrils flared. “Perhaps I should decide with Maddie.”
Ernest shot to his feet. “No, dammit! I’ve waited years to take him down and see him punished for the miserable way he treats his employees.” He pointed a finger at Lord Quentin. “Maddie, I love you like a sister, but I can’t let him continue hurting people, my people.” He beat a fist against his chest. “Because of a scandal that will be forgotten in a matter of weeks. I can help you get past the scandal. I promise.”
Maddie’s bottom lip quivered as a sob threatened to break free. Ernest was insensitive but had a good point. It was the dilemma they’d dealt with about Frances, only worse. She’d seen the labourers. So many families lived in poverty, and Hector would help them. He would keep the children safe. But Verity was her sister. She didn’t deserve to be ruined for life. If it were only Maddie, then maybe she would have agreed with Ernest, but Verity was another matter.
“Maddie loves her family deeply, and a scandal would affect them.” Hector touched Maddie’s trembling shoulder. “We need to discuss this.”
“There’s nothing to discuss.” Ernest clenched his fists. “It’s your duty to become a duke. You cannot leave those people in the hands of a heartless man.”
“Ah, the Irish. Such passionate people.” Lord Quentin shrugged. “You can keep the pictures, Miss Debenham. I have the originals.” He rose from the chair, a smug smile on his face. “I expect Hector to officially renounce his title by tomorrow. Have a nice day, all of you.”
twenty-eight
MADDIE DIDN’T REMEMBER having left Hector’s house or the trip home. She remembered Ernest voicing his disappointment and sense of injustice and her chest tightening with worry about Verity. The atmosphere in the carriage parked in front of her house was so thick that she felt its weight against her stomach. After his outburst, Ernest was silent, lips pinched in a flat line, and Hector had the same expression he'd worn after he’d been rescued from the sea—tired and defeated.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “Please let me talk to my family. Perhaps there’s something I can do to avoid a scandal.”
Ernest stared stubbornly out of the window. “Even if the scandal damages your family, I’ll marry Verity all the same. I want you to know that.”
But that was the point. Would he insist on letting the scandal burst if he knew Verity would be at its centre? It was Verity’s decision whether to tell him the truth or not. For now, Maddie was more than happy to take the blame. “I will tell her, thank you.”
Hector took her hand. “I understand you need to talk to your family. Would you like me to be with you?”
Oh, dear. No. “I’d like to talk to them in private, please.”
He nodded and opened the door for her. “Let me know if you need me. If you need anything. I’ll be here in a moment.” He jumped out of the carriage and offered her his hand to help her out. “And Maddie?”
“Yes?”
“I don’t care. Whatever is in those pictures, I don’t give a damn. You have my unconditional, full support.”
“Thank you.”
On trembling legs, she walked the few steps to her front door and turned around to wave at Hector. His eyebrows were drawn in concern. He was more worried about her than about his future. But those workers needed his help. His mother deserved to rest in the family’s crypt, and Hector had to take what was rightfully his. He shouldn’t renounce his title because she’d been blackmailed. She went upstairs without removing her hat or coat and knocked on Verity’s door.
“Verity?” Her voice came out strangled.
“Come in.”
Maddie inched the door open, pondering how to break the news.
Verity stood next to her bed where a few frocks of different colours were sprawled. “I can’t decide which one is the best for tomorrow. Ernest wants me to go to his aunt’s birthday and I want—why that face?” She hurried to Maddie. “What is the matter? Hector? Did he hurt you?”
“No.” She should make a short speech and explain to Verity what had happened, but she didn’t have the energy to recount the whole story. So, she showed the pictures to her sister. “Are they real? Did you do these things?”
Smiling, Verity took the envelope. “What is it, dear? What are these…oh.” Her bottom lip quivered as she went through the pictures. The more she watched them, the paler she grew. “How did you get these?”
“Lord Quentin. He threatened to make these pictures public unless Hector renounced his title.”
