Page 28 of The Earl’s Inconvenient Nemesis

“You know what my father’s temper was like, but I braved it and went to speak with him about what had occurred,” explained Anthony. “I just could not fathom any man behaving the way he did, and hoped deep down I suppose that it had all been some kind of mistake, a rumour that had somehow started and gained traction. But my father admitted the affair, seeming to think that I would understand and condone his behaviour. When I made it clear I did not, he hit me.”

Alice gasped. She had purposefully never had much to do with Anthony’s father, and had been intimidated by him when she was younger. He was definitely a man who liked to have his own way, but to hit his grown son…

“That day I failed to turn up to take you riding. I felt terrible about it, but I just could not come. My mind was in turmoil.”

“So, that was why,” said Alice. “I had assumed you just had not cared to ride with me or had something better to do.”

Anthony gave a sad smile, “Not at all. I wanted nothing more than to get as far away from my father as possible, but I could not trust myself not to tell you everything and I had promised my mother I would not say a word to protect her and our family’s reputation. Then, just a week afterwards, my father died of a heart attack and I did not know how to react. He was my father, but he had done this terrible thing and part of me felt responsible because he was concerned I would tell people about Sarah, even though he had threatened to disown me if I had.”

Alice’s hand flew to her mouth.

“I am so sorry,” she said. “How awful for you.”

“Once my father was buried, I was determined to find Sarah, despite my father’s wishes. I wish I had known about the situation and been able to aid her sooner. Though I may not have been brave enough to defy my father when he was alive I suppose and, being still reliant on him for money, it would have been hard for me to help her and her child as I wanted to.

“My mother wanted nothing to do with the situation, but accepted she could not stop me helping Sarah. After interviewing the servants, I discovered Sarah had family in London. I hired two private investigators and eventually located Sarah and Charlie, freezing and half-starved in a room Sarah was renting in Cheapside.”

“What did you do?” asked Alice, wondering how she could have been so completely wrong about him.

“I used some of my inheritance to help them,” Anthony said simply. “Sarah chose their house and I bought it for them and they have an annuity set up now. But it was not easy to persuade her, and she will not accept as much as I would wish her to. After the way my father treated her, you can understand her reluctance to have anything to do with any of my family. She took a lot of convincing, but Charlie is my father’s son just as much as I am, and he was due his inheritance exactly as I was.”

Alice nodded in understanding.

Anthony continued, “I am telling you this because I am used to people thinking badly of my actions. Generally, I encourage it as talk of me coming to London for nefarious reasons means no one suspects the true reason: Charlie.

“But, for some reason, I can no longer bear for you to think badly of me. And I know I can trust you not to tell anyone. The only other people who know are my solicitor, my butler, and my valet, through necessity, and your brother.”

“Henry knows?”

“Yes. I needed someone to talk to about all this and his greatest joy is spreading wild rumours about me to explain my many visits to London.”

“Rumours which I believed,” said Alice, putting her head in her hands.

“And why would you not?” replied Anthony. He reached over and led her arms down, looking her in the eye. “You were supposed to believe them, just like everyone else.”

“But now?”

“Now I want you to know. I cannot have you thinking badly of me.”

“Thank you for trusting me. I will not tell anyone, your secret is safe.”

“Thank you, and thank you for helping to entertain poor Charlie.”

“He is quite charming.”

“I am inclined to agree,” said Anthony, as the carriage pulled up by the still saddled horses. “Come on, let us return you to your aunt.”

Alice mounted Rosalind and they rode back to Aunt Jane’s house, the events of the outing going around in her mind.

Anthony took her hand in his before they went inside the house. “Would you like to go riding again tomorrow? I have time in the morning?”

Alice nodded her assent, her mind too busy reevaluating Anthony for her to show better manners.

Anthony opened up the saddlebag hanging on his horse and took out a parcel wrapped in brown paper. “I have this for you. I thought it might come in useful if you feel the need to unwind in my stables again. You might not want to open it around your aunt.”

“Thank you,” said Alice, raising her eyebrows. “I think.”

“You will like it,” Anthony assured her. “I have business to attend to, but I shall see you tomorrow.”