Page 120 of Miss Vincent’s Vow

The fierceness in her tone did nothing to lessen Jethro’s desire to kiss her. But before he could act on his longing, Mrs Timms interrupted them with the refreshments he’d ordered.

The timing was frustrating, but perhaps it was as well. Caught up in the wonder of being kissed by his wife, Jethro had almost forgotten the dark shadow over his head—the shameful circumstances of his birth. Cassandra might not be so glad he was alive when she learned the truth.

She poured herself a cup of tea and sipped at it, while Jethro drained his tankard of ale in long gulps, the cool liquid soothing on his parched throat.

“Rowson said they’d retrieved a body,” she said, her lip quivering in a way he found most endearing. “I thought it was you.”

“If it wasn’t for Crowley’s quick thinking, it would have been. I owe him my life. By some miracle, he heard me shouting and got a ladder to help me out a window at the back of the warehouse before the fire reached it.”

“But someone died. Who was it? One of your men?”

“Legg.”

Cassandra’s eyes widened. “The man your father employed to spy on us? What was he doing in your warehouse?”

Jethro winced when she used the word father, but there was no point disputing it. However much it rankled, he couldn’t deny he was Mr Wade’s son. It was as well Cassandra accepted his relationship with the man already, as it would make what he had to say easier.

He wrung his hands together in his lap. Now was the time to share the truth, but part of him revolted at the prospect. What would she think of him?

“Jethro, what is it? There’s something you’re not telling me. What happened after I left last night? Why didn’t you come home? I was waiting for you.”

“I felt too ashamed.”

“Why?”

He paused, struggling to form the words. “There is no easy way to say this. My parents were never married. I’m Mr Wade’s natural son.”

Cassandra lifted a hand to cover her mouth as she stifled a gasp.

“I knew my mother came from humble beginnings, but she never told me anything about her life before she met my father. What I didn’t realise was that he had seduced her—when she was a chambermaid in his parents’ house.”

“So that’s why she was so angry with you for kissing a maid. I thought she was being overly severe, but it makes sense now.”

“Mr Wade abandoned her—us—so he could wed the wealthy bride of his father’s choice,” Jethro said, spitting out each word with the bitterness that festered inside him. “He chose money over love, and now—when his wife has failed to provide him with a child—he wants to acknowledge me as his son and make me his heir.”

Cassandra turned white under his gaze. “He wants to make it public knowledge you are his illegitimate son and leave you his wealth?”

Jethro nodded.

“How could he do that to you? Does he know you so little that he thinks you could be bought like that?”

A smug expression appeared on Jethro’s face—satisfaction mixed with relief at her reaction. “Not as well as my wife, it appears. Given your declaration, I assume it comes as no surprise to you that I declined the honour.”

“It is no more than I would expect of you.”

“You should have seen his expression when I refused his wealth, but—”

“Yes?”

“I’m ruined, Cassandra. We have a roof over our heads for now, but the warehouse was full of stock, and I won’t be able to settle my suppliers’ accounts. I’ve mortgaged the house to buy the ships and without my business, I’ve no way to make the repayments.”

“But surely it was insured?”

“Yes, but they might not pay up. What if Mr Wade hired Legg to set the warehouse on fire?”

“You cannot suppose your father would try to kill you!”

“No. I excuse him of that, but that he might seek to bend me to his will—force me to depend on him—that, I can believe.”