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“Yes. That.” Bernard wrinkled his nose in disapproval, as if she were being terribly vulgar by simply stating the facts. “But your brother wouldn’t allow it.”
“Lionel wasn’t my keeper. Nothing was stopping you from taking the train to Hawthorne Cottage. Or writing to me.”
Instead, he had let his silence speak for him. Loudly.
Bernard shifted in his seat. “No. I suppose there wasn’t. But you can understand why I couldn’t be associated with you anymore. Not after all those stories in the papers.”
Even after all this time, those words still stung, especially since they echoed Rafe’s. “Storiesyour fatherhadplanted.”
“You don’t know that,” he insisted. “Not for certain.”
She scoffed and turned toward the window. It was useless trying to make him see.
You threatened some part of him. Some part that he won’t let go of.
Rafe had certainly been right about that.
“And yet you couldn’t leave me well enough alone, could you?”
Bernard was silent for a long moment. “I never intended to involve you in Wardale’s schemes. But I was desperate. Jennie’s family has certain expectations of me. Demands, really, and…and it got to be more than I could manage.”
Sylvia gave him a withering look. “You’re in debt. Just say it plainly.”
He frowned. “I’veoverspent. I needed to take out a mortgage on the house, and Wardale’s company offered twice what anyone else did. But he wanted a meeting first.”
“Oh, Bernard.” She sighed.
He shot her an aggravated look. “You don’t know what parliament is like, Sylvia. It’s impossible to get anything passed unless you have the right connections. Make the right deals. See the right people. It’s nothing like we imagined. Idowant to make a difference, but I couldn’t until I had more influence.”
“And Wardale provided that.”
He nodded. “As long as I signed with his company. The effect was immediate.”
“But it came at a price.”
He met her eyes. “Yes. When I fell behind in payments, he threatened to take the house. To make my debt public. My wife’s family would have been outraged. Please. I swear I never meant to hurt you. But I didn’t have a choice.”
She crossed her arms. “Shall I apply those words to now or two years ago?”
Bernard paled. “You can’t know how often I’ve thought of you. I started so many letters.”
“And yet you never sent a single one. Because you are a coward, Bernard. You werealwaysa coward. You only talk of reform, but you will never do what it takes. Nothing that would sully your reputation or anger your family.” She paused to catch her breath. She shouldn’t let this man make her so upset anymore. “Why are you evenhere?”
“I want to help you, Sylvia. To make things right, like I should have.”
She hated hearing her name on his lips. He had forfeited the privilege long ago.
“It’s far too late for you to make things right, and I won’t help you ease your conscience. You’ll just have to learn to live with your regret. Like everyone else.”
Sylvia glanced out the window. Thank God they had turned onto Georgiana’s street. She couldn’t take any more of this.
Bernard’s mouth hung open for a moment. “Is that all you have to say? I thought we—”
“No,” she snapped. “I also want you toleave me alone. That means no more spying. And I’ll know if you do. I have connections of my own now.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You mean that mysterious Crown agent you were mixed up with? Yes, I saw the report,” he said in response to her look of surprise. “Rumor is it’s Rafe Davies, of all people. You can’t really be expecting any kind of commitment from a man likethat.”
Sylvia’s hands tightened at his derisive tone. Even now she couldn’t help feeling defensive on Rafe’s behalf. “Who I associate with is none of your concern.”
