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‘Not until you tell me what the hell you think you’re playing at.’
‘I’m trying to sleep and I don’t want to talk.’
‘That’s what you said last night—or this morning, I suppose. You told me to mind my own business, or words to that effect anyway.’
‘The statement stands.’
Arthur folded his arms. ‘Do I have to pummel the truth out of you like when we were boys?’
‘I always beat you at fighting.’
‘Most of the time, yes, but right now I’d say I have the advantage. What on earth have you done to yourself? You look green.’
‘I feel it.’ The pain in his head felt like ten ordinary hangovers put together. He hadn’t even drunk that much. ‘I must be getting old.’
‘Most people get older and wiser. Apparently you’re the exception.’
Lance peered through his fingers at his brother and scowled. ‘Is this why you came back to Yorkshire, to insult me?’
‘No. I came back to find out if you were still alive, although from the look of things I should have stayed away.’
‘Don’t say that.’ He felt a pang of regret for his bad temper. ‘You don’t know how wonderful it is to see you again.’
‘Which is why you’ve drunk yourself into a stupor, I suppose?’
‘That’s not the reason.’
‘Then tell me what is. I presume her name starts with a V.’
‘I’m trying to do the right thing, if you must know. It’s just not easy.’
Arthur unfolded his arms and took a seat opposite. ‘So explain to me how telling your wife to get a divorce so that I can marry her and have all her money is the right thing? For one thing, it sounds rather sordid. For another, I doubt it would be allowed. In the eyes of the law, she’s my sister now.’
‘We should still try.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I have to give it all up, Arthur. I don’t deserve any of it, Violet especially. I need to put things right, the way they ought to have been, the way Father wanted them.’
‘That’s another thing.’ Arthur sounded exasperated. ‘Since when did you care so much about what Father wanted?’
‘I do now.’
‘Why?’
‘I just do!’ Lance tried to jump to his feet and then dropped back again as pain seared through his leg and shot up his spine.
‘I’m not leaving until you tell me, Little Brother.’
He leaned forward, hanging his head. ‘Because Father was right about me. He said I was a reprobate and he was right. I’ve spent my life being selfish and reckless and thoughtless. I’ve hurt people. If Violet stays with me, I’ll probably hurt her, too. I can’t take that risk.’
‘You’re too hard on yourself, Lance.’
‘No, I haven’t been hard enough. That’s why I have to do this now. I married Violet because she was part of Father’s plan for this place, but she was supposed to marry you. Everything I have now was supposed to be yours. Now that you’re back it should be yours again. You can run the estate and be a better husband than I can. If Father was right about me, then he was right about that, too.’
‘He wasn’t right about you. I know you better than anyone, Lance. I know why you behaved the way you did.’
‘Don’t make excuses for me. I was a bad son from the start.’
