Page 94 of A Misguided Devotion
William held up his palm. “Just a little misunderstanding. There was an accident near the house yesterday, and a man fell over the cliff.”
His twin gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.
“It’s all right. He’s not dead, though he may yet die of his injuries, but not by my doing.”
“Am I missing something?” Anthony asked. “Is there any reason to suppose the man would be at the bottom of the cliff because of you?”
“There was a fight.”
Charlotte blinked slowly. “You? In a fight? What on earth provoked that?”
“A woman. If two men come to blows, it’s always over a woman,” said Anthony. “The beauty, I’m guessing.”
“Yes.” William braced himself. “The man who fell was her husband.”
A look of revulsion passed over his friend’s face. “You were fighting over a married woman? Has your title set your moral compass adrift? I thought better of you, Lord Droxford.”
“He didn’t know,” said Charlotte, laying a restraining hand on Anthony’s arm.
His friend made some nondescript noise and stopped looking as if he was going to punch him—though William felt he deserved it. He should have listened to Kitty scolding him for flirting with Miss Barrington when it had been clear his advances were unwelcome.
“If you didn’t push him over, who did?” asked Hetta.
He combed his fingers through his hair several times, but the familiar action did nothing to calm his agitated spirits. “It’s complicated. Mr Barrington claims it was an accident. He’s the local magistrate, so no one will question his word, and he’ll be able to prevent a coroner from investigating if the man dies.”
“That’s a good thing, isn’t it?” asked Charlotte.
“Not really, because he has made it quite clear he’s doing me a favour. If we say someone tried to murder him, the finger points at me, but we suspect smugglers, as the man’s a riding officer. There’s also a servant in Mr Barrington’s household whom we reckon is in league with them.”
Anthony folded his arms and tilted his head to one side. “We?”
“Kitty and I.”
Charlotte tutted. “So now your beauty is spoken for, you turn your attention to Kitty. About time! We saw at once what a treasure she was. I hope you don’t tire of her as quickly.”
William sighed. “I will never get bored with Kitty.”
Anthony’s nonchalance disappeared in a flash. “It’s a little early to be making such a rash statement, isn’t it?”
“Why? Ask Castleford. Your brother knew Georgie was the one for him almost as soon as they met. Why shouldn’t it be the same for me?”
“I hate to remind you, but you were pursuing a different lady not long since.”
“Not seriously. I just wanted to paint her. The thought of being forced into a life with Miss Barrington made me realise how wrong she was for me—and how right Kitty was. Only a fool fails to learn from his mistakes.”
Hetta clapped her hands in glee. “You’re in love with Kitty! Are you going to ask her to marry you?”
“That was my intention when this business with Mr Jenkin’s accident has been cleared up.”
Her smile vanished. “Was? It’s not now?”
“I just learned something that makes it way more complicated.”
Three pairs of eyes fixed on his face. If he voiced what he’d discovered, William feared they would confirm what an insurmountable barrier existed between him and Kitty.
Hetta poked him in the stomach. “Don’t keep us in suspense.”
He brushed her hand away. Better get it over and done with. “It’s probable that her father was the natural son of the Duke of Wessex’s younger brother.”
