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Oliver’s lips snapped into a smile, then he turned grave again. “Seeing her so distressed on the balcony, I… I feared something worse had happened, something she would not be able to heal from. Fortunately, it did not, but I took it as a warning, nonetheless. Bridget tries her best to put on a brave façade. She is so stubborn and independent— she’s always been so— but I have the feeling those traits have only exacerbated since the accident. She refuses to come to terms with her limitations. Despite what she may think, Bridget cannot be left alone. She will need constant tending to. And… I am not certain many men understand that.”
“Oliver, I–” Joseph started, thinking that perhaps this might be the ideal moment to start their life-changing conversation, but the sudden halt of the carriage made him swallow his own words. “We’ve arrived,” he said instead. There were more urgent matters to be taken care of.
Joseph jumped out of the carriage first with Oliver following immediately after. He pushed the front door open, startling the poor maid who dropped her dust rug upon seeing them. Her eyes bulged at them in shock then she recognized Joseph.
“Where is the younger Mr. Turner?” Joseph demanded.
“In… in the study, Y—Your Grace,” she managed to muster.
Joseph slid past her, marching down the hallway, knowing exactly where he was going. Oliver endeavored to keep up the same pace. When they finally reached the final door, Joseph barged through it like a tempest. Seth was seated at his writing desk, completely oblivious to the storm that was about to take place.
“Joseph,” he exclaimed, slightly startled. If he recognized Oliver, he did not show it. “Where is the fire?”
“The fire was started last night at the ball,” Joseph said, wishing he was able to come up with a wittier line, but he decided to satisfy himself with this one. “By you.”
Seth placed down his quill pen, his brows knitting at this sudden intrusion and brazen accusation. “I am afraid I do not know what you are talking about.”
“I’ll show you what–” Oliver was ready to lunge at him like a wild animal, but Joseph managed to keep him under control.
“Oliver,” Joseph’s voice was soothingly commanding. “I am certain that Seth has a good explanation.”
“A good explanation for what?” Seth was unwavering that he had done nothing. Still, Joseph was not enraged, but his patience would start to run thin at some point.
“For the uhm… confusion that took place last night on the balcony,” Joseph tried to clarify without giving too much away. He wanted to hear his cousin admit to what he had done, not be forced into an admission.
“I did not go near the balcony,” Seth shrugged. If he did not know any better, Joseph would actually believe him.
This was, after all, the man he had grown up with. They scraped their knees together as little children, they drank their first alcohol together, and they had promised to always support each other. Now that support was gone, having transformed into something else, something hideous.
“You were seen on the balcony,” Joseph urged, still endeavoring to remain calm.
“By whom?” Seth frowned. “Why don’t they come here to accuse me of something I obviously haven’t done?”
“Iamhere, you scoundrel!” Oliver could not keep his mouth shut. Joseph could understand his utter need to break Seth’s nose, but that would have to wait. First, they needed the confession then Joseph would subject him to something far worse than a mere broken nose.
“You’d best watch your language,” Seth snarled angrily. “Just because you are here with my cousin, it does not give you the right to insult me in my own home.”
“Oliver…” Joseph’s hand was the only thing standing between Oliver’s raging beast threatening to tear this man limb to limb and Seth, the object of that hatred. “Allow me to handle this, please.” Oliver’s loud breathing filled the room, but he did as he was told, like a tiger on a leash. It was still an incredible thing to witness, let alone believe. It only proved Joseph’s point that there was a slumbering animal in every single human being. Only different things woke it up and forced it to act. For Oliver, it was a sense of duty for his blind sister.
“Seth, we know it was you,” Joseph finally revealed his cards. “There is no point denying. We shall not leave until you explain your actions. Haven’t I always been your friend? Haven’t I promised to always take care of you and your family?”
Those very exact words brought clouds over Seth’s face, darkening it to unrecognizable depths. Joseph had to blink away the doubt that it was truly his own cousin sitting there at the writing desk.
“Yes!” he finally exclaimed, slamming his closed fist against the table before him. “You promised! Then, you went back on your promise!”
Even though they expected him to admit it at some point, both Oliver and Joseph were taken aback by the abruptness of Seth’s words and the utter malice they were laced with.
“You promised your title to my father and me,” Seth continued. “Do you think me a blind fool, Joseph?”
“No,” Joseph shook his head, deciding against antagonizing his cousin. The truth was out. That was all he needed. The reason behind it was less relevant that the truth itself.
“I knew immediately that there was something between you and the blind woman!” Seth’s words sent Joseph into a blind fury.
Joseph jumped over the writing table, grabbing Seth by the throat, squeezing relentlessly. “Don’t you ever…” He squeezed through clenched teeth as he tightened his grip. “Call her… the blind woman! She has… a name…” He spat as he spoke, unwilling to open his mouth properly to pronounce the words as they should be pronounced.
Instantly, he felt Oliver’s hands pull him off of Seth, whose face reddened as he caressed his own wounded throat.
“Are you all right?” Oliver asked with his hand on Joseph’s shoulder.
